Principles and Alternatives Colorado ADM Study Advisory Committee

1. Principles and Alternatives Colorado ADM Study Advisory Committee Justin Silverstein, APA Tracie Rainey, CSFP Mark Fermanich, CU-Denver

2. Principles • Changes to the counting method should not result in decreased K-12 funding in the state. • Any student count should limit the administrative burden on both the state and districts/charters. • Changes to the counting method should be phased in over time. • Districts should be held harmless for funding for some period of time if changes to the counting method are adopted. • Changes to the counting method should be fair and equitable. • Changes to the counting method should be neutral in terms of the delivery of educational services.

3. Principles • Common definitions should be created at the state level for attendance and membership(enrollment). There may need to be a statewide membership form/process to facilitate consistency across the state. • A strong student information system should be in place. Ideally, this system would allow the CDE to pull the data needed from districts versus the districts pushing data up to the CDE. • Growth and decline should be addressed as part of the formula if not addressed in the count.

4. Alternatives

5. Type of Count • Attendance vs Membership • Attendance • Pros – Focus on students in school, could lead to higher attendance • Cons – District lack control of some issues that cause attendance • Membership • Pros – Focuses on total number of kids responsible to educate • Cons – No apparent fiscal incentive to encourage attendance

6. Frequency of Count • Single Day to Average Daily • Single day – Only one day but can be very high stakes • Multiple day – More information on attend/membership trends, can still be high stakes • Average Daily – Many more data points, may be more work for districts/charters

7. Use in Funding • Biggest question is prior year versus current year funding • Prior year allows for more certainty in funding for districts/charters and the state. Does not take into account actual year count • Current year allows for use of actual count but beginning counts can differ from end counts • Must also decide how many different types of counts will be used

8. Alternatives • Created five alternatives ranging from current count to full ADM approach • Choices can be made within the alternatives • Not the only possible alternatives

9. Option 1 - Current • Advantages: • All systems are in place and state and district staff are familiar with the process • No potential implementation or additional administrative costs • No funding shifts among districts • Disadvantages: • No apparent financial incentive to maintain enrollment or attendance after count date occurs • Less precision in funding districts and charters for the students they serve throughout the year

10. Option 2 – Current Data • Advantages: • Provides additional data point(s) later in the year of students being served • If funding is adjusted based on later count(s), provides funding for students enrolled after the October count period • May provide additional incentives to keep students enrolled or to enroll students not currently being served • Relieves some of the pressure of identifying students and assuring attendance for the single October count date • Disadvantages: • May increase administrative burdens on the state, districts and charter schools • May cause further funding disruptions for districts loosing students after the October count, particularly if temporary hold harmless funding is not available

11. Option 3 – New Count Dates • Advantages and disadvantages similar to Alternative 2

12. Option 4 – Mix of Counts • Advantages and disadvantages similar to Alternatives 2 and 3

13. Option 5 - ADM • Advantages and disadvantages similar to Alternatives 2 – 4 with the addition of: • A full ADM count may require more significant upgrades to the student information systems of the state and districts, thus increasing implementation costs • Greater count discrepancies from the current October count may occur in some districts, leading to larger decreases in funding

14. Final Steps • Committee Recommendation? • Report delivered on Friday the 7th • Presentations later in the month