SB 1522 Summary

• Adds a new "G" funding weight for gifted education programs in the school finance formula, with phased increases from 0.007 in fiscal year 2019-2020 to 0.037 in fiscal year 2023-2024 and thereafter.

• Modifies the definition of gifted pupils to explicitly include economically disadvantaged and minority pupils who have been underrepresented in gifted education programs.

• Requires school districts to identify as gifted at least pupils scoring at or above the 97th percentile on state board-adopted tests, while allowing identification of additional gifted pupils.

• Appropriates $150,000 annually for fiscal years 2019-2020 through 2021-2022 to the auditor general for a special audit and cost study of school district special education programs.

• Appropriates $3,000,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2019-2020 to the extraordinary special education needs fund.