The bill amends "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act" to provide state funding for various educational programs and expenses, including special education, career and technical education, pre-kindergarten access, and transportation costs for students in certain situations. It establishes a fund to support transportation costs for students attending out-of-district non-public schools and within regional school districts, with the state sharing these costs. The bill also introduces a regionalization bonus, providing a six percent (6%) bonus of the state's share of foundation education aid for regionalized school districts, with ongoing support for those districts that remain regionalized. This replaces the previous provisions that offered a bonus only in the second fiscal year and removed the bonus in the third fiscal year.

Additionally, the bill increases support for English learners (EL) by applying a fifteen percent (15%) EL factor to the core-instruction per-pupil amount, ensuring funds are used for high-quality services for EL students. It also defines school resource officers (SROs) and provides state support covering half the cost of their salaries and benefits for officers assigned to public middle and high schools, with provisions based on school enrollment. The support is available for three years starting in FY 2019, and only for SRO positions created after July 1, 2018, with the caveat that schools cannot eliminate and then recreate positions to become eligible. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7207: 16-7.2-6