Joint Education Committee Meeting Summary (October 9-10, 2003)

The Joint Education Committee met jointly with the Management Council in Gillette on October 9-10, 2003.  The participants received an update and recommendations from the Student Assessment/Accountability Task Force regarding the development of accountability systems in response to the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).  The State Superintendent of Public Instruction addressed the members on the organization of the State Department of Education and the goals behind the organizational efforts.  The State Department provided information regarding the development of the statewide education data system.  The Council and Committee also received an update and preliminary analysis regarding 2003 legislation that required a reevaluation of the small school adjustment to the cost-based school finance model. 

The participants received a report of school district five-year facility planning efforts from the School Facility Commission.  The participants were updated regarding classified personnel salary adjustments and progress regarding the cost-based adjustment for reading assessment and intervention.  The following day, the participants received information related to the ongoing analysis to refine the at-risk adjustment to the school funding model as required by 2003 legislation.  The participants received information about the study to design a grant program to fund the costs associated with summer school intervention and remediation programs for at-risk children.  The Attorney General’s Office addressed the joint meeting participants regarding school finance constitutional issues, which will be considered by the Education Committee. 

At the conclusion of the joint meeting, the Committee met independently and received an update on the State Department’s special education activities, as required by 2003 legislation.  The Committee also considered a number of school finance issues discussed during the joint meeting.  The Committee voted to maintain the reading assessment and intervention program as a categorical program funded outside the block grant model.  LSO staff was directed to prepare legislation and fiscal impact information on recommendations regarding the classified personnel salaries report, the at-risk adjustment report, and the summer school program report.  The Committee will also consider a proposed constitutional amendment on judicial review at the next meeting.  The Committee will meet again on November 17-18, 2003 in Casper.