The first week of the 2008 Session began with the presentation of Governor Mike Easley’s budget.
Here is a comparison chart that details the Governor’s Education Budget and the State Board of Education and DPI budget. Also, here is a list of the Senate and House Standing Education Committees, the dates/times they meet and the membership composition.
This week, the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education continued to hear and discuss details on proposed education budget items with Legislative Fiscal Research Staff. In addition, there was a General Fund Revenue & Budget Report presented by the General Assembly economists. Some of the economic predictions were:
* The revised baseline growth is 3.5% (down from 4.7%).
* The indications are that we are in the early stages of a mild
recession and that most economists are predicting a prolonged economic
slowdown through 2009.
* North Carolina’s economic outlook is less pessimistic than the
national economy forecasts.
* The economy risk factors are the housing and financial markets
crises, tight consumer credit, weak income growth, and rising food and
energy costs.
* True expansion remains two years away.
The targets presented to each of the Joint Appropriations Subcommittees, including the Education Subcommittee, by the Senate and House Appropriations Full Chairs definitely reflect the General Fund
Revenue and Budget predictions.
The Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Formulas voted on its final recommendations to be presented to the General Assembly. A full report can be found on the General Assembly website. Following is a brief summary of the recommendations:
1. Long Term Study. The Committee recommended an independent study of all major State public school funding formulas.
2. Low Wealth. The Committee recommended that the Low Wealth formula be changed in order to improve the budgeting process for local school boards.
3. Mentoring. The Committee recognized the critical importance of mentoring to retain and support quality teachers.
4. Textbooks. The Committee stated that the current formula for textbooks should be amended to better meet the needs of districts with growing student populations.
5. Transportation. The Committee expressed concern with the apparent funding inconsistencies among LEAs in the Transportation of Pupils allotment.
6. AIG. The Committee acknowledged that the differentiated instruction supported by the Academically or Intellectually Gifted allotment is essential to ensuring that those students with high
academic performance capabilities reach their fullest potential.
7. At-Risk. The Committee recommended reapportioning the treatment center portion of the At-Risk allotment.
8. Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Funding. The Committee recognized that LEAs are experiencing an increasing number of disadvantaged students, particularly in those LEAs that do not receive Low Wealth Supplemental Funding.
9. Use of Education Lottery Reserve. The Committee noted that in FY 2007-08 only 58 of the 115 LEAs are eligible to receive the “local effort” funding provided from the portion of Education Lottery
proceeds dedicated to school construction. The Committee therefore recommends using proceeds from the $50 million Lottery Reserve to ensure that LEAs that do not qualify for the local effort funding in FY 2008-09 receive the same per-ADM amount as those LEAs that qualify.
10. Extension of the Committee’s Authority. The Committee recognized that undertaking a significant long-term study of the State public school funding formulas will likely take up to a year and
recommended extending its authorization.
Some of these recommendations will result in proposed legislation.
Bill Activity for the week of May 13 – May 16:
Following is a list of bills that were filed and have the potential to affect K-12 public education:
* S 1614. An Act Directing that Funds Appropriated for the Focused Education Reform Pilot Program Shall Not Revert At the End of Each Fiscal Year. (Senator Swindell)
* H 2137. School Construction Optimization Act. (Reps. Gibson, Folwell, Yongue, Pate).
* H 2145. Funds for the Teacher Cadet Program. (Rep. McLawhorn).
* H 2148. State Funding for Visiting Teachers Clarified. (Rep. McLawhorn).
* H 2168. Raise Funding Cap/Gifted Children. (Rep. Glazier).
* H 2169. Funds for Children with Disabilities. (Rep. Glazier).
* H 2170. Positive Behavior Support in Schools/Fund. (Rep. Glazier).
* H 2180. Raise Funding Cap/Children with Disabilities. (Rep. Glazier, Rapp, McLawhorn).
* H 2082. An Act to Appropriate Funds for the North Carolina Literacy Connection Program. (Reps. Ross, Yongue, Glazier, Rapp).
* S 1618 (Companion Bill) An Act to Appropriate Funds for the North Carolina Literacy Connection Program. (Senator Malone).
* H 2104. Funds to Teach Critical Foreign Languages. (Rep. Glazier).
* H 2124. Schools May Retain Funds Allocated in Error. (Reps. Church, Moore, Clary).
* H 2171. An Act to Study Geography Education. (Rep. Glazier).
The Senate and House returned for Session on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Chris Minard
State Board of Education
Legislative Liaison