To Amend The Public School Funding Act Of 2003; And To Add An Additional Category Of Funding For Special Education Funding.
Summary
HB1239 amends the Arkansas Public School Funding Act of 2003 to create a new, separate special education funding category beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill sets special education funding at $3,862 multiplied by the number of students receiving special education and related services under an individualized education plan (IEP). It also directs that the funding be distributed under rules adopted by the State Board of Education.
The bill makes clear that this special education amount is to be treated as an additional funding category and is not to be folded into the state foundation funding aid amount. In practical terms, it would establish a dedicated per-student funding stream for special education services, separate from the general per-pupil foundation formula used for public school funding.
Impact
HB1239 would amend Arkansas Code § 6-20-2305(b) to add a new statutory funding category for special education, changing how state aid is calculated and distributed for students with IEPs. School districts would receive a specified per-student amount for eligible special education students, with distribution governed by State Board rules, while the foundation funding aid formula would remain unchanged for general funding purposes. The bill would therefore increase the visibility and earmarking of special education funding within the state school finance system and could affect district budgeting, state appropriations, and administrative distribution procedures.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears neutral to supportive in purpose, with the bill framed as a targeted funding enhancement for special education. The measure is presented as a technical and policy adjustment to school finance rather than a controversial overhaul. No opposition, amendments, or recorded debate are available in the supplied context.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided committee transcripts or voting history. Potential areas of debate, based on the bill’s structure, could include the adequacy of the $3,862 per-student amount, the fiscal impact on the state budget, and whether special education should be funded through a separate categorical appropriation rather than within the foundation funding formula. However, the supplied record does not show any identified supporters or opponents.