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David
Blount, Editor
While much of the legislative action affecting Standards
of Quality (SOQ) funding occurs through the state budget,
there have been some recent legislative changes (and proposed
changes) affecting the SOQ that are worthy of note. In 1999,
the General Assembly amended 22.1 – 253.13:3 (through
HB 2122) to incorporate in the Code the staffing ratios set
forth in the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting
Public Schools in Virginia (Standards of Accreditation, or
SOA). While these regulatory standards already were recognized
by the state funding formulae, the legislature, rather than
the Board of Education, now has control over these provisions.
Also in 1999, HB 1673 amended 22.1–253.13:1 to lower
the divisionwide pupil/teacher ratios from 25:1 to 24:1 in
kindergarten (with a maximum class size of 29) and grades
two and three (with a maximum class size of 30). The same
ratio already existed for grade one. There was minimal fiscal
impact associated with this measure and it widely was viewed
as legislative recognition of local school division practice.
Bills the past several years to amend the SOQ to require elementary
school guidance counselors garnered General Assembly approval
on several occasions, only to be vetoed. Though the disagreements
on these bills were largely philosophical, this additional
requirement would have driven more SOQ funding.
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
is examining state and local funding of public education during
2000–2001, with an interim report due in December and
a final report due next August. This study is focusing on
local discretionary spending on education in excess of that
required by the Standards of Quality. It will examine, among
other things, the SOQ cost methodology and state and local
funding of those costs, and will look at specific local practices
that exceed the SOQ and to what extent the practices used
relate to local ability to pay. The study also will study
local capital and debt service costs. Ultimately, JLARC may
recommend options that are available to the General Assembly
should it wish to enhance state support for K-12 education
by funding certain practices that exceed the current SOQ.
The Commission on Educational Accountability, established
in 1999, is charged, among other things, with recommending
ways to increase the capacity of schools, teachers, and students
to meet the high academic standards posed by the Standards
of Learning (SOL) and SOA. A special task force of the Commission
was established to examine the impact of the SOA on local
budgets, including study of current funding levels and fiscal
capacity and demographics of school divisions. The 2000-2002
budget also requires the Board of Education to calculate the
costs of implementing and complying with the SOA. The results
of these studies could drive further budgetary recommendations
or proposed changes to the SOQ.
Finally, it is significant to note unsuccessful attempts
made during recent sessions to increase SOQ requirements,
which would increase funding obligations for both the state
and localities. Measures were proposed to increase the number
of required assistant principal positions in local schools,
to increase the number of required instructional positions/1,000students and to further lower prescribed pupil/teacher ratios
and maximum class sizes (from 18:1 to 15:1, and from 22 to
20 maximum class size) for grades K-3 in certain schools.
Also, earlier in the 1990s, the legislature considered,
but did not enact, various bills that would have allowed the
Local Composite Index (LCI), the formula-driven ability-to-pay
indicator, to be appealed at the state level.
1998 – HB 303, HB 416, HB 427, HB 434, HB 685,
HB 686, SB 205
1999 – HB 235, HB 1673, HB 1768, HB 1975, HB
2122
2000 – HB 131, HB 1358, SB 164, HB 1032
As noted in the Funding and the Standards of Quality issue
briefing, changes to states’ education funding systems
have been realized largely as a result of court rulings against
the school finance system. Those states and the decisions
can be found at www.coe.ilstu.edu.
Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public
Schools in Virginia, July 2000.
Briefing by JLARC staff on the Study on Funding for Elementary
and Secondary Education, June, 2000.
Click here for a policy issue briefing on “Funding
and the Standards of Quality (SOQs).”
Click cepi@vcu.edu to provide
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