HLS 14RS-6154 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 220
BY REPRESENTATIVE PRICE
SCHOOLS/FINANCE-MFP: Requests that the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary
Education reconvene a minimum foundation program task force to determine the
actual cost of public education and identify potential funding mechanisms
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to reconvene2
a minimum foundation program (MFP) task force to determine the actual cost of3
providing public education in Louisiana and identify all potential funding4
mechanisms to enable school systems to meet this cost and to submit a written report5
of findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Education not later6
than February 1, 2015.7
WHEREAS, the Constitution of Louisiana requires that the legislature provide for8
the education of the people of the state and further requires that the legislature establish and9
maintain a public education system; and10
WHEREAS, the Constitution of Louisiana further provides that it is the goal of the11
public education system to provide learning environments and experiences at all stages of12
human development that are humane, just, and designed to promote excellence in order that13
every individual may be afforded an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential; and14
WHEREAS, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has15
the constitutional responsibility of annually developing, adopting, and submitting to the16
legislature for its approval and funding a formula to be used to determine the cost of a17
minimum foundation program of education in all public elementary and secondary schools18
as well as to equitably allocate the funds to local school systems; and19 HLS 14RS-6154 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 220
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WHEREAS, the constitution provides that the legislature may not amend the formula1
that is adopted by the board and submitted to the legislature for its consideration but may2
only return an unsatisfactory formula to the board along with recommendations to the board3
for an amended formula; and4
WHEREAS, for the purpose of providing BESE with advisory recommendations for5
the MFP formula for 2014-2015 and beyond, BESE formed an MFP task force that met from6
September of 2013 through January of 2014; and7
WHEREAS, on January 6, 2014, the task force held its final meeting and adopted8
several recommendations, including a 2.75 percent rate increase in 2014-2015 base per pupil9
amount funding, additional funding for career education and special education, expanded10
course opportunities, a technology readiness overview for each school district, and a study11
of the MFP formula by financial and policy experts in order to restructure it for greater12
clarity, accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness; and13
WHEREAS, there is concern among some education stakeholders that the task force14
did not successfully determine the actual cost of educating Louisiana's students, and they15
have expressed that this determination is an essential part of ensuring that the MFP formula16
meets the needs of students and the school systems that educate them and is a question that17
warrants further study; and18
WHEREAS, in order to fulfill the state's constitutional duty of affording every19
student an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential, it is imperative that there be20
continued study of certain issues relative to the minimum foundation program formula so21
that determinations can be made as to how the state can best provide experiences and22
opportunities to students that help them succeed in all aspects of life.23
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the24
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the State Board of Elementary and25
Secondary Education to reconvene a minimum foundation program (MFP) task force to26
determine the actual cost of providing public education in Louisiana and identify all27
potential funding mechanisms to enable school systems to meet this cost and to submit a28
written report of findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Education not29
later February 1, 2015.30 HLS 14RS-6154 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 220
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the membership of the task force include but not1
be limited to individuals representing BESE, the state Department of Education, the2
Louisiana School Boards Association, the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents,3
the Louisiana Association of School Business Officers, Council for a Better Louisiana, the4
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the Louisiana Association of Public Charter5
Schools, the Louisiana Association of Educators, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, and6
the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council.7
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the8
president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state9
superintendent of education.10
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Price HR No. 220
Requests that the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education reconvene a minimum
foundation program (MFP) task force to determine the actual cost of providing public
education in La. and identify all potential funding mechanisms to enable school systems to
meet this cost and submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the House
Committee on Education by Feb. 1, 2015.