SB316 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris ElliottSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Schools, Foundation Program Fund, determination of cost to include student growth as an allowable cost, allowance for non-virtual and virtual students, provisions for increases based on increase in average daily membership in the current school year deleted, Secs. 16-13-231, 16-13-232 am'd.

Summary

SB316 adds a student growth allowance to the Foundation Program Fund, using past non-virtual ADM growth to determine funding and providing partial funding for virtual students, replacing the previous year-based growth approach.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends the Foundation Program Fund rules to create a dedicated student growth allowance. This allowance is calculated by applying per-student cost factors (salaries, fringe benefits, instructional support, and other current expenses) to the net year-over-year growth in average daily membership for non-virtual students, using the two preceding school years. Non-virtual growth is funded at 70% in FY2021 and 100% thereafter, while growth attributable to full-time virtual students is funded at 22% of the non-virtual rate beginning in FY2022. It also shifts away from any current-year ADM growth calculations and requires local boards to allocate funds and maintain salary levels per existing protections.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education and the public schools they govern, because their Foundation Program funding will now include a dedicated student growth allowance calculated from past non-virtual ADM growth and funded on a phased basis.
• Students (distinguishing non-virtual and full-time virtual students), because the new growth funding is tied to ADM growth for non-virtual students and has a separate funding rate for virtual students starting in FY2022.

Key Provisions

• Adds a Foundation Program Fund allowance specifically for student growth.
• Calculates student growth using the net year-over-year growth of average daily membership for non-virtual students, based on the two preceding school years.
• Funding for non-virtual student growth: 70% in FY2021, 100% in subsequent years.
• Funding for growth attributable to full-time virtual students: 22% of the non-virtual rate beginning in FY2022.
• Replaces provisions based on current-year ADM growth with a two-year-previous-year approach for calculating growth.
• Total Foundation Program cost remains the sum of salaries, fringe benefits, classroom instructional support, student growth, and other current expenses; specific salary-related provisions continue to apply (e.g., minimum salary schedules).
• Local boards of education cannot reduce employee salaries or compensation due to these amendments; salary appropriations must align with contract days or their hourly equivalents.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education