Board adopts joint policy with AIB on minimum school funding; PowerSchool reporting to track allocations

The State Board of Education adopted a joint implementation policy with the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) to operationalize the Blueprint requirement that at least 75% of per‑pupil funds tied to students be allocated to the schools those students attend.

Assistant Superintendent Donna Gunning and MSDE staff explained that FY24 reporting will be a beta year while FY25 will serve as the baseline. Under the jointly agreed staged approach, districts will establish a baseline in FY25, demonstrate progress in FY26, and be expected to reach the standard in FY27. AIB will provide technical assistance (via a paid roster of resource-allocation providers) and MSDE has built school-level reporting through PowerSchool to allow LEAs to submit allocations and monthly expenditures by program and school.

Board members asked for demonstrations of the PowerSchool reporting tool so districts and the board can see how allocations and actual expenditures appear at school level; MSDE said it will schedule a demonstration and provide guidance materials. The board adopted the joint policy unanimously after discussion.

MSDE and AIB staff emphasized that the 75% requirement is a minimum for school-level funding of those per‑pupil dollars and does not imply a fixed 25% for central office; instead, allocations will vary based on local costs and program needs. The policy allows limited appeals to AIB for specific cases with documented constraints.

The board and AIB will use a key performance indicator focused on the percentage of students who attend a school that is fully funded at the minimum level; MSDE will upload monthly expenditure and allocation data once LEAs complete new chart‑of‑accounts reporting.