| Study Title: |
"A Proposed Cost-Based Block
Grant Model for Wyoming's School Finance" and
"Proposed Revisions to the Cost-Based Block
Grant" |
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|
| Date Completed: |
May 1997, as revised in January 2002
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| Calculated Base Costs: |
This study does not make
definitive cost calculations by district or a state
total. The calculated base costs below are derived
from the block grant model completed for prototypical
schools. The authors state that they were not asked
to determine total costs for education in Wyoming,
but were instead asked to design a method for calculating
the total cost. |
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Prototypical Elementary School (K-5, 288 Students,
Class Size 16, and Student/Teach Ratio 14.4): $6,165
per pupil |
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Prototypical Middle/Junior High (6-8, 300 Students,
Class Size 20, and Student/Teacher Ratio 15.4):
$6,403 per pupil |
| |
Prototypical High School (9-12, 600 Students, Class
Size 17, and Student/Teacher Ratio 17): $6,781 per
pupil |
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|
| Major Recommendations: |
State should maintain small schools, small classes,
more professionals and paraprofessionals, professional
development funding, and funding for special education,
low-income students, and English Language Learners
(ELL). |
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Proposed model would allow flexibility and not interfere
with the Legislature's
determination of a "proper" education
in Wyoming. The study serves as a "policy vehicle"
and stresses the discretion of the Legislature in
determining the amount or the importance of each
educational component to be included in the Block
Grant within a reasonable range. |
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Districts should receive revenue amount in the form
of a "Cost-Based Block Grant Model" to
cover instructional and operational costs |
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Local control of school spending should be maximized |
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Stresses accurate student assessment and fiscal
accountability
|
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|
| Special Features of the Study: |
Makes separate calculations for "necessarily
small schools" |
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Provides suggestions for legislative implementation |
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Includes a computer simulation program to facilitate
calculation of costs under different scenarios |
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Explains why the methods and the findings of the
study are in accordance with the Wyoming Supreme
Court decision in Campbell
County v. State |
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|
| Implementation: |
The Grant Block Model was first implemented as
a method for determining education spending in
1996-1997.
|
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Following subsequent compliance court
proceedings, the model methodology
was found to be constitutional, but the Supreme
Court ordered the Legislature to re-cost specific
aspects of the block grant and make appropriate
revisions to its components, in Campbell
II. |
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The authors of the original study submitted proposed
revisions to the Legislature in January 2002. Recommended
changes included: |
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using the Wyoming Cost of Living Index (WCLI)
to accommodate regional cost differences in
services and supplies;
|
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adjusting administrative and classified salaries
on the basis of experience and responsibility;
|
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changing calculations for "necessarily"
small schools and small districts to be more
cost-based;
|
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analyzing the cost of and creating a vocational
education program;
|
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increasing funding for "at-risk" students
based on their concentration within districts.
|
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|
| Methodology:
|
Professional Judgement |
| |
The study sought to design prototype schools
that would provide a proper education in Wyoming,
including the "key components required to
provide effective instruction, to enable students
to acquire the prerequisites to enter the University
of Wyoming, or to have access to other attractive
post-secondary endeavors."
Components were included in the study's prototypical
schools after the authors of the study completed
the following to obtain professional expertise:
|
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Convened groups of Wyoming education experts
during a one-week process of all-day meetings
to determine the "key components"
to be included in the block grant model.
|
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Observed classrooms in a broad representation
of Wyoming's school districts
|
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Consulted with Wyoming educators and public
officials
|
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Consulted with education experts from surrounding
states and national professional associations
|
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Reviewed additional studies regarding effective
education and study of successful practices
in other states
|
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The study analyzed the costs of categories
of instructional and operating components: "personnel;"
"supplies, materials, and equipment;"
"specialized services;" adjustment for
students with special needs; and adjustment for
small schools and districts. |
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| Additional Factors: |
The study included consideration of
transportation. The study did not include consideration
of: facilities, revenue generation, or details of
an accountability system. |
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| Public Input: |
Informal input from students and citizens
during travel to districts across the state |
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| Prepared for: |
Joint Appropriations Committee of
the Wyoming Legislature |
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| Prepared by: |
Management Analysis Planning Associates,
L.L.C. (MAP) |
