The bill amends Chapter 302A of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to include a new provision allowing remote schools to receive additional funding to support instructional and support staff. This funding would be in addition to what they receive under the weighted student formula, thereby helping these schools to retain essential personnel and resources required for a quality education. The bill defines 'remote schools' as public high schools that are either located at least an hour's drive away from the next nearest public high school or situated on an island with a population under ten thousand.
Summary
Senate Bill 153 aims to provide supplemental categorical funding for remote schools in Hawaii to address the disadvantages they face within the existing educational funding structure. The bill recognizes the limitations of the weighted student formula established by the Reinventing Education Act of 2004, which has led to budgetary shortfalls for small, remote schools. For instance, Hana high and elementary school has seen losses in qualified teachers and a potential inability to meet minimum course requirements, jeopardizing students' paths to graduation.
Contention
While proponents of SB153 argue that it's necessary to ensure equity in education for remote areas, there could be concerns regarding the sustainability of funding and the potential impacts on schools not classified as remote. Critics may question whether the unique needs of all schools are being adequately addressed through such categorical funding and whether some schools may become reliant on these supplemental appropriations, leading to disparities in educational quality across different regions.
Proposing a constitutional amendment to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district applicable to residence homesteads, to adjust the amount of the limitation on school district ad valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in certain exemption amounts, to provide supplemental payments to full-time classroom teachers in school districts, and to except certain appropriations to pay for school district ad valorem tax relief from the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations.