LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Senate Bill 539 passed the House yesterday. For the first time in New Hampshire’s short charter school history, chartered public schools are included in the system of public schools, both financially and as a matter of policy. SB 539 is the state’s new funding system that will begin 2009-2010. In this bill, now passed by the House and Senate, charter schools are listed for a base amount of state aid ($3450) plus the disparity equalization of $2,000/student that other poor schools receive. This means that IF next week an amendment to HB 1642 passes giving chartered public schools some amount of local contribution toward resident student funding, e.g. $2700, the state would have a sustainable system of funding its public charter schools at approximately $8,000 or approximately 65% of the total average cost of public education in New Hampshire.

Currently, the independent charter schools receive less than $4,000 per student, approximately 30% of the total average expenditure for public students statewide.

Representative Ken Weyler will present an amendment to the Senate Finance Committee on Monday to see if the additional portion needed can become the ongoing system for funding chartered public schools, not just a one-year adjustment.