Barresi to request $37.7 million in supplemental funding for schools
BY ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer
Thursday, January 24, 2013
1/24/13 at 1:13 PM
State Superintendent Janet Barresi announced Thursday that she will be seeking $37.7 million in supplemental appropriations from the Legislature.
Nearly half of the funds — $15 million — would be dedicated for remedial services for high school students who now have to pass four of seven state-mandated tests in order to earn a diploma.
“This request comes on behalf of school superintendents,” Barresi said in a written statement. “If approved, (it) can be used by schools this year to help pay for programs that help children learn to read and be fully prepared for end-of-instruction tests.”
Other funds from the supplemental request would be dedicated as follows:
$8.5 million to cover the costs of state-mandated health insurance for educators.
$6.5 million to help meet the requirements of the Reading Sufficiency Act.
$5.9 million to be distributed through the state aid formula for all public schools. This would reportedly bring the per-student funding back up to the level it was at the end of 2011-12
$1.8 million in additional funding for the state’s student longitudinal data system and other technology needs in the state Department of Education.
The supplemental request is set for presentation to the state House and Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. In December, Barresi submitted a budget request for the next fiscal year that would include an increase of $289 million.
Associated Images:
State Superintendent Janet Barresi
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