§ 6-20-604 - Additional funding. - Arkansas Statutes

6-20-604. Additional funding.

(a) The General Assembly finds that school districts that contain isolated schools need additional funding to provide an adequate education for students attending schools in those school districts.

(b) A school district shall receive special needs funding if the school district meets the requirements of subsections (c)-(f) of this section, and if:

(1) The school district was consolidated or annexed or received an annexed school under 6-13-1601 et seq.;

(2) The local school board of directors by majority vote determines that the isolated school is so isolated that to combine its operation to one (1) school district campus would be impractical or unwise; and

(3) The isolated school or school district:

(A) Filed an affidavit of isolated school status with the State Board of Education during the consolidation or annexation process, and the facts of the affidavit are verified by the state board or its designee to meet the requirements of 6-20-601;

(B) Filed an affidavit of isolated school status with the state board after the consolidation or annexation process or with regard to the 2006-2007 school year no later than June 1, 2006, and the facts of the affidavit are verified by the state board or its designee to meet the requirements of 6-20-601; or

(C) Filed an affidavit of isolated school status with the state board after the consolidation or annexation process or with regard to the 2006-2007 school year no later than June 1, 2006, and the facts of the affidavit are verified by the state board or its designee to meet the requirements of 6-20-601 but for the average daily membership requirements of three hundred fifty (350) students or fewer.

(c) A school district meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of this section shall receive an additional amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the foundation funding received by the school district under 6-20-2305(a)(2) for the operation of the isolated school areas if the school district has:

(1) School facilities serving students in any grade in kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), in one (1) or more isolated schools meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of this section;

(2) A three-quarter average daily membership of five hundred (500) or less in the preceding school year; and

(3) A density ratio of one and three-tenths (1.3) students or less per square mile.

(d) A school district meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of this section shall receive an additional amount equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the foundation funding received by the school district under 6-20-2305(a)(2) for the operation of the isolated school areas if the school district has:

(1) School facilities open for kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) in two (2) or more isolated schools meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of this section and meeting the requirements of 6-20-601 and if both isolated schools were annexed under 6-13-1601 et seq.;

(2) A three-quarter average daily membership of five hundred one (501) to one thousand (1,000) in the preceding school year; and

(3) A density ratio of one and four-tenths (1.4) students or less per square mile.

(e) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (e)(2) of this section, a school district meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of this section shall receive an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the foundation funding received by the school district under 6-20-2305(a)(2) based on the three-quarter average daily membership of the isolated school area under 6-20-2305(a)(2) if the school district has school facilities open for kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) in one (1) or more isolated schools meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of this section.

(2) A school district shall receive an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the foundation funding received by the school district under 6-20-2305(a)(2) based on the three-quarter average daily membership of the isolated school area under 6-20-2305(a)(2) if:

(A) The school district has school facilities serving students in any grade in kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) in one (1) or more isolated schools meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of this section; and

(B) The school district closed an isolated facility serving students in grades seven (7) through twelve (12) between January 1, 2008, and July 1, 2008.

(f) A school district shall receive an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the foundation funding received by the school district under 6-20-2305(a)(2) based on the three-quarter average daily membership of the school district if the school district has a:

(1) Three-quarter average daily membership of less than five hundred (500) students; and

(2) Density ratio of two (2) students or less per square mile.

(g) A school district eligible for special needs funding under this section shall continue to be eligible to receive isolated school funding provided under 6-20-603 but shall only receive funding under one (1) of the categories established under subsections (c)-(f) of this section.

(h) (1) This section is contingent on the appropriation and availability of funding for its purposes.

(2) (A) Undistributed funds under this section and 6-20-603 allocated to a school district that is no longer eligible to receive the funding shall be distributed on an equal basis per school district to each remaining school district that is eligible to receive funds under subsections (c)-(e) of this section.

(B) Funds distributed under subdivision (h)(2)(A) of this section shall be used by the school district only for transportation costs of the isolated schools in the school district.

(3) Funding provided under this section is in addition to and in excess of the amount of funds necessary to provide an adequate education as required by the Arkansas Constitution and cannot be relied upon beyond the expiration date of an appropriation made for the purposes of this section.