Legislative Update Debbie Elmore Director of Governmental Relations and Communication
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South Carolina School Boards Association LegisLATIVE update Debbie Elmore Director of Governmental Relations and Communication inside Top legislative priorities, position statements and talking points K12 funding / Education funding reform ............1 School safety ....................................3 School bus safety .............................5 School start date ..............................5 Retired teacher salary cap ..............6 South Carolina legislators ................7 LEGISLATIVE update Top legislative priorities, position statements and talking points K12 funding/Education leases/purchases. In addition, transportation funding was transferred from the EIA to the funding reform General Fund. (SCSBA legislative priority) • $11 million to assist low performing schools With a projection of about $292 million in identified under the new accountability additional General Fund revenues and an system. (Note: The number of low performing estimated $39 million growth in Education schools is expected to double under the Improvement Act (EIA) funds, the prospect new system. $11 million is nearly half of the of tackling education funding reform this S.C. Department of Education’s (SCDE) legislative session is highly unlikely. budget request of $24 million.) The House Ways and Means Committee • $5 million to increase the starting teacher wrapped up its work February 22 to finalize its $8 annual salary from $30,000 to $32,000. billion state spending plan that, among other • $3 million for industrial credentials/ things, directs school districts to provide a two certification. percent teacher pay raise but adds no increase • $2 million for career and technology centers. in funding for the Base Student Cost (BSC). • $4.5 million for the Education Oversight Highlights of allocations for K12 education are Committee Partnerships for Innovation. as follows: • $4.2 million in EIA funds and $32.4 million • $32 million is added to the Education in General Fund revenues to fund the Finance Act (EFA) to maintain the one percent state retirement employer current year’s BSC of $2,425. This is far contribution rate increase beginning July 1 below the $3,018 that is required by law for all state employees, including teachers. for the 2018-2019 school year. (Note: (Districts are also to receive the same level State Superintendent of Education Molly of funding they received to fund the two Spearman requested a $125 per student percent employer contribution rate increase increase in the BSC. Governor Henry for the current fiscal year.) McMaster advocated for a $10 per student BSC increase.) • $56.4 million was allocated to fund an increase in the employer state health plan • $13 million for the State Public Charter premium increase of 3.3 percent to 7.4 School District to maintain the current year’s percent. The funding is directed to also help BSC. maintain the current employee health plan • $35 million in EIA funding and $24 million premium cost for 2019. in EFA funding to fund a two percent The budget also consolidates several teacher pay increase. (Note: $24 million is allocation lines including technology, allocated to school districts through the EFA professional development, reading and lunch formula, which means little to no funding for programs. It creates a $41.2 million Lottery “wealthier” districts and more funding for “ Reserve Trust Fund. less wealthy” districts.) • $3 million in recurring funding and $5 million in non-recurring funding for school bus 1 LEGISLATIVE update Highlights of K12 budget provisos that direct to benefit fully from digital-age teaching and how funding is to be allocated and/or spent learning. are as follows: Remaining budget schedule: • An amended Education Finance Act • March 6 - 8: printed appropriations bill Formula/Base Student Cost Inflation placed on House members’ desks Factor proviso to define students in poverty weighting as those who qualify for Medicaid, • March 12 - 15: House floor deliberations Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program • March 20 - 22: Senate Finance Committee (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy deliberations Families (TANF) or students who are • March 27 - 29: final Senate Finance homeless, transient or in foster care and to Committee plan printed/briefing for senators require that school districts reimburse costs for students in dual enrollment courses. • April 3 - 5: Senate floor deliberations • An amended School Districts and Special • April 10 - 12: Senate floor deliberations Schools Flexibility proviso that excludes • April 17 - 19: bill returned to House, funding appropriated for the purchase of conference committee technology upgrades, related interior and • April 24 - 26: conference committee exterior switches and connections from the funding that may be flexed. • May 1 - 3: conference committee report delivered to governor • An amended Professional Development proviso that directs $485,000 to the Youth • May 8 - 10: vetoes Learning Institute and a pilot initiative Position statement in middle schools to assist educators in SCSBA supports legislation to reform the teaching students how to become self- state’s education funding structure. Any revision regulated and self-directed learners. should be based upon specific analysis and • An amended 4K proviso that requires that recommendations on (1) the current tax the SCDE and the Office of First Steps by structure and the state’s taxing policy, (2) the August 1 collect the documented waiting current education funding formulas and their lists and determine a process to notify ability to equalize educational opportunities parents of eligible students of available statewide and (3) a realistic means of slots in all approved public and private 4K computing a per pupil funding amount, providers. which is aligned with state-imposed student • A new Virtual School Makeup Days proviso performance standards and expectations. that requires SCETV and the SCDE to Recommendations for reforming the method of develop guidelines and the methodology fully funding public education in South Carolina for delivering instruction virtually for up to must do the following: three days of scheduled school makeup • expand local district revenue-raising options; days to be implemented for the 2018-2019 • generate revenue that is adequate, stable school year. and recurring; • Adopted a Digital Learning Plan proviso • ensure equitable and timely distribution, to that creates a seven-member committee to include direct distribution from the state to a study the development of a Digital Learning district; Plan for the state’s K12 public education system. The plan should set directions and • provide adequate funding for other priorities, support innovation and provide operational needs such as transportation resources to enable educators and students and fringe; 2 LEGISLATIVE update • include state-driven initiatives to ensure an estimated fiscal impact of $6.3 million that every public school student has the statewide, and that does not include the opportunity to learn in permanent school cost for remediation, removal, renovations facilities that are safe, structurally sound and to facilities or personnel to oversee the conducive to a good learning environment; requirements. (Source: S.C. Revenue and • ensure that districts are held harmless from Fiscal Affair Office) receiving less money through a new funding • We appreciate the allocation to school plan; and districts in the House Ways and Means • grant all elected school boards full fiscal budget plan to help cover some of the autonomy. mandated two percent teacher pay increase; however, many local boards will Talking points be faced with decisions regarding pay • The General Assembly must meet its increases for all other district staff that will commitment to fully fund state-mandated likely have to be funded with local taxes educational services and programs and from businesses and industries or dipping work to reform education funding. The BSC into reserves. In addition, because some in the House Ways and Means budget plan of the funds are allocated using the EFA is currently set at this year’s level of $2,425 formula, most districts will have to make instead of the $3,018 as required by state up any differences in the amount of state law. funding they receive and the actual cost of • Lawmakers should oppose legislation the pay raise. mandating any new requirements for • We appreciate the allocation of state schools to provide unless the state fully funding in the current budget proposal to funds those new requirements. This includes cover next year’s mandated one percent the following bills currently making their way increase in the employer contribution through the General Assembly: to the state retirement system and • H.3427, which passed the House and is continued funding to cover the current currently before the full Senate, would year’s mandated two percent employer require each public and charter high contribution rate increase. school to offer at least one computer • We appreciate the allocation of state science course. These requirements may funding in the current budget proposal to require school districts to hire additional cover next year’s state health insurance computer science teachers at an estimat- premium increase. ed cost of $66,000 per teacher, utilize Vir- tual SC services through the S.C. Depart- ment of Education at a cost of $7,000 per School safety school or contract with adjunct instructors (SCSBA legislative priority) at an undetermined cost. (Source: S.C.