House Signs Off on AFY21 Budget
The House approved the Amended Fiscal Year 2021 budget, which includes changes in state funding for public schools for the current school year. Details about the changes are available from PAGE HERE and HERE. Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, described the federal CARES funding that districts received in the spring as well as additional federal dollars from CARES 2 funding, which districts will soon receive, as generous resources to aid schools and cover the $383 million cut to the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula. Districts also face climbing costs due to rising student academic and mental health needs, which PAGE members lifted up in the PAGE 2021 Legislative Survey.
On Friday, the Senate begins its review of the AFY21 budget with the education appropriations subcommittee hearing from education agency heads, including State Superintendent Richard Woods.