Bill > S2350

This bill: - Establishes a Twenty-First Century Education Trust Fund administered by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education to support programs and initiatives aimed at addressing persistent disparities in student achievement among different subgroups. The fund will be supported by appropriations, bond proceeds, and public and private donations. - Requires the Commissioner to set statewide targets for addressing achievement gaps, and directs school districts to develop 3-year plans to meet those targets, with input from parents and community stakeholders. The plans must detail how schools will allocate Chapter 70 education funding to support their strategies. - Creates a data advisory commission to help the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education improve the collection, analysis, and use of state, district, and school-level data to inform resource allocation decisions. - Modifies the Chapter 70 school funding formula, including adjustments to the foundation budget, low-income and English learner increments, and the calculation of required local contribution. - Provides for gradual increases in reimbursements for charter school tuition and special education out-of-district transportation costs. - Directs the Division of Local Services and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to study and report on the equity, predictability, and accuracy of the Chapter 70 funding formula. - Establishes a special commission to examine the fiscal health and policy needs of rural school districts facing declining enrollment.

Senate Committee on Ways and Means (S)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S2350