Fiscal Fairness Act

To amend section 1120A(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to assure comparability of opportunity for educationally disadvantaged students. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fiscal Fairness Act 2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are as follows: (1) To remedy the inequitable distribution of State and local funds within the areas served by local educational agencies. (2) To reinforce the supplementary intent of funds made available under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq. (3) To address the statutory, regulatory, and enforcement weaknesses that have undermined the role of the comparability requirement in ensuring comparability within school districts. (4) To require the inclusion of real teacher salaries in calculations of per-pupil expenditures. (5) To provide sufficient transparency, accountability, and disclosure to allow parents, communities, educators, and local agency officials to ensure students have access to the resources they need to achieve at high levels. 3. Comparability of Expenditures Section 1120A(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6321(c) (c) Comparability of Expenditures (1) In general (A) Comparable funding in general Except as provided in paragraphs (4) and (5), a local educational agency may receive funds under this part for a fiscal year only if, for the preceding fiscal year, the average expenditure per pupil of State and local funds in each school served under this part was at least 97 percent of the average expenditure per pupil of State and local funds across all schools served by the local educational agency that are not receiving funds under this part. (B) Comparable funding among Title I schools In any case where all of the schools served by a local educational agency receive support under this part, such agency may receive funds under this part for a fiscal year only if, for the preceding fiscal year, the average expenditure per pupil of State and local funds in each higher poverty school is at least 97 percent of the average expenditure per pupil of State and local funds across all lower poverty schools. (2) Equivalence A local educational agency shall be considered to have met the requirements of paragraph (1), and to be eligible to receive funds under this part, if— (A) such agency has filed with the State educational agency current school-by-school listing of per-pupil expenditures of State and local funds for each school served by the agency for the preceding fiscal year; and (B) the listing described in subparagraph (A) demonstrates comparability across schools as required by subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1). (3) Basis A local educational agency may meet the requirements of paragraph (1) across all schools or among schools serving a particular grade span, if the local educational agency compares schools within not more than three grade spans. (4) Monitoring (A) Regulations by Secretary Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the Fiscal Fairness Act (B) Regulations by States Not later than 6 months after the date on which the regulations required under subparagraph (A) are issued, each State educational agency receiving funds under this part shall create and distribute to local educational agencies, and make available to the public, regulations on the responsibilities of local educational agencies for meeting the requirements of this subsection. (C) Plan by local educational agencies Not later than 14 months after the date on which regulations required by subparagraph (B) are distributed, each local educational agency receiving funds under this part shall develop and submit to the State educational agency a plan, including a timeline and annual benchmarks, that will ensure comparability as described in paragraph (1) not later than 3 years after the date on which such regulations are distributed. The plan shall be made available to the public. (D) Audit In each of the fourth and fifth years after the date of enactment of the Fiscal Fairness Act (5) Inapplicability This subsection shall not apply to a local educational agency that does not have more than one building for each grade span. (6) Compliance For the purpose of determining compliance with paragraph (1), a local educational agency— (A) shall exclude State and local funds expended for the excess costs of providing English language instruction for Limited English Proficient students as determined by the local educational agency; (B) shall exclude State and local funds expended for the excess costs of providing services to children with disabilities as determined by the local educational agency; and (C) may exclude supplemental State or local funds expended in any school attendance area or school for programs that meet the intent and purpose of this part. (7) No forced transfers Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the forced or involuntary transfer of any school personnel in order to comply with subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1). (8) Comparability as minimum standard (A) In general Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit or discourage the allocation of State or local funds to schools served under this part in excess of 100 percent of the average per-pupil expenditure for schools not served under this part. (B) Exception In the case of a local educational agency subject to the requirements of paragraph (1)(B), nothing shall be construed to discourage the allocation of State and local funds to any higher poverty schools served by the local educational agency in excess of 100 percent of the average per-pupil expenditure in lower poverty schools served by the agency. (9) Public reporting (A) School report cards Beginning with the first academic year that begins after the date of the enactment of the Fiscal Fairness Act (i) The average per-pupil expenditures of State and local funds for the school. (ii) The average per-pupil expenditures of State and local funds for schools in the local educational agency not served under this part or, in the case where all schools in a local educational agency are served under this part, for lower poverty schools. (iii) The mean of average per-pupil expenditures of State and local funds for all schools in the State. (B) Current school-by-school listing Beginning with the first academic year that begins after the date of the enactment of the Fiscal Fairness Act (10) Definitions For purposes of this subsection: (A) Expenditures (i) In general The term expenditures (I) salary expenditures for classroom teachers, including not only base salaries but also incentive pay, bonuses, and supplemental stipends for mentoring or other additional roles; (II) salary expenditures for instructional and instructional support staff who are not classroom teachers (such as principals, librarians, paraprofessionals, academic coaches, and curriculum specialists), including not only base salaries but also incentive pay, bonuses, and supplemental stipends for mentoring or other additional roles; (III) salary expenditures for noninstructional staff, including student support staff; and (IV) nonpersonnel expenditures such as— (aa) professional development for teachers and other staff; (bb) instructional materials and supplies; (cc) computers, software, and other technology; (dd) contracted services such as distance learning, art, athletics, and technology services; (ee) library books and media center materials; and (ff) such other expenditures as the Secretary of Education may require. (ii) Determinations For purposes of subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i), in the determination of salary expenditures, salary differentials for years of employment shall be included. (B) Higher poverty school The term higher poverty school (C) Lower poverty school The term lower poverty school .

Summary: Fiscal Fairness Act Amends part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to condition local educational agency (LEA) receipt of school improvement funds on: (1) an average state and local spending per pupil in each school receiving school improvement funds of at least 97% of such spending per pupil across all of the LEA's schools that are not receiving such funds; and (2) an average state and local spending per pupil in each higher poverty school of at least 97% of such spending per pupil across all lower poverty schools, if the LEA is serving all of its schools under part A. Allows LEAs to meet such requirement across all schools or among schools serving a particular grade span if they compare schools within no more than three grade spans. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Education, in the fourth and fifth years after this Act's enactment, to audit 5 states and 10 LEAs to determine their progress in meeting these requirements. Requires annual LEA report cards to include certain information on state and local spending per pupil in schools. Requires states to provide the public with annual up-to-date school-by-school listings of per-pupil state and local spending.