On June 10, 2002, the Arkansas State Board of Education approved the Public School Fund Budget for 2002-2003. Poverty Index Funds for 2002-2003 are budgeted at $4,698,230. This amount is less than the estimate used by Public School Finance and Administrative Support for the March 18, 2002 Poverty Index Funds projections. The funds will be distributed to schools with 72% or more Kindergarten (K) and Grade 1 (1) students that are eligible to receive free and/or reduced priced meals, divided by the number of K1 students enrolled. Funding per qualified enrolled student is $311.99. The Attachment shows each school’s number of K1 students enrolled, K1 percent of free and/or reduced students, and the amount of funding each qualifying school will receive.
For the 2002-03 Fiscal Year, approved plans for the use of the funds submitted by representatives from the eligible schools on or before May 2, 2002, will be used as the basis for Poverty Index fund distribution (e.g., the ADE will consider for approval the plans developed with the March 18 estimates).
School Improvement and Instructional Support will review the school plans and provide a list of the names of the qualified schools to the Public School Finance Section by July 31 (ADE Rules and Regulations Governing the Distribution of Poverty Index Funds, 4.04). It is recognized that all the activities detailed in the previously submitted plans may be problematic with regard to the amounts detailed in the attachment to this memorandum. The ADE will examine plans with the understanding that fewer dollars are available through Poverty Index budget to accomplish details in the plans submitted on or before May 2, 2002, making some elements of the plans financially impractical.
Approved plans must be accomplished to the extent financially possible, in accordance with the Poverty Index budget limitations determined by the State Board of Education and the stipulations outlined in Rules and Regulations Governing the Distribution of Poverty Index Funds (June 24, 1999). School representatives may also submit for approval revised plans for the expenditure of Poverty Index funds during 2002-2003.
Questions concerning funding calculations should be addressed to Patricia Martin at (501) 682-5124. For assistance with school plans, contact the School Improvement Supervisor in the School Improvement and Instructional Support Unit assigned to the school. The main Unit telephone number is 501-682-4231. Contact Dave Westmoreland by email at dwestm@arkedu.k12.ar.us or see the Web Page http://arkedu.state.ar.us of the Arkansas Department of Education, for additional information.