House Bill 729 Summary

• Requires the State Board of Education to calculate a racial and ethnic proportionality score for each school comparing its demographic profile to its county's demographic profile, with schools designated as Highly Proportional, Proportional, Somewhat Disproportional, or Highly Disproportional based on score thresholds.

• Mandates the State Board to calculate measures of equality of access showing the extent to which each racial, ethnic, and economically disadvantaged subgroup has access to gifted and talented programs, experienced teachers, National Board certified teachers, field trips, arts and music instruction, and school support staff.

• Requires school report cards to report proportionality scores, equality of access data, and measures taken by schools to reduce segregation and provide equal access to educational resources.

• Appropriates $250,000 in nonrecurring funds annually for fiscal years 2023-2025 to the Department of Public Instruction to implement these requirements.

• Takes effect July 1, 2023, and applies beginning with reports based on data from the 2023-2024 school year.