South Windsor Could Receive More School Funding From State

Under one interpretation of a proposed reworking of the state's Education Cost Sharing Grant, state aid to South Windsor schools could increase, according to a report from the Governor's ECS Formula Committee.

The committee's recommendations are still in the early stages, and the General Assembly has not yet adopted them. However, the committee's projections for potential state aid increases South Windsor’s share in ECS funds from the current levels.

The report gives two scenarios and in both, South Windsor will receive more funding. Under the first scenario, South Windsor could receive around $14.79 million for 2013-14, which is up from the current $13.01 million the district received this school year. Under the second scenario, the district would receive even more - $14.87 million.

Still, with the state of the economy as it is, South Windsor Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kate Carter said that any speculation on ECS funding was premature.

“I believe it is too early to tell what final recommendations may occur, but certainly we would welcome increased state funding to ensure that we continue to offer a high quality education to the children and families of South Windsor,” Carter said in an e-mail.

In the committee's report, it is recommended that the minimum aid given to wealthier towns be lowered from 9 percent to 2 percent. The new formula aims to provide equal education opportunities and to close the achievement gap.

The committee also states that it wants to create a more predictable formula so schools have a certainty in what level of funding they will receive each year.

It is also proposed that the state give more weight to median household income of towns and to use American Community Survey data to calculate fairer funding levels; 10-year-old U.S. census data has been the main information source for ECS grants. Property values and income would also be weighed more equally.