Relative to the calculation of average daily membership in attendance and average daily membership in residence for school districts.
Impact
The implications of HB625 would significantly affect how school districts receive funding based on student attendance. By making changes to the ADMA and ADMR calculations, HB625 aims to give schools more resources by acknowledging the involvement of home-educated students accessing public school curriculums. This can lead to increased financial support for districts that accommodate such students, promoting inclusivity within the public education system. However, it also raises concerns regarding fairness in funding, as it could favor certain districts over others based on their ability to support home-educated children.
Summary
House Bill 625 (HB625) is an act that aims to modify the calculation methods of Average Daily Membership in Attendance (ADMA) and Average Daily Membership in Residence (ADMR) for school districts in New Hampshire. The bill proposes that students who are home-educated and eligible to access curricular and co-curricular programs should be counted as additional pupils when calculating these averages. Specifically, it stipulates that for each academic course taken in a public high school from grades 1-12, these students will count as an additional 0.15 pupil for the purposes of funding allocation.
Contention
One of the notable points of contention surrounding HB625 relates to the potential inequities it may introduce into the funding formula. Critics may question whether the proposed calculation adjustments adequately reflect the needs of all students, especially those attending public schools full-time versus those integrating into public programs from a home-education context. Additionally, there may be discussions regarding the fiscal impact—uncertainties in the fiscal note indicate that the financial ramifications of the changes have not been fully assessed, leading to potential debates over budget priorities in education.