Urge state leaders
to include the following in 2005-07 state budget:
• Cost-out: $100,000
The Task Force recommends a ‘cost-out’ study
to define what staff, classes, facilities and materials are
needed for a sound, basic education and how much these will
cost. The study would include citizen input and account for
extra costs for students in poverty, students with disabilities,
students who need to learn English, and students in rural
areas.
• Aid for school transportation: $60 million
Especially to help rural school districts where transportation
is a major cost, the Task Force recommends more state aid
for busing children, with the money coming from the state’s
transportation fund.
• Aid for students with disabilities: $56 million
Additional state support for special education means more
resources are available for all other students as well. The
Task Force recommends new funding for students with severe
disabilities and increased state aid for special education.
• Aid for early education and students in poverty:
$41 million
To make sure children get a good start at school, the Task
Force recommends smaller classes in early grades, expanded
four-year-old kindergarten, more before - and after-school
programs, and better day care.
• Aid for English-language learners: $24 million
Because the state’s immigrant population has grown
rapidly, the Task Force recommends more state aid to cover
the cost of educating all students with limited English.
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