Colorado Legislative Council Staff

STATE and LOCAL

CONDITIONAL FISCAL IMPACT

Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 99-0360

Sen. Congrove

 

Date:

Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:

January 23, 1999

Senate Education

Janis Baron (303-866-3523)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AUTHORIZING ON-LINE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, MODIFYING DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES FOR CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS, AND SPECIFYING MEMBERSHIP ON REVIEW COMMITTEES FOR CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS.



Fiscal Impact Summary

FY 1999/2000

FY 2000/2001

State Revenues

General Fund


 

 

State Expenditures

General Fund

Possible Increases

 or Decreases

Possible Increases

 or Decreases

FTE Position Change

0.0 FTE

0.0 FTE

Other State Impact: None

Effective Date: 90 Days Upon Adjournment

Appropriation Summary for FY 1999-2000: None Required

Local Government Impact: Possible increases or decreases in funding for school districts in both FY 1999-00 and FY 2000-01.



Summary of Legislation


            The bill includes the following provisions regarding charter schools:

 

               authorizes a charter school to create and operate on-line programs and requires that the creation and operation of an on-line program by a charter school shall be pursuant to all requirements under the Charter School Act;

               establishes the guidelines which an on-line program must comply with;

               makes modifications to the charter school application process; and

               creates an exemption to the compulsory school attendance requirements for children taught at home through a charter school on-line program.





State Expenditures


            The bill is assessed as having a conditional fiscal impact. The bill may result in either a net increase or decrease in state funding for public education.


            Possible Increased Funding. The establishment of on-line programs in charter schools may result in some pupils, currently not counted for the purposes of school finance funding, to choose to enroll in these on-line programs. Those students currently not counted for the purposes of school finance funding would come from the following categories: home schooled; private school; dropouts; and homeless. The number of students who may elect an on-line program cannot be quantified at this time. However, for each additional student, there would be a need for $4,867 per student in FY 1999-00.


            Possible Decreased Funding. Additionally, the bill is silent regarding on-line programs and the annual pupil count for the purposes of school finance funding. Pupils attending charter schools are currently included in the annual funded enrollment count. Should charter schools offer off-site on-line programs, students enrolled in these programs would not meet the current requirement of physical attendance, and therefore not be included in the annual pupil count. This would result in state savings. The number of off-site on-line programs that may be developed is unknown as well as the number of students who may be enrolled in these programs. Thus, the fiscal impact cannot be determined.



School Districts Impact


            Funding made available to school districts through the Public School finance Act may either increase or decrease.



Departments Contacted


            Education