U.S. Capitol

  USBA/USSA/UASBO PRIORITIES

 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

 Ratified by the Joint Legislative Delegate Assembly

 August 13, 2011

  •  Highest Priorities:
    • New funding for enrollment growth
    • Restore the line items and funding for Social Security and Retirement
    • Fully fund (at 85%) “to and from” transportation
    • Do not allow taking local replacement funds for charter schools from district property taxes and work to eliminate the 25% that is currently diverted for that purpose from district property taxes.  Advocate for a statewide basic levy to support charter schools or take the funding off the top of income tax revenue before the WPU is calculated.
    • Maintain $15 million in state matching funds for K-3 Reading Improvement Program and allow flexibility in use
    • Maintain $7.5 million (representing Optional Extended Day Kindergarten) as part of the Early Intervention block grant.  Allow full flexibility in its use.
    • Restore $8 million from the Enhancement for At-Risk Students Program.
    • Restore funding for Professional Development time/days
    • Urge local governance for education
    • Educate legislators on the importance and impact of funding formulas and tax levies; encouraging interim study committees on legislative funding proposals and revisiting the changes made to tax levies in HB301 School District Property Tax Revisions.

     

    Needed Now:

    • Revise SB65 so that the mandate allows for all districts and charter schools to successfully meet the mandate without losing funds related to enrollment counts.  Consider how the addition of rigorous online courses may prepare students to be better career and college ready.
    • Restore the ATC add-on funding that was eliminated in the 2011 Session.
    • Work with the USOE and 2011 bill sponsor to make the grades for schools an accurate and fair portrayal of the school, with emphasis on growth scores of students, not status.

     

    Still Very Important:

    • Retain the structure of local and state school boards and urge a nonpartisan, direct approach to elections.
    • Understand backpack funding (weighted student unit funding) and how various legislative actions may impact a movement toward or away from the idea.
    • Understand the implications of the State Board’s discussion/actions about teacher tenure and performance pay.
    • Increase funding for Enhancement for Accelerated Students Program

     

    On the radar screen:

    • Advocate for deregulation of No Child Left Behind, with emphasis on giving states far greater options in every section of the code, i.e., assessment types, accountability actions, etc.