State Board of Education removes restrictions on nearly $30 million; GPS plans remain in place

The State Board of Education today removed restrictions on funds for the current school year originally allotted to four specific programs, granting local school districts more flexibility as they prepare to contend with more anticipated budget cuts.

Nearly $30 million was budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2016 school activities fund for the Reading Sufficiency Act (RSA), Achieving Classroom Excellence (ACE) remediation, alternative education and staff professional development. Previously, that money was only allowed to be spent in support of those designated programs. The board’s action today removes that restriction, although districts remain obligated to fully meet the requirements of these programs.

For Guthrie Public Schools,; Superintendent Dr. Mike Simpson says today’s move will allow the district to be more flexible.

“This action removes restrictions on money not already allocated in these funds. We estimate that amount at $38,000 at this time. This will allow us more flexibility with those funds in the budgeting process but this isn’t additional funding.”

Simpson says the same plan remains in place.

“We are still expected to continue the programs for which the funds were originally earmarked.”

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said the change gives local schools more flexibility to meet urgent needs in the midst of ongoing cuts.

“We are doing what we can to give local districts options while maintaining every expectation that schools fully implement the important programs for which these funds were assigned. This modification simply loosens the regulatory strings,” Hofmeister said.

Hofmeister said the flexibility is particularly critical as districts prepare for a probable cut to the HB 1017 fund, which is a dedicated revenue stream for education, as well as the potential for another revenue failure this fiscal year.

Much of the money impacted by today’s action already has been distributed to districts. The Oklahoma State Department of Education will continue to ensure schools and districts meet the requirements of the four programs through the accreditation process, which remains unchanged.