The bill amends South Dakota's education funding laws, specifically focusing on the calculation of the "other revenue base amount" available to certain school districts. It introduces a new provision that states if a school district has a fall enrollment of 250 students or fewer, covers an area of 250 square miles or fewer, and is not classified as a sparse school district, the other revenue base amount for that district will be equal to 25% of the previously defined amount. This change aims to provide additional financial support to smaller school districts that may face unique challenges.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the definitions and calculations related to various funding terms, including "local need," "target teacher compensation," and "general fund base percentage." It specifies how these calculations should be adjusted based on factors such as fall enrollment and the presence of English learners. The bill also outlines the treatment of wind energy tax revenue in relation to local effort and the other revenue base amount, ensuring that funds from newly operational wind farms are retained by the school districts for a specified period. Overall, the amendments seek to enhance the funding framework for South Dakota's school districts, particularly those with smaller enrollments.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/30/2025: 13-13-10.1