HB 10-1015: Stable Funding for Small School Districts

• Creates a 5-year stable funding pilot program (2010-11 through 2015-16) for school districts with fewer than 2,000 pupils, fixing their total program funding at 2009-10 levels to provide budgeting predictability.

• Allows small districts to enter the program in either 2010-11 or 2011-12 budget year, after which they must remain enrolled for the entire stable funding period.

• Permits funding adjustments only if statewide per-pupil funding increases or if district enrollment increases or decreases by a specified percentage threshold.

• Requires participating districts to enter memoranda of understanding with other districts or cooperative service boards to jointly provide and share costs for services including administrative, food, transportation, health, special education, and maintenance services.

• Directs the State Board of Education to evaluate the program by 2015 and recommend to the General Assembly whether to continue it.