Honorable Kent Grusendorf, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB524 by Mowery (Relating to an exemption from the requirement of compulsory attendance at public school for certain high-performing students.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would permit a school to exempt a student from attendance on the last school day of the week if the student performs at a remarkably high level compared to others in the same class. The State Board of Education would adopt the criteria and school districts would establish a standard for determining eligibility.
A day of attendance by a regular program student is typically worth about $27. If a student does not attend one day in each of the 36 weeks of the school year, the state would save about $972, and a school district would lose the $972. If 0.5 percent of students are released, the state could save $19 million, and local districts would lose $19 million in revenue. It is assumed that implementation of the provision will have a relatively insignificant fiscal impact on state aid.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2005 or immediately upon passage by the necessary majorities and would apply beginning with the 2005-06 school year.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Based on the potential fiscal consequences, it is anticipated that relatively few districts would make use of this policy. To the extent that districts allow students to participate, districts would lose approximately $27 per day per student.