ID S1096

Establishes a weighted per-student funding formula to replace the current support unit-based system for allocating state education funds to school districts and public charter schools, using average daily attendance plus additional weighted amounts for specific student characteristics

Provides weighted funding multipliers for: economically disadvantaged students (0.25x base), English language learners (0.25x), special education students (1.75x), gifted and talented students (0.25x), at-risk students in alternative schools (1.0x), and students in districts/charters with fewer than 1,200 average daily attendance (sliding scale)

Creates a two-year transition period (fiscal years 2026 and 2027) with hold-harmless provisions ensuring districts receive at least 100% of what they would have received under the prior support unit formula

Removes provisions for master teacher premiums and mastery-based education funding from the educational support program calculation, while retaining other categorical programs including transportation, special education, counseling support, and literacy intervention

Declares an emergency to take effect July 1, 2025, and requires weighted student characteristic counts to be based on the average of the three highest verified student counts reported to the state