Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a new formula for school funding based on four factors: poverty levels, the amount of English language learners, special education costs and student mobility.

Highlights:

- Requires local school boards to develop an "educational plan for success": a long-range strategic plan updated annually to improve academic success by identifying resources that students need, such as qualified teachers, counselors and other personnel, professional development for staff, increased technology, parental and community involvement (Sec. 4). - Establishes a new funding formula designed to account for student grade level composition and the cost differences between school district and charter school operations. The new formula is intended to achieve a more equal distribution of the state's equalization guarantee: the amount of money distributed to each school district to ensure that its operating revenue is at least equal to its program costs [sec. 5 (A)]. - Increases the required number of full school days to 185 per year beginning with 2011-2012 school year [sec. 11 (B)]. - Measures poverty levels by the percentage of students who are qualify for free or reduced lunch [sec. 17 (B) (1)]. - Measures the number of English language learners using an English proficiency assessment [sec. 17 (B) (2)]. - Measures special education by 16 percent of the number of qualified students in the school district and the percentage of students who qualify for a federally mandated individualized education program [sec. 17 (B) (3)]. - Measures student mobility using a mobility ratio determined by the public education department [sec. 17 (B) (4)]. - Implements the new funding formula only after $332 million in recurring revenue is available [Sec. 17 (O)].

Full Bill Text