Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Legislative panel being created to study SEEK formula

Legislature's review to focus on whether SEEK formula is fair, adequate, equitable

Of course, the problem is not the formula. 

Like the Minimum Foundation Program which preceded Kentucky's current SEEK formula, both formulas work - but only when funded. If one fails to fund any equalization formula it will not work. If the legislature had funded its own programs in the late 1980s, there would never have been a lawsuit, or a landmark court decision.

But we can always use another legislative study. It has all of the benefits of appearing to address serious issues related to school funding while completely avoiding the much more difficult but crucial issue of tax reform.

This from Brad Hughes at KSBA:
The General Assembly is creating a special panel that will conduct a study of Kentucky’s 24-year-old system of financing elementary and secondary education. Findings and any recommendations for changes are being targeted for December, just before the start of the 2015 legislative session.

Senate Ed Chair Mike Wilson (R)
Senate Education Committee Chairman Mike Wilson (R-Bowling Green) announced the formation of a subcommittee of the joint interim House and Senate education committees during Monday’s floor vote on HB 221, the Senate’s plan to give school systems options to make up missed time this year due to bad weather. 

Wilson said the study of the SEEK (Support Education Excellence in Kentucky) formula will begin in June after an expected report on a similar study of school finance being done for the Council for Better Education (CBE), a coalition of most of the state’s public school districts.

“The purpose of this subcommittee is simple,” Wilson told the legislature’s upper chamber. “It’s been 24 years since passage of KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act). Kentucky has changed in those 24 years, and education has changed in those years as well. It’s time for us as educational leaders to examine the SEEK formula and its practical implications.”

Wilson said he and House Education Committee Chairman Derrick Graham (D-Frankfort) will co-chair the subcommittee, and that the group of legislators will attempt to answer a series of questions.

“Are our children being served well by this formula? Are our schools and districts getting the tools they need to educate our future workforce? Are our communities being treated fairly? Is it equitable? Is it adequate?,” Wilson said. “It is our intent to hear from different experts, advocates, stakeholders and plain citizens on how the SEEK formula works and how it can be improved. It is my hope that the subcommittee will issue a report on the status of the SEEK formula and if necessary for any needed modification to our full committee by December of this year.”

The CBE’s study is being done by independent consultant Picus Odden & Associates. Funded by approximately 120 school districts at last report, it is projected to cost $130,000. Principal analysts of Picus Odden & Associates consulted on the original development of the SEEK formula in 1990.
But as Wilson suggests, there are some important questions that should be answered. But my list is a little different::
  • Are our children being well-served by the legislature's failure to reform Kentucky's tax structure?
  • Are our schools and districts getting the tools they need despite the legislature's failure to reform Kentucky's tax structure?
  • Has the legislature's failure to reform Kentucky's tax structure negatively impacted our future workforce? 
  •  Are our communities being treated fairly by the legislature's failure to reform Kentucky's tax structure?
  •  Does the legislature's failure to reform Kentucky's tax structure contribute to inequities? 
  •  Does the legislature's failure to reform Kentucky's tax structure inadequately support economic growth n the state?

