HCS HB 356 -- GRANTS FOR SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS

SPONSOR:  Wilson, 119 (Wallace)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Rural
Community Development by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute increases the overall appropriation amount for
small school grants from $15 million to $20 million with $15
million being distributed to eligible districts in proportion to
their average daily attendance during the regular school year.
Beginning in Fiscal Year 2010, the substitute requires the
General Assembly to appropriate to schools that have an average
daily attendance of 351 to 449 students an amount per student
that decreases proportionately as the average daily attendance
increases.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of
$7,705,365 in FY 2010, FY 2011, and FY 2012.  No impact on Other
State Funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the small schools grant is one
of the better features of the new formula because it recognizes
the fixed overhead expenses of small schools.  Currently, if a
school has an average daily attendance of 350 students, it
receives its full share of the grant money.  However, if a school
has an average daily attendance of 351, it receives no money.
This creates a great disparity between schools.  The bill will
fix this problem by allowing a school with an average daily
attendance of 351 to receive 99% of the grant and decrease by 1%
for each additional student who attends school on average daily,
up to 449.  This method will be more fair and aid smaller schools
which are struggling.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Wallace and Guest;
Missouri School Boards Association; Missouri Farm Bureau;
Missouri State Teachers Association; Missouri National Education
Association; and Penney Rector, School Administrators Coalition.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am