Opinion ID: 2294246
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 25

Heading: Per pupil amounts

Text: The base per pupil amount represents the funding necessary to provide the resources required to deliver the [CCCS] and extracurricular and cocurricular activities necessary for a thorough and efficient education to an elementary school student. N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-45; see also Davy, 1 T 40:24-42:5. The necessary resources include the following: teachers, librarians, technology specialists, counselors, nurses, clerical staff, principals, assistant principals, an athletic director, lunchroom aides, professional development, supplies and materials, equipment, technology, assessment, student activities, and safety. D-12 at 35. Under SFRA the base per pupil amount for 2008-2009 is $9,649. N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-49. For the next two years (2009-2010 and 2010-2011), the base per pupil amount is be adjusted by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Ibid. Once the base per-pupil amount is determined, the grade level weights are applied to account for the additional resources needed to educate higher grade levels. Davy, 1 T 26:9-14. The weight for half day kindergarten students is 0.5, full day kindergarten students is 1.0, elementary students (grades 1-5) is 1.0, middle school students (grades 6-8) is 1.04, and for high school students (grades 9-12) is 1.17. N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-49. The cost per pupil for each grade level is determined by multiplying the base per pupil amount by the grade level weight. As such, the base cost for a district reflects the total amount of elementary students multiplied by $9,649, the total amount of middle school children multiplied by $10,035 (the base per-pupil with the middle school weight applied), and the total amount of high school students multiplied by $11,289. D-12 at 32. In short, to determine the base cost for a school district, the base per-pupil amount is multiplied by the weighted enrollment of the school district. N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-50(b). Base Cost [16] = Base Per-Pupil Amount × [(ES Enroll × ES Weight) + (MS Enroll × MS Weight) + (HS Enroll × HS Weight)] = $9,649 × [(12,389 × 1.0) + (6,052 × 1.04) + (6,183 × 1.17)] = $250,074,966 See D-83 at AB 439-40.