The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SCR 44 Original 2016 Regular Session Morrish
Provides for legislative approval of the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) formula for FY
2016-2017 to determine the cost of a minimum foundation program of education in all public
elementary and secondary schools as well as to equitably allocate the funds to local public school
systems as developed by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and
adopted by the board on March 4, 2016.
Proposed formula utilizes four levels to determine MFP funding allocations for city, parish, or other
local public school systems or schools as follows:
Level 1 - Calculate State and Local Cost Allocation
(1)Maintains use of Feb. 1 membership as defined by BESE and provides that each student is
counted as 1.0 in the formula.
(2)Provides that students counted are enrolled in the following school districts and schools:
• City and parish school systems
• Recovery School District Schools, both operated and Type 5 Charter schools
• New Type 2 Charter schools
• Additionally includes Type 3B Charter schools
(3)Maintains the existing weight of 22% for add-on student units for at-risk and English
language learner students.
(4)Maintains the existing weight of 6% for Career and Technical Education course units.
(5)Maintains the existing weight of 150% for Special Education Students with disabilities.
(6)Maintains the 60% existing weight for Gifted and Talented Students.
(7)Maintains the Economy of Scale curvilinear weight of 20% for school systems with a student
membership of less than 7,500.
Base Per Pupil Amount - increases base per pupil funding amount from $3,961 to $4,015, which
represents a 1.375% increase.
Continues to determine the proportion of the costs supported by the state and local school systems
as follows:
(1)Retains provisions that the calculation of the local school system share of the total MFP cost
includes a property tax revenue contribution, a sales tax revenue contribution, and an other
local revenue contribution.
(2)Retains provisions specifying that in no event shall the state share of the total Level 1 costs
be less than 25% for any district.
Level 2 - Incentive for Local Effort
(1)Retains provisions to provide rewards to school districts that contribute a greater proportion
of local revenue towards the cost of education by increasing local property and sales tax
revenues.
(2)Continues to limit the revenue eligible for reward equal to the total state and local cost
multiplied by 34%.
(3)Continues provision that the Level 2 Reward Factor determines the amount of local support
required in Level 2. Establishes the Level 1 Reward Factor at 1.72%.
Level 3 -Legislative Allocations
Retains Level 3 as "Legislative Allocations" as follows:
Continuation of Funding for Pay Raises
(1)Continues supplemental pay raises for certificated personnel initiated in 2001-02, 2006-07,
2007-08, and 2008-09 as a per pupil amount.
(2)Continues supplemental pay raises for non-certificated support workers initiated in 2002-03,
2006-07, and 2007-08 as a per pupil amount.
(3)Adds Type 3B charter schools to the list of schools eligible for continuation of funding for
pay raises.
Hold Harmless Enhancement
(1)Continues the 10-year phase-out of Hold Harmless funding for Concordia, East Baton Rouge,
Evangeline, Iberville, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. James, and West Feliciana
parishes, beginning with a 10% reduction of the revised "over funded" amount in FY 07-08.
(2)Retains provision that a Hold Harmless district may choose to reduce the remaining balance
by an amount greater than 10%, provided such request is made by June 30th each year.
(3)Retains provision that the annual 10% reduction amount will be redistributed to all non-Hold
Harmless districts on a per pupil basis. Support for Increasing Mandated Costs in Health Insurance, Retirement, and Fuel
Continues provision that local school systems shall receive a per pupil funding amount of
$100 to support increasing mandated costs involving health insurance, retirement, and fuel.
Level 4 - Supplementary Allocations
Foreign Language Associate Enhancement
(1)Retains the supplemental allocation of $21,000 for each Foreign Language Associate or a
graduate of the Escadrille Louisiane program employed. Retains provision that the number
of these teachers is not to exceed a total of 300 teachers. Specifies that $1,000 of the amount
is to be used toward the costs of VISA sponsorship.
(2)Retains requirement that these teachers be paid by the employing school board at least the
state average classroom teacher salary (without PIP) by years of experience and degree
beginning with year three. Proposed formula additionally provides that the supplemental
allocation must be allocated to the school where the teacher is employed and the funds used
to support the total cost of the teacher's salary.
(3)Retains requirement that first year teachers be paid an installment incentive of an additional
$6,000 and that second and third year teachers shall receive a retention incentive of an
additional $4,000. Specifies that these amounts will be provided by the employing school
district.
Career Development Allocation
Supports technical courses required for statewide credentials. Retains that allocation is equal
to 6% of the base per pupil amount or for each qualifying course enrollment. Each school
system is to receive a minimum amount of $25,000 and other state-approved public schools
with students enrolled in grades 9 - 12 will receive a minimum of $10,000 per school.
High Cost Services Assistance
Provides additional funds for students with disabilities. Retains that the total allocation for
public school systems versus other public schools shall be proportional to the share of total
qualifying applications submitted by public school systems versus other public schools.
Proposed formula increases maximum allocation to $9.4 million and revises the allocation
methodology so that all entities within each group, city and parish school systems and other
public school systems, shall receive the same percent of the requested allocation.
Supplemental Course Allocation
Pursuant to present law relative to the Course Choice Program, provides for the cost of
secondary course choices specifically approved by BESE. Proposed formula retains the allocation for each public school system and other public school and increases from $26 to
$35 the per student enrolled in grades seven through 12.
Allocations for Other Public Schools
Provides for state cost allocation for LSU and SU Laboratory Schools and provides that the
funds for these schools shall be allocated to the institution of higher education that operates
the school.
Provides for state and local cost allocations for Legacy Type 2 charter schools.
Requires the state and local cost allocation to be based on the actual state per pupil for the
system where the student resides instead of the average per pupil amount for the system
where the school is located.
Provides for funding of Office of Juvenile Justice Schools.
Mid-Year Student Allocations
Provides for adjustments to the allocations based on mid-year student counts.
70% Local General Fund Required Instructional Expenditure at the School Building Level
Retains the requirement that 70% of general fund expenditures must be in the areas of
instruction and school administration at the school building level.
Pay Raise Requirement
Provides that if a city, parish, or local public school system or other public school has a net
increase from 2015-2016 to 2016-2017 in its per student Level 1 and 2 State Cost Allocation,
the city, parish, or local public school system or other public school shall be required to
sustain the certificated classroom teacher pay raises provided by appropriation in 2013-2014.
Further provides that if the city, parish, or local public school system or other public school
has established plans to sustain or increase the teacher pay raises provided for by the
2013-2014 appropriation prior to the development of proposed formula, then this provision
shall not apply.
Effective August 1, 2016.