Bill > S2388

This bill aims to provide a sustainable future for rural schools. It does the following: 1. Requires the state's Center for Health Information and Analysis to review the health insurance plans of rural school districts annually or every 3 years and provide recommendations to help them find cost-saving alternatives. 2. Establishes an Office of Shared Services within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to assist school districts in forming regional school districts and superintendent unions. 3. Provides priority for paraprofessionals seeking to obtain licensure as special educators to receive grants. 4. Defines "rural school district" as having a student density of not more than 35 students per square mile and a per capita income less than the statewide average. 5. Increases the minimum state grant percentage for school facility projects in regional school districts to at least 90%. 6. Provides assistance to municipalities when a school is closed due to regionalization, including relief of facility debt and help with the school building's future use. 7. Establishes various funds to support rural school districts, regional school districts, superintendent unions, and school districts with declining enrollment. 8. Modifies the definition of "instructional costs" to include partial costs for highly specialized staff. 9. Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to review special education regulations for rural school districts and establish a special education financing legislative commission.