HB1721
To Amend The Law Concerning Adult Education Charter Schools; And To Amend The Sources Of Funding Available To Adult Education Charter Schools.
Last Action (May 1, 2023): Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1721 amends the Arkansas Quality Charter Schools Act of 2013 to refine the funding mechanisms for adult education charter schools. The bill explicitly defines the sources of funding for these institutions, including public school district funds, state aids, grants, and private donations. It establishes specific formulas for calculating foundation funding and professional development funding based on student enrollment, utilizing initial projections for the first year of operation and historical average daily membership for subsequent years. Furthermore, the bill mandates that these funding amounts be distributed in twelve monthly installments throughout the fiscal year. The legislation also ensures that adult education charter schools cannot be denied eligible funding, provided they submit the required enrollment data to the Department of Education.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are adult education charter schools, which gain a more formalized and predictable funding structure, and the adult students enrolled in these programs, who may benefit from more stable school operations and consistent educational resources. Additionally, the eligible entities that operate these charter schools benefit from clearer regulatory guidelines regarding revenue sources and allocation formulas.
Who Might Suffer?
Potentially, traditional public school districts could be negatively impacted if funding that would have otherwise been allocated to the general Public School Fund is diverted to support these adult education charter schools. Taxpayers might also be affected if the new funding formulas necessitate a larger overall state appropriation for education or result in a reallocation of existing resources away from other educational priorities.
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