public school budgeting

[jeteaa]

How does ps budgeting work? I have heard/read various ways.... the number of student enrolled mid October is the base for the funding for the entire year. Or each days enrollment is what it is based on. This being why ps is very strict about students being present every day and threaten to take action if students have too many absences. Any one know how is really works?

[Addy's Mom]

It varies by district/county. Some have funding tied to average daily attendance. Some have it tied to a head count peformed near the beginning of the school year. But in general, "all" public systems are suffering horribly right now. Governments suffer from recessions about a year or so after regular folks do (because income tax revenues plummet), and it takes another year or so after the private sector recovers for government to recover. Schools will very likely be extremely tight with budgeting this year and next.

[ollyoxenfree]

Our public school funding formulae are pretty complex. School population numbers are only the start. There's also funding based on age (more funding for younger children because there are more teachers per students), socio-economic status (top-ups for at-risk students), number of special needs students and ESL programs.....

It isn't at all transparent, which is a big problem with accountability.

[jeteaa]

the reason I ask is because are hsing this year and might do ps next year. But we have already made plans for a road trip in the fall and another trip in the spring. Knowing that ps would not excuse her for that length of time, I was thinking I would just enroll her after christmas break and take her out at spring break. Yes, it would be a paper work mess, I would have to declare hs, but in WA its really not that difficult. BUT if this really messes up the schools budgeting (if they count enrollment in oct) I would not want to take advantage of the system....

[karne]

I'd worry less about the budgeting and more about why you want your child to go to school for such a short period of time? If I read you correctly, she would miss the entire first semester and then enroll for 8-10 weeks, second semester, and then leave?

[kavamamakava]

You could likely work with the school to take work with you when she is out for an extended time. Are you sure they won't excuse her? Why not call the school district office and ask? My son is special needs and I don't bat an eyelash over their budgeting and expenses. That is their job, mine is to advocate for my child and support him in getting the education I feel best meets his needs.