BATON ROUGE (AP) — State education leaders are asking lawmakers to spend $78 million more on the public school financing formula next year.
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education agreed Thursday to advance the funding request submitted by Education Superintendent John White.
The $3.6 billion formula proposal includes several increases: $34 million required for expected student enrollment growth; $36 million for a 1.4 percent inflationary increase for school districts; and $8 million in new spending for students with disabilities and for students taking "dual enrollment" college courses and career education classes.
BESE's formula is $44 million larger than Gov. Bobby Jindal's recommendation for the 2015-16 school year.
Lawmakers will consider the school financing formula in the legislative session that begins April 13. They can only approve or reject the formula BESE sends them.
