Section 8: Differentiated funding
Rule Text
(8) Differentiated funding: For the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school year, school districts reporting student enrollment pursuant to the requirements of this section shall generate and receive funding at eighty percent of the formula funding that would have been generated under the state basic education formula for such enrollment unless the following conditions are met, in which case school districts shall generate and receive funding at ninety percent of the formula funding:
(a) For alternative learning experience on-line programs under RCW 28A.150.262, in addition to the direct personal contact requirements specified in subsection (4) of this section, each student receives either:
(i) Face-to-face, in-person instructional contact time from a certificated teacher according to the criteria identified in subsection 8(d)of this section; or
(ii) Synchronous digital instructional contact time from a certificated teacher according to the criteria identified in subsection 8(d)of this section if the student's written student learning plan includes only on-line courses as defined by RCW 28A.250.010;
(b) For all other types of alternative learning experience programs, in addition to the direct personal contact requirements specified in subsection (4) of this section, each student receives face-to-face, in-person instructional contact time from a certificated teacher according to the criteria identified in subsection 8(d)of this section;
(c) The instructional contact time must be:
(i) For the purposes of actual instruction, review of assignments, testing, evaluation of student progress, or other learning activities or requirements identified in the written student learning plan; and
(ii) Related to an alternative learning experience course identified in the written student learning plan;
(d) Using the estimate by a certificated teacher of the average number of hours per school week the student will engage in learning activities to meet the requirements of the written student learning plan, as required by subsection 3(c)(ii) of this section:
(i) for students whose learning plan includes an estimate of 5 hours per school week or less, on average at least 15 minutes of contact per school week during each month of reported enrollment for the student;
(ii) for students whose learning plan includes an estimate of more than five hours per school week but less than sixteen hours per school week, on average at least thirty minutes of contact per school week during each month of reported enrollment for the student;
(iii) for students whose learning plan includes an estimate of more than fifteen hours per school week, on average at least one hour of contact per school week during each month of reported enrollment for the student;
Comments
This subsection implements the differential funding requirements established by ESHB 2065, passed by the 2011 Washington State Legislature, which are intended to reduce overall ALE general apportionment funding by 15 percent. All ALE programs will receive reduced funding. If an ALE program is administered under these ALE rules, the program will qualify for 80 percent of general apportionment funding. However, if an ALE program is administered under these ALE rules and also implements the in-person and/or synchronous contact requirements identified in this subsection, the program will qualify for 90 percent of general apportionment funding for those students that actually accomplish the contact requirement.
Instructional contact time required to claim at the 90 percent level:
| Estimated WSLP hours per week |
Average contact time per school week |
|---|---|
| 1-5 hours | 15 minutes |
| 6-15 hours | 30 minutes |
| 15+ hours | 1 hour |
Note: This section was revised prior to the 2012-13 school year. See the revisions.
Common Questions
A. The contact requirement applies at the student level. Students that do not fulfill the contact requirements for 90 percent are claimed at 80 percent.
Last updated: 8/19/2011
A. See the definition under 3(h).
Last updated: 8/19/2011
A. See the definition of an online program. Also, any OSPI-approved online provider meets this definition.
Last updated: 8/19/2011
A. Yes.
Last updated: 8/19/2011
A. This means that in order to qualify for the allowed exception to actual face-to-face contact, the entire WSLP must be comprised of actual online courses that meet the definition established in state law. If a WSLP includes some online courses and some non-online ALE courses, then contact must be face-to-face.
Last updated: 8/19/2011
Q. Must the contact requirement be accomplished in one sitting?
A. No. The contact requirement can be accomplished in increments. However, each increment must be documented.
Last updated: 8/19/2011
Q. Must the contact requirement be one-to-one contact?
A. No. The contact requirement can be accomplished in a group setting, so long as it meets the other requirements in 8(b), (c), and (d).
Last updated: 8/19/2011
A. Yes. If weekly contact is accomplished through either in-person instructional contact time or synchronous digital instructional contact for each school week in the month, then that student may be claimed at the 90% level.
Last updated: 8/16/2012
Q. Why was differentiated funding enacted?
A: The differential funding model described in the rules is designed to implement the 15% funding cut required by ESHB 2065.
Last updated: 8/19/2011
A. The face-to-face instructional contact time (or synchronous digital contact time, under some circumstances) needs to relate to the ALE WSLP. Contact time in non-ALE courses doesn’t count.
Last updated: 9/16/2011
Q. What happens if a student falls short of the required monthly time?
A. If a student doesn’t reach the required average contact time per school week in a given month, the district can claim that student at the 80% level for that month.
Last updated: 8/13/2012
Q. How do we calculate contact requirements for 90% funding for months with fewer school weeks?
A. The average contact time is calculated per school week, so only include weeks where school is in session as a part of your calculation. Include each week that ends in the reporting month.
Last updated: 8/13/2012
A. When a student withdraws from an ALE program mid-month, the contact time would be based on the time the student was enrolled.
Last updated: 3/22/2012
A. If a student is enrolled in an ALE program on count day, she would be required to meet the minimum contact time for the time she was enrolled in the ALE program to receive 90% funding for that month. In your example, she was enrolled in the ALE program for only one week. She could be claimed for 90% funding if she met the minimum contact for the one week of ALE enrollment.
Last updated: 8/13/2012
A. If you can document that the seniors' schedule ends earlier, then you should only count the weeks through their last day when determining “school weeks” for the purposes of administering the 90/80 funding.
Last updated: 3/22/2012
A. The instructional contact time used to determine funding level (80% or 90%) is measured based on the average contact time per school week. So, if a student misses a week, you can make up that time the next week. For example, let’s say you have a full-time student. To claim the student at 90%, you need to have the student participate in an average of one hour per school week. So, the student could do one hour in the first week, miss the second week, then do two in the third and one in the fourth week. A total of four hours were logged for the month. (4 hours / 4 school weeks = 1 hr/week, and you’re set to claim at 90%)
Last updated: 4/27/2012
A. This requirement was removed in the rule revision prior to the 2012-13 school year. Programs will now report the FTE of students meeting the 90%requirements and the FTE of students meeting the 80% requirements, and be funded accordingly.
Last updated: 8/16/2012
Relevant Forms or Samples
None.