Requires each school district to include the percentage of its budget spent on instructional expenses in its school district report card

BILL NUMBER:S4541

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring each school district to include the percentage of its budget spent on instructional expenses in its school district report card

Purpose

This bill would require that each school district include the percentage of its budget spent on instructional expenses in its school district report card.

Summary of provisions

The education law is amended to require that each school district include the percentage of its budget spent on instructional expenses in its school district report card.

Section 10 defines Instructional Expenses and is taken from the current New York State Education Department Regulations.

Justification

In a global, information-age economy,young Americans will not enjoy a first class economic future without a first class education today. The climate for success begins and ends in the classroom. Regardless of the county or school district students live within, we need every student in New York State to have the opportunity for the best possible education.

Parents, taxpayers, and interested individuals all deserve to have as much detail about their school district as possible. The goal of this legislation is to provide an increased level of accountability through the disclosure of the percentage of a school district's budget that actually makes its way into the classroom.

Legislative history

S.607-A of 2008: Passed Senate. S.560 of 2009/10: Senate Education Committee

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law, with provisions.