AT-RISK STUDENT CATEGORICAL
House Bill 4806
Sponsor: Rep. Tony Stamas
Committee: Education
Complete to 5-29-01
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4806 AS INTRODUCED 5-22-01
House Bill 4806 would amend the State School Aid Act to establish the eligibility of all school districts to receive funding for at-risk students. Currently this special category of funding is restricted to the school districts and charter schools having the highest number of impoverished students who are at risk of academic failure, and whose basic foundation grant is lower than $6,500 per pupil.
Specifically and under the law, the School Aid Fund appropriates at-risk funding for allocation to eligible schools at the following levels: $304 million during fiscal year 2000-2001; $319 million during fiscal year 2001-2002; and, $329 million during fiscal year 2002-2003. Generally, the money is allocated to schools based on the number of students in their membership who meet the income eligibility criteria for free breakfast, lunch, or milk in the immediately preceding state fiscal year.
Further, eligibility is restricted to a district or charter school where a) the sum of the combined state and local revenue per pupil, plus the amount of the district's per pupil allocation under section 20j(2) [which defines a district's per pupil allocation to be the difference between its adjustment in the basic foundation allowance minus its adjustment in the foundation allowance], is less than $6,500 adjusted by the dollar amount of the difference between the basic foundation allowance and $5,000. However, beginning in 2002-2003, the $6,500 amount is adjusted each year by an amount equal to the dollar amount of the difference between the basic foundation allowance and $5,000, minus $200; and, b) the district or charter school agrees to use the funding only for purposes that are allowed in compliance with the program and accountability requirements specified in this section. House Bill 4806 would eliminate eligibility criterion a), italicized above.
House Bill 4806 also would delete a section that specifies that if a district or charter school does not meet the eligibility criteria for at-risk funding under a), above, then it is eligible if, beginning in the 1999-2000 fiscal year, at least one-quarter of the students (and, at least 4,500 students) met the income eligibility criteria for poverty based on free breakfast, lunch, or milk in the previous state fiscal year. Under the law, where that two-part criterion is met, the district or charter school receives an amount per pupil equal to 5.75 percent of the sum of the district's foundation allowance (or the charter school's per pupil allocation) plus the amount of the district's per pupil allocation under section 20j(2), not to exceed $6,500 adjusted by the dollar amount of the difference between the basic foundation allowance and $5,000. However, beginning in 2002-2003, the $6,500 amount is adjusted each year by an amount equal to the dollar amount of the difference between the basic foundation allowance and $5,000, minus $200.
House Bill 4806 also would delete an outdated provision that applied only during the 1999-2000 fiscal year to enable schools to dedicate up to $10 per pupil from the at-risk allocation to a school lunch program. Further, the bill would delete a provision that applies to a district formed by consolidation after June 1, 1995 when one or more of the districts was ineligible before consolidation for an additional allowance based on student poverty.
[Under the law, "at-risk pupil" means a pupil for whom the district has documentation that the pupil meets at last two of the following criteria: is a victim of child abuse or neglect; is below grade level in English language and communication skills or mathematics; is a pregnant teenager or teenage parent; is eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch subsidy; has atypical behavior or attendance patterns; or has a family history of school failure, incarceration, or substance abuse. For pupils for whom the results of at least the applicable Michigan education assessment program (MEAP) test have been received, at-risk pupil also includes a pupil who does not meet the other listed criteria, but who did not achieve at least a score of moderate on the most recent MEAP reading test for which results for the pupil have been received, did not achieve at least a score of moderate on the most recent MEAP mathematics test for which results for the pupil have been received, or did not achieve at least a score of novice on the most recent MEAP science test for which results for the pupil have been received. For pupils in grades K-3, at-risk pupil also includes a pupil who is at risk of not meeting the district's core academic curricular objectives in English language, communication skills, or mathematics.]
MCL 388.1631a
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.