Senate Bill 353 Summary

• Clarifies eligibility requirements for isolated school district funding based on prior-year three-quarter average daily membership of less than 350 students and minimum accreditation standards.

• Establishes two categories of isolated funding: Category I funding for all qualifying districts and Category II funding for districts with density ratios below 1.2 students per square mile, calculated at 50% of Category I funding.

• Modifies state board authority to require school closures by limiting such authority to cases where the local board requests closure or the state board deems closure necessary for annexation, consolidation, or enforcement of academic or fiscal distress sanctions.

• Allows school districts to elect to receive isolated funding under § 6-20-601 in lieu of funding under § 6-20-603 when qualifying for both programs.

• Provides continued partial funding for districts even if isolated schools are closed, with funds restricted for operating closed school facilities or transporting displaced students to other district schools.