AN ACT CONCERNING INTERDISTRICT MAGNET SCHOOL ENROLLMENT.

OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS

Legislative Office Building, Room 5200

Hartford, CT 06106 ¯ (860) 240-0200

http: //www. cga. ct. gov/ofa

sSB-1311

AN ACT CONCERNING INTERDISTRICT MAGNET SCHOOL ENROLLMENT.

Agency Affected	Fund-Effect	FY 06 $	FY 07 $
Education, Dept.	GF - Cost	Potential	Potential

Municipalities	Effect	FY 06 $	FY 07 $
All Municipalities	Cost	Potential	Potential
Various Municipalities	Revenue Gain	Potential	Potential

Explanation

This bill results in a potential cost to the State Department of Education as it would allow enrollment of students in magnet schools beyond those students from participating (member) towns if excess capacity existed. This cost would be in the magnet school operating grant, which is paid to magnet school operators based on enrollment percentages. In FY 05 the state is expending approximately $70. 0 million on magnet school operating grants. The governor’s recommendations for FY 06 and FY 07 are $84. 5 million and $99. 9 million respectively. It is anticipated that this bill could increase those amounts by one to two percent.

The bill also results in a potential cost to towns, as it would require the town to pay the tuition cost of any magnet school chosen by students from the town. This payment would be made from the the town’s ECS allocation. Current magnet school tuition rates are generally $2,000 to $5,000 per student sometime higher. These costs are a revenue gain to towns or regional education service centers operating magnet schools. The cost to some districts could be significant in relation to their local budget.