aid
calculation
The statutes (s. 118.43(6)(b) and (c)) provide that the aid to be paid to each participating school district be calculated by dividing the aid appropriation by the total number of low-income pupils enrolled in the grades covered by the program in the participating schools in the state and multiplying the resulting aid per pupil by the number of such pupils enrolled in those grades in each school. In 1998-99, aid is to be paid for pupils in grades K-1 in the schools starting the program during 1998-99 and for pupils in grades K-3 in the schools whose contracts began in 1996-97; in 1999-2000, for pupils in grades K2 in the schools starting the program during 1998-99 and for pupils in grades K-3 in the schools whose contracts began in 1996-97; and in 2000-01 through 2002-03, for pupils in grades K-3 in all participating SAGE schools
1. Definition of Kindergarten - For purposes of the SAGE program, kindergarten means five-year- old kindergarten only. This definition is necessary to comply with the intent of the evaluation component of the program, which is to follow two cohorts of pupils from kindergarten through grade 3 in the five years of the program's existence.
2. Pupil Count - The statute specifies that aid is to be paid based on the number of low-income pupils enrolled in the covered grades in participating schools. The department will ask that districts report on the number of participating children on a full-time-equivalent basis, so that children enrolled on less than a full-time basis will be counted according to the percent of time their program is compared to a full-time program in the district (a child in a half-day kindergarten will be counted as .50 pupil, for example). Children receiving instruction in locations other than the public school facility may be included if they are reported as enrolled in the grades of the participating school on the DPI fall enrollment report (PI 1290).
3. Current Year Payments - Aid will be paid on a current-year basis. That is, aid in 1998-99 will be based on the number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades K-1 in the new SAGE schools and in grades K-3 in the original group during the 1998-99 school year. Aid will be paid to districts in three installments in November, February and June, upon receipt by the department of program information, data, and other reports or documents required of each school and district as a condition of the contract.
4. Low-Income Enrollment Data - State aid to school districts participating in the SAGE program is to be paid based on the total number of low-income pupils in grades covered by the program. School districts will be required to submit information on low-income enrollment by grade in the participating schools in conjunction with the fall enrollment report and at other times as specified in the contract - on forms provided by the department.
5. Bilingual-Bicultural Aid - School districts may claim bilingual-bicultural aid for staff in SAGE classrooms if required aid-eligible services are being provided in those classrooms.
