03/03/2000 09:01 AM Senate FIN

     SENATE BILL NO. 244                                                                                                        
     "An Act increasing the eligible maximum amount for                                                                         
     quality school grant funding for school districts; and                                                                     
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
RICK CROSS, Commissioner, Department  of Education and Early                                                                    
Development  stated   that  this  legislation   provides  an                                                                    
increase from $16 to $52 of  the quality school grant in the                                                                    
public  school  foundation  formula.    He  noted  that  the                                                                    
ultimate  impact of  this increase  would total  $7,552,000.                                                                    
He asserted  that this legislation provides  money to school                                                                    
districts  using a  different mechanism  than SB  198, which                                                                    
the  department  also  supports.   He  continued  that  this                                                                    
legislation  provides quality  school  grant increases  that                                                                    
targets  money for  specific  purposes,  meaning to  improve                                                                    
student  performance.   He  cited that  this  money was  for                                                                    
districts  to provide  necessary  programs  ensuring a  high                                                                    
level of student success for exit exams.