Charter schools had a significant presence at this morning's meeting. The charter supporters were dismissed, however, apparently told the bill would not be discussed today and would be discussed on Monday, May 12th. (All bills must be acted on by Thursday, May 15th.)

Late in the morning session, however, the committee did discuss HB 1642. The Department of Education was asked to clarify how charter school students are counted in the state aid formula and how many students were in charter schools in 2004-2005.

2004-2005 was a confusing year and lots of paperwork was confused. State reports indicated under 100 students attending. Approximately 180 students attended charter schools this first year, though.

Committee members asked about Representative Weyler’s previously-submitted amendment. No one had a copy. Weyler’s approach was to fix the funding once and for all and return to a district contribution, as the law first required as passed in 2004. Weyler's funding amendment also conforms to general laws that say each town has a duty to provide for its residents and that state policy requires “integrated” education funding—both state and local.

The state continues to include charter school students in the headcount for local district state aid, long after students leave the district. The committee was discussing this. If the state keeps these students in the district count, is a district contribution to the students, then, unfunded? If Weyler's amendment passes--New Hampshire would finally have a sustainable funding model for the future. If not, everyone will be working on a sustainable funding model again next year. It would be good to get this settled so legislators can turn their attention to other state needs.

The Senate Finance Committee will take up Weyler's amendment Monday morning.

Other: Another Detail to fix in the funding statute—how the annual per student allocation is increased from year to year. Currently, charter school per student funding is annually increased based on a Dept of Labor consumer price inflation index, not based on actual cost increases in the New Hampshire education industry. See comparison below: