1. Kansas School Funding Funding for the future. Introduction
Governor Brownback is inviting comment on the development of a new school funding formula in Kansas. Gov. Brownback is asking people to submit their comments by Nov. 30 to
This power point and other resources were developed to provide a quick overview and way to gather information to submit to the governor.

2. What we know 2015: Legislature repealed 1992 school finance formula.
School finance formula replaced with block grant system for two years.
2017: Block grant system expires.
Nov. 30, 2016: Deadline to submit K-12 funding system input to Governor Brownback through
In 2015, the Kansas legislature voted to repeal the 1992 school finance formula citing the complexity and unpredictability of the formula.
In its place, the legislature instituted a block grant funding system. This system froze funding for two years while a new funding formula could be developed.
This block grant system will expire in 2017 and Governor Brownback has invited public input into the development of a new school funding mechanism.

3. What is Base State Aid Per Pupil? Base State Aid Per Pupil
Base State Aid Per Pupil History
$4,257
$4,316
$4,374
$4,400 (originally $4,433)
$4,280 (following adjournment of the 2009 Legislature)
$4,012 (after the Governor’s November 2009 allotment)
$3,937
$3,780
$3,838
$3,852 (approved by the 2014 Legislature)
What is Base State Aid Per Pupil?
Base State Aid Per Pupil
Arguably the most important number in the entire formula – nearly every calculation based off of this
Determined by the State, as determined by available funds in the State General Fund (SGF)
Provides for the “consistency” aspect of a formula

4. BLOCK GRANT IMPACT

5. 2015 District Program Valuing Survey
Conducted in preparation for Block Grant reductions
725 Responses
Largest response group - parents (41.5%)
Scale of 1-10
1 - Not Important
5 - Neutral
10 - Very Important

6. Highest % Scoring 9-10 (Very Important) for ALL Respondents
Attract & retain quality staff %
Extracurricular athletics %
Elementary physical education %
College credit prior to graduation %
Instrumental music (band/orchestra) %
Extracurricular activities %
School security service (resource officers) %
Career & Technical Education %
Emergency notification (School Messenger) %
School health services (nursing) %

7. Kansas leads the world in the success of each student.
Outcomes for measuring progress
Kindergarten readiness
Individual Plan of Study focused on career Interest
High school graduation rates
Postsecondary completion/attendance
Social/emotional growth measured locally
Before we launch into discussions about how we believe school funding should be organized, it’s important to understand where Kansas K-12 education is headed.
In October 2015, based on input from Kansans across the state, the Kansas State Board of Education announced its new vision for Kansas education: Kansas leads the world in the success of each student.
This new vision calls for a review of the current education system to ensure it is addressing the needs of the whole child.
In order to measure the state’s progress towards achieving this vision, schools are being asked to focus on five outcome measures:
Kindergarten readiness
Individual Plan of Study focused on the student’s career interest
High school graduation rates
Postsecondary completion/attendance
Social/emotional growth measured locally

8. Defining Success A successful Kansas high school graduate has the
Academic preparation,
Cognitive preparation,
Technical skills,
Employability skills and
Civic engagement
to be successful in postsecondary education, in the attainment of an industry recognized certification or in the workforce, without the need for remediation.
Within its discussions with the citizens of Kansas about what they want in their state education system, the board adopted this definition of a successful high school graduate.
A successful Kansas high school graduate has the
Academic preparation,
Cognitive preparation,
Technical skills,
Employability skills and
Civic engagement
to be successful in postsecondary education, in the attainment of an industry recognized certification or in the workforce, without the need for remediation.

9. Funding formula components 1992-2015
General operating funds
Based on a “weighted” per-pupil formula
Adjusted district’s enrollment based on cost factors
i.e. low socio-economic status, special needs, low total enrollment in the district.
Definitions to walk away with:
FTE (Full-Time Equivalency)
BSAPP (Base State Aid Per Pupil)
Local Effort
GSA (General State Aid)
What is FTE?
Full-Time Equivalency
Takes the Physical Headcount X Factors Associated with Each Student (Dynamic & Responsive)
Arguably the second-most important number in the formula
Often the target of criticism for “why the formula is too complicated”

