Education finance: necessary small high schools: average daily attendance.

Existing law establishes an education funding system under which the Superintendent of Public Instruction apportions to each qualifying school district state aid funds in an amount not to exceed its revenue limit, an amount that is largely based on the school district's average daily attendance, which is computed as specified. Existing law authorizes specified school districts to calculate their revenue limits in a different manner if the school district includes a necessary small high school, which is defined as a high school with an average daily attendance of less than 301 that meets prescribed conditions. Existing law also authorizes a school district that includes a necessary small high school to include average daily attendance in grades 7 and 8 and the instructors of grade 7 and 8 pupils in the calculation of average daily attendance and number of certificated employees employed in the 2011–12 fiscal year if the school district included average daily attendance in grades 7 and 8 and the instructors of grade 7 and 8 pupils in the calculation of average daily attendance and certificated employees employed in the 2010–11 fiscal year. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature that the Superintendent provide the Legislature with a report by February 1, 2013, recommending revisions to the definition of necessary small schools and reforms to the formula for funding necessary small schools. The bill would instead authorize a school district that includes a necessary small high school to include average daily attendance in grades 7 and 8 and the instructors of grade 7 and 8 pupils in the calculation of average daily attendance and number of certificated employees employed in the 2012–13 fiscal year if the school district included average daily attendance in grades 7 and 8 and the instructors of grade 7 and 8 pupils in the calculation of average daily attendance and certificated employees employed in the 2011–12 fiscal year. The bill would require a school district that chooses to include the average daily attendance in grades 7 and 8 and the instructors of grade 7 and 8 pupils, as described above, to pursue any funding deferral exemptions it may be eligible for. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.