Oklahoma Senate Bill SB709

Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

State Aid; directing school districts that qualify for certain weight to use funds for certain purpose. Effective date. Emergency.

Impact

The proposed changes in SB 709 directly influence how State Aid is calculated, with particular emphasis on providing support for bilingual education and special education categories. The adjustments are expected to provide more substantial funding to districts with a high number of students needing additional language support or special needs services. The intent is to enhance the educational experience for these students by ensuring that districts receive adequate resources based on their actual needs.

Summary

Senate Bill 709 amends the existing statutes regarding the calculation of weighted membership for school districts in Oklahoma. It specifically focuses on the formula used to determine State Aid, which is a critical aspect of funding for schools. The bill mandates that from the school year 2022-2023, districts will calculate their weighted membership based on the higher average daily membership from the first nine weeks of either the current or preceding year. This amendment aims to create greater stability in funding calculations, especially for schools experiencing fluctuating enrollment numbers.

Contention

While the bill has received support for its potential benefits in stabilizing school funding, there is also contention surrounding how these changes could impact smaller or rural districts. Critics express worries that the reliance on enrollment statistics from the first nine weeks may unfairly disadvantage districts that have seasonal enrollment patterns or that are experiencing significant demographic shifts. Furthermore, there are concerns about adequate professional development for teachers, particularly in bilingual education, which the bill stipulates funding for but does not detail how this will be effectively implemented.