15-918.04. Career ladder programs

A. To budget for a career ladder program as approved by the state board, a school district that is implementing the program in all schools in the district may calculate its budget using an increase in the base level as follows:

1. For the fiscal year or years a district is implementing the program at the development phase, 0.5 per cent, except that a district shall:

(a) Be allowed to budget at least the amount in column 2 of this subdivision that corresponds to the student count classification in column 1 of this subdivision:

      Column 1                                          Column 2
      Student count                                  Minimum amount
      1-199                                             $ 5,000
      200-599                                           $10,000
      600-999                                           $15,000
      1,000-1,399                                       $20,000
      1,400 or more                                     $25,000
 

(b) Not budget more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars.

2. For the fiscal year or years a district is implementing the program at the evaluation phase, 1.0 per cent, except that a district shall:

(a) Be allowed to budget the amount in column 2 of this subdivision that corresponds to the student count classification in column 1 of this subdivision:

      Column 1                                          Column 2
      Student count                                  Minimum amount
      1-199                                             $10,000
      200-599                                           $20,000
      600-999                                           $30,000
      1,000-1,399                                       $40,000
      1,400 or more                                     $50,000
 

(b) Not budget more than three hundred thousand dollars.

3. For the fiscal year or years a district is implementing the program at the placement phase, not greater than 2.5 per cent. After the successful completion of at least one year in the placement phase, the board may approve a funding level of not greater than 4.0 per cent.

4. For the fiscal years a district is implementing the program at the effective career ladder phase, not greater than 5.5 per cent.

5. In addition to the amount authorized in paragraphs 3 and 4, a school district for which the formula produces an amount of less than three hundred thousand dollars may increase its base support level by an amount computed as follows:

(a) Determine ten per cent of the funding increase.

(b) Subtract the amount determined in subdivision (a) of this paragraph from the amount in column 2 of this subdivision that corresponds to the student count classification in column 1 of this subdivision:

      Column 1                                          Column 2
      Student count                               Small district adjustment
      1-599                                             $10,000
      600-1,399                                         $20,000
      1,400 or more                                     $30,000
 

B. If a career ladder program has been approved for fewer than all of the schools in a school district, the percentage increase in the base level prescribed in subsection A of this section shall be reduced proportionately, based on the ratio of the student count in the career ladder schools to the student count of the school district as a whole. The minimum and maximum dollar amounts apply to the school or schools in one school district as if they were a school district.

C. Notwithstanding any other law, a school district that has implemented a career ladder program may budget any budget balance in the maintenance and operation section of the budget that is directly attributable to a budgeted increase in the base level as prescribed in this section from the current fiscal year for use in career ladder programs in the budget year. The amount budgeted pursuant to this subsection shall not be included in the allowable budget balance carry forward calculated pursuant to section 15-943.01. The amount budgeted pursuant to this subsection is specifically exempt from the revenue control limit. For purposes of this subsection, "budget balance" means the difference between actual career ladder expenditures and the budgeted increase in the base level as prescribed in this section.

15-918.04. Career ladder programs

A. To budget for a career ladder program as approved by the state board, a school district that is implementing the program in all schools in the district may calculate its budget using an increase in the base level as follows:

1. For the fiscal year or years a district is implementing the program at the development phase, 0.5 per cent, except that a district shall:

(a) Be allowed to budget at least the amount in column 2 of this subdivision that corresponds to the student count classification in column 1 of this subdivision:

      Column 1                                          Column 2
      Student count                                  Minimum amount
      1-199                                             $ 5,000
      200-599                                           $10,000
      600-999                                           $15,000
      1,000-1,399                                       $20,000
      1,400 or more                                     $25,000
 

(b) Not budget more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars.

2. For the fiscal year or years a district is implementing the program at the evaluation phase, 1.0 per cent, except that a district shall:

(a) Be allowed to budget the amount in column 2 of this subdivision that corresponds to the student count classification in column 1 of this subdivision:

      Column 1                                          Column 2
      Student count                                  Minimum amount
      1-199                                             $10,000
      200-599                                           $20,000
      600-999                                           $30,000
      1,000-1,399                                       $40,000
      1,400 or more                                     $50,000
 

(b) Not budget more than three hundred thousand dollars.

3. For the fiscal year or years a district is implementing the program at the placement phase, not greater than 2.5 per cent. After the successful completion of at least one year in the placement phase, the board may approve a funding level of not greater than 4.0 per cent.

4. For the fiscal years a district is implementing the program at the effective career ladder phase, not greater than 5.5 per cent.

5. In addition to the amount authorized in paragraphs 3 and 4, a school district for which the formula produces an amount of less than three hundred thousand dollars may increase its base support level by an amount computed as follows:

(a) Determine ten per cent of the funding increase.

(b) Subtract the amount determined in subdivision (a) of this paragraph from the amount in column 2 of this subdivision that corresponds to the student count classification in column 1 of this subdivision:

      Column 1                                          Column 2
      Student count                               Small district adjustment
      1-599                                             $10,000
      600-1,399                                         $20,000
      1,400 or more                                     $30,000
 

B. If a career ladder program has been approved for fewer than all of the schools in a school district, the percentage increase in the base level prescribed in subsection A of this section shall be reduced proportionately, based on the ratio of the student count in the career ladder schools to the student count of the school district as a whole. The minimum and maximum dollar amounts apply to the school or schools in one school district as if they were a school district.

C. Notwithstanding any other law, a school district that has implemented a career ladder program may budget any budget balance in the maintenance and operation section of the budget that is directly attributable to a budgeted increase in the base level as prescribed in this section from the current fiscal year for use in career ladder programs in the budget year. The amount budgeted pursuant to this subsection shall not be included in the allowable budget balance carry forward calculated pursuant to section 15-943.01. The amount budgeted pursuant to this subsection is specifically exempt from the revenue control limit. For purposes of this subsection, "budget balance" means the difference between actual career ladder expenditures and the budgeted increase in the base level as prescribed in this section.