AP Wire

La. education chief seeks $44M funding bump

by Melinda Deslatte, Associated Press

Superintendent John White
File Photo by Robin May

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana's education department wants to ask lawmakers for a $44 million increase in the public school funding formula next year above Gov. Bobby Jindal's request.

Education Superintendent John White released the proposal Wednesday. It will be considered Thursday by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, which determines what to recommend to the Legislature.

Jindal's proposing a $3.6 billion school formula for the 2015-16 year. The proposal keeps spending flat, adding $34 million only to account for growth in student enrollment.

White's larger proposal would increase spending for students with disabilities and students taking college and career education classes, along with an inflationary increase for districts.

That's less than school boards and unions sought. The increase likely will face legislative resistance as the state grapples with a hefty budget shortfall.