Over half of the new spending proposed by the House (approx. 55% or $803.9 million) is dedicated to "rebenchmarking." Rebenchmarking is the technical process (not a policy decision), that is undertaken each biennium, to update the input data used in funding formulas to determine the cost of public education.
Another 20% of the new spending in the House education budget is dedicated to pay raises for SOQ-funded positions. The House budget includes a 2% pay raise effective July 1, 2020 and another 2% raise effective July 1, 2021. To be eligible to draw these state funds, a local school division must give the raises at some time during the biennium.
Other highlights from the proposed House budget include the following:
- $6.7 million in the first year of the biennium and $14.3 million in the second year to reduce the English Learner staffing rations from 17:1000 to 20:1000 over the biennium.
- $21.2 million in the first year of the biennium and $24.9 million in the second year to fund approximately 650 additional school counselor positions. This would move the ratio from 1:387 (current) to 1:337 in FY21 and 1:325 in FY22.
- $34.9 million in the first year and $35.2 million in the second year for additional support for the At-Risk Add-On payments by increasing the maximum add-on percentage from 16% (current) to 24.0% in FY21 and 26.0% in FY22.
- $12.2 million over the biennium to restore the Enrollment Loss Supplement. This supplement would provide relief for enrollment losses that occur over the summer, after budgets have been adopted.
- $9.6 million in the first year and $10.0 million in the second year to increase the Cost of Competing Adjustment for eligible school divisions.
- A total of $488.48 in the first year and $399.90 in the second year, from Lottery Proceeds and general fund revenues, for supplemental per pupil payments.
More details can be found in the subcommittee report found here and in the full Committee report found here.
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