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S. 1006
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Short and Hutto
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gjk\20684sd06.doc
Introduced in the Senate on January 10, 2006
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Finance
Summary: Qualifications for free or reduced school lunch
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/10/2006 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-39 1/10/2006 Senate Referred to Committee on Finance SJ-39
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 59-20-40, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, RELATING TO DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNDER THE EDUCATION FINANCE ACT AND WEIGHTINGS USED TO PROVIDE FOR RELATIVE COSTS DIFFERENCES BASED ON PUPIL NEEDS, SO AS TO ADD A WEIGHTING FOR STUDENTS QUALIFYING FOR A FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-20-40(1) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 49 of 2005, is further amended to read:
"(1) Computation of the basic amount to be included for current operation in the foundation program:
(a) Each school district shall maintain a program membership of each school by compiling the student membership of each classification and number of students qualifying for a free or reduced lunch. The cumulative one hundred thirty-five day average daily membership of each school district by program classification will determine its monetary entitlement. The district's average daily membership (ADM) will be computed, currently maintained, and reported in accordance with the regulations of the State Board of Education. Funds for the state's portion of the per-pupil cost of the foundation program shall must be disbursed monthly to the various school districts. End-of-year adjustments in state funds shall must be made based on the one hundred thirty-five day student average daily membership in each classification.
(b) The base student cost shall must be established annually by the General Assembly. The base student cost shall must be established in such a manner that five years after July 2, 1978, the funding level shall approximate the cost of the defined minimum program as set forth by the State Board of Education.
Each year the Division of Research and Statistics of the Budget and Control Board shall submit to the legislature an estimate of the projected rate of inflation for the fiscal year to be budgeted, and the base student cost shall must be adjusted to incorporate the inflated cost of providing the Defined Minimum Program.
(c) Weightings, used to provide for relative cost differences, between programs for different students are established in order that funds may be equitably distributed on the basis of pupil needs. The criteria for qualifications for each special classification must be established by the State Board of Education according to definitions established in this article and in accordance with Sections 59-21-510, 59-35-10, 59-53-1860, and 59-53-1900. Cost factors enumerated in this section must be used to fund programs approved by the State Board of Education. Pupil data received by the Department of Education is subject to audit by the department. Cost factors or weightings are as follows:
Pupil Classification Weightings
(1) Kindergarten pupils 1.30
(2) Primary pupils (grades 1 through 3) 1.24
(3) Elementary pupils (grades 4 through 8)
base students 1.00
(4) High school pupils (grades 9 through 12) 1.25
Special Programs for Exceptional Students Weightings
(5) Handicapped 1.74
a. Educable mentally handicapped pupils
b. Learning disabilities pupils
(6) Handicapped 2.04
a. Trainable mentally handicapped pupils
b. Emotionally handicapped pupils
c. Orthopedically handicapped pupils
(7) Handicapped 2.57
a. Visually handicapped pupils
b. Hearing handicapped pupils
c. pupils with autism.
(8) Speech handicapped pupils 1.90
(9) Homebound pupils 2.10
a. pupils who are homebound
b. pupils who reside in emergency shelters
Career and Technology Technical Programs Weightings
(10) Pre-career and technology 1.20
(11) Career and technology 1.29
Add-on Weights for Early Childhood Weightings
Development and Academic Assistance
(12) Early childhood assistance 0.26
(13) Grades 4-12 academic assistance 0.114
Adult Education
(14) Adult Education 0.15
Add-on Weights for Students Qualifying for a Free or Reduced Lunch
(15) Free Lunch 0.10
(16) Reduced Lunch 0.05
No local match is required for adult education and the number of weighted pupil units funded depends on funding available from the general fund of the State and the Education Improvement Act of 1984 Fund.
Each student in the State must be counted in only one of the first eleven pupil classifications. Students shall generate funds for early childhood assistance and grades 4-12 academic assistance in accordance with Section 59-139-20. Funding for free or reduced lunch add-on weights must be based on the number of students meeting the federal income poverty guidelines provided annually by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. The State Board of Education must determine the qualifications for each classification in accordance with Sections 59-21-510, 59-35-10, 59-53-1860, 59-53-1900, and Chapter 30 of this title. The program for each classification must shall meet specifications approved by the State Board of Education.
School districts may count each student who is instructed at home under the provisions of Section 59-65-40 in the district's weighted pupil units at a weighting of .25 for supervising, overseeing, or reviewing the student's program of home instruction. No local match is required for students instructed at home under the provisions of Section 59-65-40.
(d) The basic amount for the foundation program for each district shall be computed as follows:
(1) The calculated average daily membership in each student classification shall must be multiplied by the weighting factor for that respective classification.
(2) The subtotals (totals in each student classification) in all classifications shall must be added to get the district's total weighted pupil units.
(3) The district's weighted pupil units shall must be multiplied by the base student cost figure as established annually by the General Assembly.
(e) Computation of the required local revenue in support of the foundation program.
The amount that each school district shall provide toward the cost of the South Carolina foundation program shall must be computed by determining the total statewide collective local share (approximately thirty percent) of the total cost of the foundation program, and multiplying this by the index of taxpaying ability of each district as defined in Section 59-20-20.
(f) Computation of the required state effort.
The amount that the State shall provide to each school district toward the cost of the foundation program shall must be the difference between the district's basic amount as computed in subsection (d) minus the required amount raised locally as computed in subsection (e).
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, state aid to any school district shall must be reduced in proportion to the ratio that its local school tax effort falls below that required by subsection (2) of Section 59-20-50."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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