Department of education study could alter equity funding formula for public schools

Evan Belanger:

The Alabama State Department of Education has launched a study that could lead to reform of the state’s system for distributing funds to public schools.
Public records provided by the department show it has contracted the Colorado-based consulting firm Augenblick, Palaich and Associates Inc. to evaluate the adequacy and equity of Alabama’s current method for distributing public education dollars.
The study, which will cost $338,950 and take more than a year to complete, is intended to determine how the state can better distribute education dollars to meet the objectives set by Plan 2020.
Plan 2020 is the department’s comprehensive plan to achieve a 90 percent graduation rate and ensure all high school graduates are adequately prepared for college or career by the year 2020.