10. “Jumpin’ Julie”
1st-12th Student (11th Grade): 1.0
Lives more than 2.5 from site (Transportation): .17
Qualifies for Free Lunch (At-Risk): .45
Speaks/Reads Limited English (Bi-Lingual): .37
Total FTE: 1.99
$3852 X 1.99 = $7,665
“Dougie Fresh”
1st-12th Student (10th Grade): 1.0
Drives himself to School: 0.0
Parents pay lunch money each month: 0.0
Attends Business & Vocational Tech. Courses (CTE): .15
Total FTE: 1.15
$3,852 X 1.15 = $4,429

11. USD 490 Weighted FTE/Headcount 4-Year Comparison
School Yr. Weighted FTE Headcount Ratio BSAPP $3, $3, $3, $3,780 Average Ratio 1.62
Paid from the “Pool” generated by 20 mills
Step One
BSAPP X FTE = Legal Maximum
Step Two
Legal Maximum Local Effort = GSA

12. Funding formula components 1992-2015
General operating funds
Local Option Budgets (LOB)
(Supplemental general state aid)
Provides districts the option to levy additional taxes to enhance general operating fund in order to provide additional programs and services.
The second major component was the Local Option Budget (LOB), referred to as Supplemental General Fund Aid.
Provides districts the option to levy additional taxes (up to 33%) to enhance general operating fund in order to provide additional programs and services.
A statewide property tax of 20 mills was set to provide some of the funding.
Credit Against General State Aid Entitlement
Examples:
Mineral (Severance Tax)
Motor Vehicle Tax receipts
Industrial Revenue Bonds
Special Aid State Aid
NO Longer includes proceeds from 20 mills

13. Funding formula components 1992-2015
General operating funds
Local Option Budgets (LOB)
Equalization formulas
Ensure property tax levies charged at local levels for LOBs, capital outlay funds and debt service funds are comparable to one another – regardless of district’s wealth.
A third very important part of the last school finance formula were the Equalization formulas.
Provided additional state aide to ensure funds raised through property tax levies charged at local levels for LOBs, capital outlay funds and debt service funds were comparable to one another – regardless of district’s wealth.

14. Equalization Illustrated
District Wealth = Assessed Valuation/Pupils(Headcount)

16. What was wrong with the old formula?
Some said...
We didn’t fund it enough.
It was too complicated.
It didn’t give enough local flexibility.
It didn’t provide stable funding for planning.
There wasn’t enough emphasis on money in the classroom.
There was no predictability of yearly costs for the state.
There wasn’t enough accountability built into the system.
…and many other reasons.
What was wrong with the old funding formula?
This is an endless topic of debate – these are a few examples.
We didn’t fund it enough.
It was too complicated.
It didn’t give enough local flexibility.
It didn’t provide stable funding for planning.
There wasn’t enough emphasis on money in the classroom.
There was no predictability of yearly costs for the state.
There wasn’t enough accountability built into the system.
…and many other reasons.
Because the block grants go away and we have to write a new finance formula to support Kansas public education, we have three questions to discuss. We will then compile the answers and send them to the governor.

17. Discussion #1
What will it take financially for Kansas to lead the world in the success of each student?
Kindergarten readiness
Individual Plan of Study focused on the student’s career interest
High school graduation rates
Postsecondary completion/attendance
Social/emotional growth measured locally
A successful Kansas high school graduate has the academic preparation, cognitive preparation, technical skills, employability skills and civic engagement to be successful in postsecondary education, in the attainment of an industry recognized certification or in the workforce, without the need for remediation.
Thinking about Kansas K-12 education, the board’s five outcomes and its definition of a successful high school student, what will it take financially for Kansas to lead the world in the success of each student?

18. Discussion #2
Are there other considerations to a school finance formula that should be considered by the legislature?
Are there other considerations to a school finance formula that should be considered by the legislature?

19. Discussion #3
If your group had to prioritize three of your items for consideration, what would they be?
If your group had to prioritize three of your items for consideration, what would they be?

20. Next Steps
Board of Education will submit recommendations to cc: by November 30, 2016
A summary of you comments and recommendations will be ed to the Governor.
They will also be shared with the Kansas Association of School Boards, the Kansas State Department of Education and the United School Administrators | Kansas.
Thank you!