005.04.96 Ark. Code R. § 013 - Rules Governing the Distribution of Isolated Funding

1.00 Regulatory Authority

1.01 These regulations shall be known as Arkansas Department of Education Regulations governing the distribution of funding to Isolated School Districts in accordance with Section 1 of Act 1194 of 1995.

1.02 These regulations are enacted pursuant to the State Board of Education's authority under Arkansas Code Annotated § 6-11-105 (Repl. 1993) and 6-20-305 (1995 Supp.).

2.00 Purpose

2.01 It is the purpose of these regulations to establish criteria to identify Isolated School Districts and establish criteria for the allocation of funding.

3.00 Definitions

3.01 ADM Density-is calculated by dividing the ADM by the square miles in a district

3.02 Average Daily Membership (ADM) - The total number of days attended plus the total number of days absent by students in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) during the first three quarters of the previous school year, divided by the number of school days actually taught in the school district during that period of time / rounded up to the nearest hundredth.

3.03 Base Local Revenue Per Student - If Category 1 is fully funded , the local revenue per student in the Local School District with the highest amount of Local Revenue Per Student If Category 1 is not fully funded the Revenue Per Student to which the State equalizes calculated by taking the sum of:

(1) The total available state aid for State Equalization Funding per student;

(2) Ninety-eight percent (98%) of the Base Millage times the total state assessed valuation; and

(3) Seventy-five percent (75%) of Miscellaneous Funds collected in the previous year; and by dividing the sum by the total state ADM.

3.04 Base Millage - means Twenty-five (25) mills excluding mills used for debt service.

3.05 Category I Isolated School District -means a school district which meets any four (4) of the following five (5) criteria:

(1) There is a distance of twelve (12) miles or more by hard-surfaced highway from the high school of the district to the nearest adjacent high school in an adjoining district;

(2) A density ratio of transported students which is less than three (3) students per square mile of area;

(3) Geographic barriers such as lakes, rivers, and mountain ranges which impede travel to schools that otherwise would be appropriate for consolidation, cooperative programs and shared services;

(4) Total area of one hundred (100) square miles or greater;

(5) Less than fifty percent (50%) of bus route on hard-surfaced roads.

3.06 Category II Isolated School District-means a school district that meets the criteria in Section 3.01 and has a ADM Density of less than 1.2.

3.07 Density Ratio - is calculated by dividing the ADT (Average Daily Transported) by the number of square miles in a district.

3.08 Local Revenue Per Student - In each year ninety-eight percent (98%) of the amount of revenue available, whether or not collected, in a Local School District, solely from the levy of the Base Millage plus seventy-five percent (75%) of the Miscellaneous Funds collected in the previous year divided by the ADM of such Local School District for the previous year.

4.00 Conditions for Assistance Eligibility

4.01 School districts shall have a base millage of no less than 25 mills.

4.02 The district's budget must be prepared by the local district with Department of Education approval.

4.03 The district has an average daily membership of less than three hundred fifty (350).

4.04 The Local Revenue Per Student shall not exceed the Base Local Revenue Per Student.

4.05 The district must meet the minimum standards for accreditation of public schools prescribed by law and regulation.

5.00 Calculation

5.01 Category I funding provided to qualifying Local School Districts from funds made available for that purpose shall be calculated as follows:

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5.02 Category II funding shall be calculated at 50% of the Category I funding.

5.03 Category I Isolated School Districts shall receive Category I funding.

5.04 Category II Isolated School Districts shall receive both Category I and Category II funding.

5.05 A funding factor shall be established by the State Department of Education to ensure that the calculation of Category I and Category II funding shall not exceed the funds made available for that purpose.

6.00 Application for Aid

6.01 School districts applications for Isolated Status shall be on forms provided by the Arkansas Department of Education.

6.02 Applications for Isolated Status are due by May 15, preceding the school year for which Isolated Funding is to be provided.

6.03 The Department of Education shall review all applications for isolated status to determine compliance with all eligibility criteria.

Notes

005.04.96 Ark. Code R. § 013

4/11/1996