Long
Range Fiscal Plan: A long-term plan for fiscal integrity is needed
to provide a stable business climate and to ensure the citizens are provided
with necessary services.
A+ Study: The A+ Study clarifies and makes
recommendations on the issue of adequacy and equitability and recommends
increased funding to provide for school district needs.
Inflation-Proofing: Alaska must continue to
improve its educational system and reasonably adjust education for annual cost
increases. The Anchorage School Board recommends the adoption of a 2 percent
annual increase to more fully keep pace with inflation, and a review and
adjustment every three years to account for actual inflation. If
inflation-proofing is valid for the Permanent Fund, then it is valid for
funding our children’s education.
Learning Opportunity Grants (LOGs): For the past
few years, the Alaska Legislature has provided for LOGs outside the education
funding formula. Although school districts appreciate the funds, LOGs expire
annually and as such are not a reliable source of funding. This lack of
reliability impairs budgeting and precludes long-term planning for real
educational improvements. Furthermore, the funds are distributed on a straight
ADM basis, unadjusted to take into consideration the cost of providing services
in different regions of the state. Funding revisions should be made within the
formula.
Debt Reimbursement: Debt reimbursement for capital
projects and major maintenance are subject to annual appropriation by the
Legislature. The Anchorage School Board thanks the Legislature for fully
funding debt reimbursement last year and urges the Legislature to fully fund
debt reimbursement this session.
Increasing Funding for Special Needs: Special
needs funding is available to a school district to assist the district in
providing special education, gifted and talented education, vocational
education and bilingual education services to its students. Currently, a
funding factor of 20 percent is applied to the calculation of a district’s
state aid to fund special needs students. If the Education Funding Formula is
reopened, then this factor must be reexamined to meet actual district costs
caused by increases in the number of students and severity of needs within
these areas.
Implementing the Cost Factor Study: The Cost
Factor Study, due to the Legislature in November 2002, is a review of the
District Cost Factors, often referred to as the Area Cost Differentials, used
in calculating a district’s adjusted Average Daily Membership (ADM) within the
School Funding Formula. A thorough, fair, and legally defensible Cost Factor
Study should be implemented to help ensure school and student success.
