BATON ROUGE (AP) — Lawmakers in the Louisiana House have backed a nearly $3.7 billion financing formula for public schools that would boost funding $85 million next year.
Nearly half of the increase — about $41 million — is because more students are expected to attend public schools in the upcoming 2015-16 year.
Of the other new dollars: $36 million would provide a 1.4 percent inflationary increase for school districts; and $8 million would increase spending for students with disabilities and for students taking "dual enrollment" college courses and career education classes.
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education crafted the formula. Lawmakers can only approve or reject the proposal BESE sends them.
The House voted 100-0 Thursday for the formula, sending it to the Senate for consideration.
– by AP Reporter Melinda Deslatte
