Opinion ID: 2294246
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 26

Heading: At-Risk, LEP, and Combination Weights

Text: The Adequacy Budget incorporates additional weights for students' special needs requiring additional resources in three categoriesat-risk pupils, LEP pupils, and at-risk/LEP or combination pupils. N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-51(b),(c),(d). These categories represent characteristics recognized among education policy and finance experts to affect educational costs. D-122 ¶ 25. First, the Adequacy Budget applies an additional weight to the base per-pupil amount for each at-risk student, recognizing these students may need additional resources to meet the CCCS. N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-51(b). An at-risk student is one eligible for free or reduced priced lunch. See, e.g., Davy, 1 T 15:25-16:13. Additional resources needed for at-risk students include social workers, instructional aides, substitutes, reading specialists, parent liaisons, after school and summer school programs, alternative education services, a guidance counselor, and professional development specialists. D-12 at 37-38. The formula applies a base at-risk weight of .47 to every at-risk pupil. N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-51(b). This is was an enhancement from the weights suggested by the PJP panel, which were between .42 and .46. [17] D-12 at 38. In addition, the DOE employed a sliding scale to recognize the additional challenges faced by districts with high concentrations of at-risk students. D-1 ¶ 32; Davy, 1 T 83:12; D-12 at 12. The sliding scale applies a base at-risk weight of .47 to the base student cost for at-risk pupils in districts with an at-risk student population between zero and 20%. Davy, 1 T 83:16-20; see also D-12 at 13. The weight then increases incrementally. The scale levels off at 60%applying a weight of .57 to at-risk pupils in districts with an at-risk population over 60%. Id. at 84:3-5. [18] Although the at-risk weight levels off, the districts will still receive the additional funding for each at-risk student; therefore, the formula does provide more funding to districts with higher concentrations of at-risk students. As to the leveling off at 60%, this resulted in part due to the PJP panels' recommendation the at-risk weight should decline at high concentrations of at-risk students. D-2 at 16. In addition, several experts have testified the decision was not unreasonable. Specifically, Silverstein, the APA representative, testified this conclusion has been reached in other PJP studies. Silverstein, 3 T 43:22-44:20. Furthermore, Picus testified there is debate among experts as to whether the costs for at-risk students would continue to increase, decline, or level off with increasing concentrations of at-risk students. D-74 at 6. Monk opined there would be some savings due to economies of scale, which would result from a district with large numbers of students with similar needs. D-123 ¶ 47. The DOE considered the advice of Odden, who recommended a flat rate of .50, which would have been amongst the highest in the nation. Attwood, 29 T 16:5-13; 27:18-30:10. In sum, there is sufficient evidence in the record leveling off at 60% was an appropriate funding decision. At a minimum, the Adequacy Budget for 2008-2009 would include additional funds for each at-risk elementary student in the amount of $4,535, [19] $4,716 for each at-risk middle school student, and $5,306 for each at-risk high school student. To determine the at-risk cost for a school district, the base per-pupil amount is multiplied by the at-risk weighted enrollment of the school district and the at-risk weight for the district. N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-51(b). At-Risk Cost = Base Per-Pupil Amount × [(ES At-Risk Enroll × ES Weight) + (MS At-Risk Enroll × MS Weight) + (HS At-Risk Enroll × HS Weight)] × At-Risk Weight = $9,649 × [(8,770 X 1.0) + (4,521 × 1.04) + (3,762 × 1.17)] × 0.57 [20] =$98,302,339 See D-83, AB 439-440. Second, the formula applies weights to LEP students, [21] acknowledging extra resources are needed by these students to achieve the CCCS. N.J.S.A. 18A:7A-51(c). Resources for LEP students include additional teachers, substitutes, interpreters, supervisors, and programs such as summer school and after school. D-12 at 36. The PJP panel suggested a weight of .47 for each LEP student, but SFRA applies a weight of .50. Ibid. These resources are greater than that determined necessary in the PJP process. Applying the weights, SFRA provides additional aid for LEP resources in the amount of $4,825 for LEP elementary students, $5,017 for LEP middle school students, and $5,645 for LEP high school students. Ibid. To determine the LEP cost for a school district, the base per-pupil amount is multiplied by the LEP weighted enrollment of the school district and the LEP weight. N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-51(c). LEP Cost = Base Per Pupil Amount × [(ES LEP Enroll × ES Weight) + (MS LEP Enroll × MS Weight) + (HS LEP Enroll × HS Weight)] × LEP Weight = $9,649 × [(0 × 1.0) + (0 × 1.04) + (0 × 1.17)] × 0.5 =$0.00 [22] See D-83 at AB439-440. Third, there is a separate weight for students who are both at-risk and LEP. N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-51(d). The intent of the combination weight is to capture the additional non-overlapping resources that these students require. D-12 at 13. The Commissioner cited two examples of overlapping resourcessummer and after school programs. Davy, 1 T 32:15-33:7. In addition, Susan Ecks (Ecks), a planning associate for the DOE who performs research and data analysis, 4 T 83:9-15, testified concerning a chart the DOE created which listed resources deemed overlapping. Ecks, 4 T 126:15-128:19; D-119. The chart listed the following as duplicative: certain teachers, professional development, and after school and summer school programs. D-119. The non-overlapping resources were calculated to be 22.6% of the LEP weight. Ecks, 4 T 130:6-130:13. The DOE used a slightly higher figure, 25%, in creating the combination weight. Ibid. The combination weight is calculated by adding 25% of the LEP weight (.125) to the district's at-risk weight (between .47 and .57 depending on the percentage of at-risk students). D-12 at 32. To determine the LEP/at-risk cost for a school district, the base per-pupil amount is multiplied by the LEP/at-risk weighted enrollment of the school district and the LEP/at-risk weight. N.J. S.A. 18A:7F-51(d). LEP/AR Cost = Base Per Pupil Amount × [(ES LEP/AR Enroll × ES Weight) + (MS LEP/AR Enroll × MS Weight) + (HS LEP/AR Enroll × HS Weight)] × (AR Weight + ¼ LEP Weight) = $9,649 × [(1,577 × 1.0) + (429 × 1.04) + (413 × 1.17)] × (0.57 + 0.125) = $16,807,855 See D-83, at AB 439-440.