NC H249

Department of Public Instruction must study and propose changes to the state funding formula for children with disabilities, shifting from a model based on required service levels to one based on severity of disability type.

Study must examine funding percentages per child across school districts, benefits of severity-based allocation, how other states fund disabilities, appropriate funding levels, base funding amounts, and tiered funding categories by disability type.

Department must report findings and proposed new formula to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, Fiscal Research Division, House Appropriations Education Committee, and Senate Appropriations on Education/Higher Education Committee by February 15, 2022.

$7,725,690 is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for fiscal year 2021-2022 to allocate funds for children with disabilities to local school administrative units for at least 13% of each unit's average daily membership.

Appropriations funding becomes effective July 1, 2021, while remaining provisions become effective upon enactment.