The
third and final fiscal year 2021-22 state aid notice for school districts is
posted on the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education website at
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/fiscal-and-administrative-services/publication-and-reports/state-aid-notices-for-school-districts. Under State Aid Notices for
School Districts, select State Aid Notice 2021-22 Final (PDF) - July 8, 2022.
For
each listed funding category, the following information is provided: indication
of the existence of an Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Rule; the amount of state aid; the applicable statutory code or act; indication
of the existence of expenditure restrictions; the revenue code; and the
fund/source of fund code. The data section of the state aid notice provides
much of the data supporting the funding calculations. The funding section of
the state aid notice provides funding amounts based on available data. Changes
to data due to updates or corrections are reflected in all associated funding
categories. Please note the following when viewing the state aid notice:
•
All data supporting the funding calculations are subject to review.
•
Net revenues and 98% of URT X assessment less net revenues are provided.
•
Miscellaneous funds are defined and are calculated as per Arkansas Code
Annotated §§ 6-20-2303 (12), 6-20-2308, and 6-20-2503 (a) (3). Calendar year 2020
calculated miscellaneous funds and district total millage rate effective
January 1, 2020, are used in the initial calculation of 2021-22 state
foundation funding aid and in the calculation of 2021-22 bonded debt
assistance. Calendar year 2021 calculated miscellaneous funds and district
total millage rate effective January 1, 2021, are used to update the
calculation of state foundation funding aid for fiscal year 2021-22.
•
The average daily membership data reflects data submitted during the most
recent submission cycle of the corresponding school year.
•
Alternative learning environment funding is based on prior year full-time
equivalent data. Contact Jared Hogue at
501-324-9660, Jared.Hogue@ade.arkansas.gov, or C.W. Gardenhire at 501-580-5660, C.W.Gardnenhire@ade.arkansas.gov, for further information.
•
English language learners funding is based on students identified in the
current school year as not proficient in the English language. Contact Tricia
Kerr at 479-267-7450, Tricia.Kerr@ade.arkansas.gov, for further
information.
•
District square miles as calculated by ArcGIS 10 software are provided and may
affect eligibility for special needs isolated funding pursuant to Arkansas Code
Annotated § 6-20-604 (c) and (d), and small district funding pursuant to
Arkansas Code Annotated § 6-20-604 (f). School district density ratio is one of
several determining factors for qualification for some funding categories
pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated § 6-20-604.
•
The calculated portion of foundation funding that is educational excellence
trust funds is provided. Changes to the total educational excellence trust fund
available for distribution have resulted in revised educational excellence
trust fund amounts. Refer to Arkansas Code Annotated § 6-5-307 and the Arkansas
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Rules Governing the School
District Educational Excellence Trust Fund Effective January 1, 2020, for
information regarding the determination of an increase in educational
excellence trust funds allocated for teacher salaries.
•
Enhanced student achievement funding is based on October 1, 2020 national school
lunch data. If applicable, the effect of enhanced student achievement
transition and the amount of enhanced student achievement funding withholding
pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-2305 (b) and (e) are provided. Refer to
Commissioner’s Memo Number FIN-22-016,
published 11/5/2021,
for information on enhanced student achievement matching grant funds set aside
for eligible school districts. Information regarding enhanced student
achievement matching grant funds is not provided on this state aid notice.
•
Declining enrollment funding, student growth funding (includes Cycle 7 average
daily membership updates), and isolated funding are provided on the state aid
notice. Pursuant to state law, a district cannot receive both declining
enrollment funding and student growth funding. A district that is eligible to
receive declining enrollment and student growth funding will receive the
category that yields the most funding. Act 909 of 2021 allows school districts eligible for
declining enrollment funding and special needs (isolated/small
district/transportation) funding to receive both funding categories.
• Pursuant to Act 680 of 2021, a school
district having an average annual teacher salary below the statewide target
average annual salary ($51,822 for 2021-22), may be eligible for teacher salary
equalization funding equal to $185 per prior year average daily membership.
Districts that receive educator compensation reform program funds pursuant to
Act 877 of 2019 during 2021-22 are ineligible to receive teacher salary
equalization funds in the same year. Refer to Commissioner’s Memos FIN-21-042
(educator compensation reform program - years three & four funding), and
FIN-21-043 and FIN-21-048 (teacher salary equalization funding) for additional
information.
Arkansas
Division of Elementary and Secondary Rules (categorized as current and pending)
pertaining to state aid are found at Division of Elementary and
Secondary Education - Offices - Legal Services - Rules (arkansas.gov). The following Rules are found
under Current Rules.
Microsoft Word - FINAL--
Declining Enrollment.docx (arkansas.gov)
School District Education
Excellence Trust Funds (arkansas.gov)
Misc Funds ADE 337 Final Oct
2014 (arkansas.gov)
Microsoft
Word - ADE 207 - Professional Development February 2016.docx (arkansas.gov)
Microsoft Word -
dese_268_StudentSpecialNeedsFunding2020.docx (arkansas.gov)
The
following Rule is found under Pending Rules:
Microsoft Word - MARK-UP DRAFT -- StudentSpecialNeedsFundingRules.docx
(arkansas.gov)
Please
review the state aid notice carefully. A comparison of the most recent state
aid notice to prior state aid notices may prove helpful in detecting errors and
variances.