The General Assembly is creating a special panel that will conduct a study of Kentucky’s 24-year-old system of financing elementary and secondary education. Findings and any recommendations for changes are being targeted for December, just before the start of the 2015 legislative session.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Mike Wilson (R-Bowling Green) announced the formation of a subcommittee of the joint interim House and Senate education committees during Monday’s floor vote on HB 221, the Senate’s plan to give school systems options to make up missed time this year due to bad weather.
Wilson said the study of the SEEK (Support Education Excellence in Kentucky) formula will begin in June after an expected report on a similar study of school finance being done for the Council for Better Education (CBE), a coalition of most of the state’s public school districts.
“The purpose of this subcommittee is simple,” Wilson told the legislature’s upper chamber. “It’s been 24 years since passage of KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act). Kentucky has changed in those 24 years, and education has changed in those years as well. It’s time for us as educational leaders to examine the SEEK formula and its practical implications.”
Wilson said he and House Education Committee Chairman Derrick Graham (D-Frankfort) will co-chair the subcommittee, and that the group of legislators will attempt to answer a series of questions.
“Are our children being served well by this formula? Are our schools and districts getting the tools they need to educate our future workforce? Are our communities being treated fairly? Is it equitable? Is it adequate?,” Wilson said. “It is our intent to hear from different experts, advocates, stakeholders and plain citizens on how the SEEK formula works and how it can be improved. It is my hope that the subcommittee will issue a report on the status of the SEEK formula and if necessary for any needed modification to our full committee by December of this year.”
The CBE’s study is being done by independent consultant Picus Odden & Associates. Funded by approximately 120 school districts at last report, it is projected to cost $130,000. Principal analysts of Picus Odden & Associates consulted on the original development of the SEEK formula in 1990.
- See more at: http://www.ksba.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6GU02G2&dasi=3UBI#sthash.I0IzftvJ.dpuf
Legislature's review to focus on whether SEEK is fair, adequate, equitable; report due by DecemberBy Brad Hughes
The General Assembly is creating a special panel that will conduct a study of Kentucky’s 24-year-old system of financing elementary and secondary education. Findings and any recommendations for changes are being targeted for December, just before the start of the 2015 legislative session.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Mike Wilson (R-Bowling Green) announced the formation of a subcommittee of the joint interim House and Senate education committees during Monday’s floor vote on HB 221, the Senate’s plan to give school systems options to make up missed time this year due to bad weather.
Wilson said the study of the SEEK (Support Education Excellence in Kentucky) formula will begin in June after an expected report on a similar study of school finance being done for the Council for Better Education (CBE), a coalition of most of the state’s public school districts.
“The purpose of this subcommittee is simple,” Wilson told the legislature’s upper chamber. “It’s been 24 years since passage of KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act). Kentucky has changed in those 24 years, and education has changed in those years as well. It’s time for us as educational leaders to examine the SEEK formula and its practical implications.”
Wilson said he and House Education Committee Chairman Derrick Graham (D-Frankfort) will co-chair the subcommittee, and that the group of legislators will attempt to answer a series of questions.
“Are our children being served well by this formula? Are our schools and districts getting the tools they need to educate our future workforce? Are our communities being treated fairly? Is it equitable? Is it adequate?,” Wilson said. “It is our intent to hear from different experts, advocates, stakeholders and plain citizens on how the SEEK formula works and how it can be improved. It is my hope that the subcommittee will issue a report on the status of the SEEK formula and if necessary for any needed modification to our full committee by December of this year.”
The CBE’s study is being done by independent consultant Picus Odden & Associates. Funded by approximately 120 school districts at last report, it is projected to cost $130,000. Principal analysts of Picus Odden & Associates consulted on the original development of the SEEK formula in 1990.
- See more at: http://www.ksba.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6GU02G2&dasi=3UBI#sthash.I0IzftvJ.dpuf
Legislature's review to focus on whether SEEK is fair, adequate, equitable; report due by DecemberBy Brad Hughes
The General Assembly is creating a special panel that will conduct a study of Kentucky’s 24-year-old system of financing elementary and secondary education. Findings and any recommendations for changes are being targeted for December, just before the start of the 2015 legislative session.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Mike Wilson (R-Bowling Green) announced the formation of a subcommittee of the joint interim House and Senate education committees during Monday’s floor vote on HB 221, the Senate’s plan to give school systems options to make up missed time this year due to bad weather.
Wilson said the study of the SEEK (Support Education Excellence in Kentucky) formula will begin in June after an expected report on a similar study of school finance being done for the Council for Better Education (CBE), a coalition of most of the state’s public school districts.
“The purpose of this subcommittee is simple,” Wilson told the legislature’s upper chamber. “It’s been 24 years since passage of KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act). Kentucky has changed in those 24 years, and education has changed in those years as well. It’s time for us as educational leaders to examine the SEEK formula and its practical implications.”
Wilson said he and House Education Committee Chairman Derrick Graham (D-Frankfort) will co-chair the subcommittee, and that the group of legislators will attempt to answer a series of questions.
“Are our children being served well by this formula? Are our schools and districts getting the tools they need to educate our future workforce? Are our communities being treated fairly? Is it equitable? Is it adequate?,” Wilson said. “It is our intent to hear from different experts, advocates, stakeholders and plain citizens on how the SEEK formula works and how it can be improved. It is my hope that the subcommittee will issue a report on the status of the SEEK formula and if necessary for any needed modification to our full committee by December of this year.”
The CBE’s study is being done by independent consultant Picus Odden & Associates. Funded by approximately 120 school districts at last report, it is projected to cost $130,000. Principal analysts of Picus Odden & Associates consulted on the original development of the SEEK formula in 1990.
- See more at: http://www.ksba.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6GU02G2&dasi=3UBI#sthash.I0IzftvJ.dpuf
Legislature's review to focus on whether SEEK is fair, adequate, equitable; report due by DecemberBy Brad Hughes
The General Assembly is creating a special panel that will conduct a study of Kentucky’s 24-year-old system of financing elementary and secondary education. Findings and any recommendations for changes are being targeted for December, just before the start of the 2015 legislative session.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Mike Wilson (R-Bowling Green) announced the formation of a subcommittee of the joint interim House and Senate education committees during Monday’s floor vote on HB 221, the Senate’s plan to give school systems options to make up missed time this year due to bad weather.
Wilson said the study of the SEEK (Support Education Excellence in Kentucky) formula will begin in June after an expected report on a similar study of school finance being done for the Council for Better Education (CBE), a coalition of most of the state’s public school districts.
“The purpose of this subcommittee is simple,” Wilson told the legislature’s upper chamber. “It’s been 24 years since passage of KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act). Kentucky has changed in those 24 years, and education has changed in those years as well. It’s time for us as educational leaders to examine the SEEK formula and its practical implications.”
Wilson said he and House Education Committee Chairman Derrick Graham (D-Frankfort) will co-chair the subcommittee, and that the group of legislators will attempt to answer a series of questions.
“Are our children being served well by this formula? Are our schools and districts getting the tools they need to educate our future workforce? Are our communities being treated fairly? Is it equitable? Is it adequate?,” Wilson said. “It is our intent to hear from different experts, advocates, stakeholders and plain citizens on how the SEEK formula works and how it can be improved. It is my hope that the subcommittee will issue a report on the status of the SEEK formula and if necessary for any needed modification to our full committee by December of this year.”
The CBE’s study is being done by independent consultant Picus Odden & Associates. Funded by approximately 120 school districts at last report, it is projected to cost $130,000. Principal analysts of Picus Odden & Associates consulted on the original development of the SEEK formula in 1990.
- See more at: http://www.ksba.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6GU02G2&dasi=3UBI#sthash.I0IzftvJ.dpuf

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Glad they are looking at it but are we really expecting the folks who have sustained conditions for growing school funding inequity for the last four years to do anything about this.

Sounds like we need to make a new file in the drawer for equitable school funding recommendations that we can file away next to tax reform committee recommendations