Agenda- 05-14-20; Item 1-A - Public School Forum Local School Finance Study

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LOOKING AHEAD LEANDRO V. STATE OF NC: PROVIDING EACH AND EVERY NC CHILD WITH A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION In December 2019, independent consultant WestEd, in collaboration with the Learning Policy Institute and the Friday Institute at NC State University, released their 287- page report ` "Sound Basic Education For All:An Action Plan for North Carolina," more commonly referred to as the Leandro report 15 The authors compiled findings from 13 extensive, multi-method research studies and issued a series of recommendations to ensure that every child in North Carolina has equitable access to a sound basic education.The report focuses on eight critical needs: • Finance and resource allocation • A qualified and well-prepared teacher in every classroom • A qualified and well-prepared principal in every school • Early childhood education Below are somehighlight • ' of ''• • High-poverty schools recommendations that are mostto addressing • State assessment system and school accountability system the inequities • •• funding and educational • Regional and statewide supports for school improvement opportunity" • districts in NorthCarolina. • Monitoring the state's compliance. Provide$3.2 billion (about$395 million per year) in The researchers present findings consistent with what the . education over Forum and other groups have highlighted in recent years.Citing the next 8 years,which wouldbe withdrawn the decline in adjusted per-pupil spending over the last ten years student achievement benchmarks are reached. (approximately 6 percent between 2009-2010 and 2017-2018), Provide 7 billion _ r the next 8 the overall inadequate level of funding to meet student needs, _r year)in ongoing state funding to maintain (aboutears • and the inequitable distribution across local districts,the report millionstudent growth. calls for nearly$7 billion in additional state funding for public education over the next 8 years. Revise the current school - formula and phase in a weighted-student The authors also note that attention to how the additional Account for -• • differences in costand needed state funding is spent is essential to ensuring that it has the adjustments for • and small districts. greatest impact possible,and they argue that it is critical for allotments,Maintain position the students,schools and districts with the greatest need to eliminatewith district finance officers, but receive the most additional support.They report that as of transferrestrictions across allotment categories to provide 2016-2017,33 percent of traditional public schools in the state exceptmore flexibility.Collapse all other allotments qualified as high-poverty schools, most of which are located for those that serve higher-need students. in high-poverty communities.The majority(53 percent)of high-poverty communities were located in rural areas,with the Add" weights to position ' for ' "' highest concentrations of poverty located in the northeast, student groups,inclu' ' those who are north central, and Sandhills regions.Their research found, economically disadvantaged. unsurprisingly,that students in high-poverty schools and teacherIncrease salaries across - ... • • districts are far less likely to receive a sound basic education • • allotments . . districts than those in wealthier and better resourced schools. to allow . offer more competitive supplements. Provide incentives for teachers and principals to Sound Basic work in high needs '• Education Fund charter schoolsdirectly . instead of . through localdistricts. 1 in • • • J Increase transparency• • ..• ut the extent WestEd�. • funding offsetting . •• 1 nin9 P01,nsiiu TheWAliam&idafrtlay',11.elog ational lnmvavon -• 15 Access the full report at:https://www.ncforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Sound-Basic-Education-for-AII-An-Action-Plan-for-North-Carolina.pdf