rhetoric about losing $300k to
School Choice Program
February 1, 2005
As the budget for B-R for fy2006 is discussed, I am sure that much will be made about the loss of $304k from Chapter 70 funds becuase of School Choice students. However, upon an examination of the details of the Chapter 70 funding determination, the District receives funds for the students in the top half of the report. For 2006, the formulas are: $5711/elementary student, $5988/middle school, $6246/high school.
The simplest way to understand the math behind Chapter 70 is to think in terms of one new child. The amount the town must put into education is based on a "wealth calculation" - not number of students. So, one more student means more in Chapter 70 funds - let's call it $6000. So, to have a line item reducing Chapter 70 for School Choice by $5000 (max), means the district is ahead by $1000 -- without any costs to educate the student.
B-R will lose $304,831 in Chapter 70 due to School Choice in fy2006. Based on the formula, this represents 61 (maybe more) students. If they were all elementary (lowest reimbursement), B-R would receive $348,371 and be reduced by the $304,831 to result in a profit of $43,540. If all are high school, B-R would receive $381,006 for a net profit of $76,175. Our actual result are somewhere between those two. But, we are ahead $43k-$76k without any educational expenses for the children. FREE MONEY to the district! We are not losing on this.
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
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