Update from
H Education Appropriations Sub-committee

The H Education Appropriations Sub-committee has announced their tentative recommendations.  The sub-committee has not yet adopted them.  When they do, they will go to the "big" chairs who will eventually develop a budget that will go to the House floor.  When the full House approves a budget it will be sent to the Senate.  Eventually a conference committee made up of House and Senate members will deal with differences.  Both chambers will approve the budget and it will then be sent to the Governor who may sign it or veto it.

 Some of the highlights (or low-lights?) of the tentative recommendations are: 

   -Currently instrumental support positions are allotted on the basis of 1 position per 158 ADM.  The recommendation is to allot 1 per 208 ADM.  That means a cut of $21,135,446.  That's 320 fewer positions.
-Increase class size by 2 students.  That's a reduction of $322,705,848 and 6,000+ fewer teaching positions.
-Eliminate all teacher assistants in Grade 3.  That's a reduction of $130,135,446 and 4,463 teaching assistant positions.
-Shorten school year by 5 days = $100,000,000 each year.
-Cut low wealth system allotment $18,161,868.
-Cut small system allotment $4,500,000 the first year and $6,000,000 the second year.
-Cut central office allotment 5.5% ($8,600,000)
-Cut Improving Student Accountability $38,339,798.
-Cut Non-instructional Support $20,156,347.
- Cut School Building Administration $17,586,720.
-Eliminate Literacy Coaches $12,034,400.
-Cut At-risk Services $22,895,155
-Eliminate Learn and Earn Online $1,351,762.
-Eliminate National Board Application Cost $3,274,500.

   The house has a target date to complete the budget by June 18th.  That leaves little time for the conference committee and the completion of the budget by July 1st.