House Bill No. 168 seeks to amend school funding laws to include 3-year-old and 4-year-old children with disabilities in the Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculations for school districts. This change addresses the current prohibition on counting preschool pupils, which has limited financial support for their education. The bill also recognizes preschool-aged children with disabilities as exceptional circumstances, allowing school trustees to admit them outside the typical age range of 5 to 19. This inclusion aims to enhance educational access and funding for these children, ensuring they receive necessary support and resources.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies the eligibility of preschool children with disabilities for ANB calculations by allowing their inclusion based on the aggregate hours of pupil instruction received. It also stipulates that for K-12 districts that have been operational for three years or more, the maximum general fund budget and BASE budget for the upcoming school fiscal year must be calculated separately for elementary and high school programs before being combined. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will apply to enrollment counts and ANB calculations for school fiscal years beginning on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-9-311
HB0168_1(1): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(10): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(11): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(12): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(13): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(2): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(3): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(4): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(5): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(6): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(7): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(8): 20-9-311
HB0168_1(9): 20-9-311
HB0168_1: 20-9-311
HB0168_2(1): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_2(10): 20-9-311
HB0168_2(11): 20-9-311
HB0168_2(2): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_2(3): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_2(4): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_2(5): 20-9-311
HB0168_2(6): 20-9-311
HB0168_2(7): 20-9-311
HB0168_2(8): 20-9-311
HB0168_2(9): 20-9-311
HB0168_2: 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X(1): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X(10): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X(11): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X(2): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X(3): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X(4): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X(5): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X(6): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X(7): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X(8): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X(9): 20-5-101, 20-9-311
HB0168_X: 20-5-101, 20-9-311