Bill > S273

This bill aims to improve how the state reimburses public school districts for charter school tuition payments. Specifically, it modifies existing law to adjust the maximum percentage of a district's "net school spending" (the amount a district spends on its own students, excluding certain expenses) that can be paid towards charter school tuition. Under the proposed changes, a district's total charter school tuition payments will not exceed 9% of its net school spending. However, this limit increases to 18% if the district meets certain qualifications outlined in a separate paragraph (paragraph (3)). The bill also clarifies that the state will cover charter school tuition payments that exceed the 9% threshold for districts that qualify under paragraph (3), and it will also cover tuition for siblings attending charter schools if their attendance would push the district's total tuition payments over the 9% limit. Finally, any reduction in the state's payment for these charter school tuition costs will not be greater than any percentage reduction in the district's "chapter 70 funding," which is the state's primary formula for distributing education aid to local school districts.