Schools funding bills pass

Monday, June 6, 2005 | 9:48 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A bill that starts the state paying for all-day kindergarten classes is on its way to Gov. Kenny Guinn, ending a bitter fight in the Legislature.

Assembly Bill 198 will allocate $22 million in fiscal year 2007 that will permit 118 schools statewide to begin or continue kindergarten.

The Legislature also agreed to spend $1.5 billion in state aid to schools, raising the average basic support per pupil from $4,295 this year up to $4,424 next fiscal year and $4,696 in 2007.

Senate Bill 525 bill includes money to increase the number of special education units from the present 2,708 to 2,835 next year and 2,953 the following year. Each unit is currently financed at $32,477. That rises to $34,433 next fiscal year and $35,122 in fiscal 2007.

Starting all-day kindergarten was a major plank of Democrats who sought more than $70 million to start the classes in all schools.

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said this "will make a tremendous difference." To underscore the importance of kindergarten she said that in some at-risk schools first graders could not distinguish between colors and didn't understand numbers.

"If a child falls behind in reading by third grade, they will never catch up," said Buckley.

The money will go to schools where 55 percent of the students receive free or reduced lunches. Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, said it will make sure some of the neediest students are ready to learn."

Gov. Kenny Guinn allocated $50 million a year in his budget for failing or near failing schools. The $22 million for kindergarten is set aside from the second year of the governor's budget.

Other bills offered more money for education, including $250 million for class-size reduction.

Assembly Bill 198 requires school districts to distribute a survey of parents to determine if they want full-day kindergarten for their children who when they reach that age. If the response if favorable, the school district could apply for the remaining $28 million in the fund in 2007.

Senate Bill 525 provides $188 million to be spent on textbooks and includes a 4.1 percent inflation factor. It also includes $4 million to the Interim Finance Committee to take care of unanticipated increases in enrollment.

Both bills are awaiting final passage.