Senate Bill 10 "An act relating to a minimum expenditure for the instruction component in a public school budget; and providing for an effective date."
Click for PDF: http://www.akdemocrats.org/sponsor/SB010_ss_sen_guess.pdfPurpose
SB 10 will amend Alaska State law to provide a higher minimum expenditure for the instruction component in a public school budget if the school district has greater economies of scale.
Background
Currently the minimum expenditure for the instruction component in a public school budget is 70 percent of school operating expenditures. This requirement is the same for all school districts and does not take into account the differing economies of scale between districts. For example, a school district with great economies of scale such as Anchorage has the same requirement as a disparate district as Lower Yukon. By using the average students per school as a measure of economies of scale, it is possible to require school districts which have a greater capability to provide more funding into the classroom to do just that. If by chance, their economies of scale cannot lead to more funds to the classroom, the school district can apply for a waiver.
Solution
SB 10 will require the following minimum percentages on instructional components. School districts with an average of 401 students per school or more spend a minimum of 85 percent. School districts with at least an average of 301 students per school but less than 401 students per school spend a minimum of 80 percent. School districts with at least an average of 200 students per school but less than 301 students per school spend a minimum of 75 percent School district with less than an average of 200 students per school will stay at the minimum of 70 percent.