The bill amends the State School Aid Act of 1979 by updating sections 6 and 11 and adding a new section 61e, which defines "center program" as a special education initiative for pupils with disabilities, including autism and cognitive impairments. It clarifies the criteria for counting pupils in membership for funding, emphasizing that only those enrolled and in regular attendance are eligible. The bill also specifies membership calculations for various educational settings, including public school academies and cyber schools, and introduces new provisions regarding age and eligibility for membership, particularly for special education and alternative education pupils.

Additionally, the bill establishes regulations for work-based learning experiences in state-approved career and technical education programs, ensuring that such participation does not displace existing permanent positions within districts. It allocates $2,000,000 from the state school aid fund for competitive grants to assist districts with the costs associated with these experiences. The bill also clarifies definitions related to pupil membership and attendance, ensuring accurate representation of various pupil categories in membership calculations, including those from nonpublic schools and those facing specific circumstances.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 388.1606, 388.1611