K-12 and Special Education Funding
English Learner Funding
October 2021
Funding mechanisms
- Flat weight: A single weight or dollar amount allocated by the state for students or districts that qualify based on certain factors or student needs. Allocations determined by flat weights do not vary based on specific program needs or student characteristics. For example, a state may provide a fixed dollar amount for each student whose family qualifies as low income to help fund additional programs to support the needs of those students.
- Multiple student weights: More than one weight or dollar amount is allocated by the state based on certain factors or student needs. States vary the amount allocated based on student need. For example, some states vary funding for students learning English as a second language, allocating more funds to students who are less fluent in English.
- Census-based: The state allocates funds to each district based on an assumed level of enrollment, regardless of the district’s actual demographics. This type of funding can be used in foundation formula model funding and resource allocation model funding.
- Resource-based allocation: All districts receive a minimum base amount of resources. Resources could be staffing, services or programs, and are often based on a ratio of staffing to students.
- Reimbursement system: Districts submit receipts of eligible expenditures to the state, and the state reimburses districts for all or a portion of those expenditures.
- High-cost services funding: This type of funding is often coupled with other funding distribution methods, and funds can be distributed as grants or reimbursements. For example, a district may be responsible for the cost of special education services up to a certain threshold, but if costs exceed that threshold, a state may provide additional funding to the district.
- Categorical grant: The state distributes funds based on student characteristics or program needs to districts that demonstrate eligibility and/or a need for funding. For example, a state may provide a funding supplement for a small or isolated school district, based on that designation alone.
- Hybrid: The state distributes funds using two or more funding mechanisms. For example, a state may provide additional funding for students from low-income backgrounds using two funding streams, like a flat weight and a categorical grant.
50-State Comparisons on each data point are here.
|
STATE
|
English Learner Funding? (Y/N)
|
English Learner Funding Mechanism
|
English Learner Program Name
|
English Learner Amount (Dollar amount or weight)
|
Source
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | Categorical grant | English Language Learners Program | Grant of $14,155,334 (2021-2022) to districts | Act 2021-342 (2021-2022 enacted budget) |
| Alaska | Yes | Census-based | State Aid to Public Schools | An additional weight of 0.2 is applied to each district's ADM (combined funding for special education, gifted and talented, and ELL services). | AK ST § 14.17.410, § 14.17.420 |
| Arizona | Yes | Hybrid - census-based and flat weight | Base Support Level | Grade weights: 0.158 funding factor is applied to K-8 student count and 0.268 funding factor is applied to 9-12 student count (combined funding for special education, bilingual, career exploration, and gifted and talented services). An additional weight of 0.115 is applied to ELL students. |
A.R.S. § 15-901 A.R.S. § 15-943 |
| Arkansas | Yes | Categorical grant | Student Special Needs Funding – English Language Learners | Flat funding amount of $359 (2021-22) is distributed to districts for each ELL student. | Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-2305 Code Ark. R. 005.28.36-3.00 Code Ark. R. 005.28.36-5.00 |
| California | Yes | Multiple Student Weights | Local Control Funding Formula | Additional weight of 0.2 is applied to the district's percentage of pupils who are classified as ELLs, eligible for FRPL, or foster youth. Additional weight of 0.65 to the district's percentage of classified pupils in excess of 55 percent of total enrollment. |
CA EDUC § 42238.02 |
| Colorado | Yes | Hybrid - flat weight and categorical grant | District Total Program, English Language Proficiency Program | Additional flat weight of 0.08 is applied to the number of ELL pupils. $25.3m categorical funding for school year 2021-22. |
Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 22-24-104 Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 22-54-104 |
| Connecticut | Yes | Hybrid - flat weight and categorical grant | Total Need Students, Bilingual Education | Flat weight - Additional weight of 0.25 is applied to the number of ELL pupils in the ECS formula. Categorical grant – State grant of $1.9 million (2021-2022) for bilingual education. |
Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 10-262f Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 10-17g S.B. 1202 and H.B. 6689 (2021 legislative session) |
| Delaware | Yes (effective 2022) | Categorical grant | Opportunity Fund | $33.5m for school year 2022-23 (combined funding for EL and low-income students). At least $5m must be used to provide additional supports to schools with more than 60% low-income students or more than 20% EL students. |
Del. Code Ann. tit. 14, § 1726 (effective 2022) DE H.B. 250 |
| District of Columbia | Yes | Flat Weight | Supplement to foundation level funding | Additional weight of 0.49 is applied to ELL students. | D.C. Code Ann. § 38-2905 |
| Florida | Yes | Flat Weight | Florida Education Finance Program | Additional weight of 0.199 is applied to ELL students. | Fla. Stat. Ann. § 1011.62 S.B. 2500 |
| Georgia | Yes | Flat Weight | Quality Basic Education | Additional weight of 1.5892 Ratio of 1 to 7 |
Ga. Code Ann. § 20-2-161 |
| Hawaii | Yes | Multiple student weights | Weighted Student Formula | Additional weights for 3 proficiency categories (2020-21): Fully proficient - 0.065 Limited proficient - 0.194 Non-English proficient - 0.389 |
Hawaii State Department of Education |
| Idaho | Yes | Categorical grant | Nonstatutory Expenditures | $4.87m for school year 2021-22; subject to legislative appropriation | State budget |
| Illinois | Yes | Resource-based allocation | Evidence-Based Formula | Provides additional FTE units based on the number of ELLs: Intervention teacher - 125:1 Pupil support - 125:1 Extended day teacher - 120:1 Summer school teacher - 120:1 English learner core teacher - 100:1 |
105 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/18-8.15 |
| Indiana | Yes | Categorical grant | Bilingual-Bicultural Programs | $27.5m available for school year 2021-22. Districts must apply for funding, and the awarded amount cannot exceed $300 per pupil. |
Ind. Code Ann. § 20-30-9-13 |
| Iowa | Yes | Multiple student weights | Limited English Proficiency Weighting | Intensive/emerging EL: additional weight of 0.26 Intermediate/progressing EL: additional weight of 0.21 |
Iowa Code Ann. § 280.4 |
| Kansas | Yes | Flat weight | Bilingual Weighting | The greater of the following options: 1) The full-time equivalent enrollment in approved programs multiplied by .395 2) The number of students enrolled in approved programs multiplied by .185 |
Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-5150 |
| Kentucky | Yes | Flat weight | Support Education Excellence in Kentucky | Additional weight of .096 | Kentucky Dept. of Education and School Funding Task Force |
| Louisiana | Yes | Flat weight | Minimum Foundation Program | Additional weight of .22 | SCR 2 (2021 legislative session) La. Const. Ann. art. VIII, § 13 |
| Maine | Yes | Multiple student weights | Essential Programs and Services | Additional weight of 0.70 per EL student for school admin. units with 15 or fewer EL students, 0.50 per EL student for school admin. units with 16-250 EL students, and 0.525 for school admin. units with more than 250 EL students. | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 15675 |
| Maryland | Yes | Flat weight | The Blueprint for Maryland's Future | Additional weight of 1.00 in fiscal year 2022. | Md. Code Ann., Educ. § 5-224 |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Multiple student weights | Ch. 70 Aid | Provides additional dollar amount by grade (2021-2022 budget): EL PK-5 of $2,399 EL 6-8 of $2,521 EL high school of $2,164 |
2021-2022 Final Budget Chapter 24 Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 70, § 3 |
| Michigan | Yes | Multiple student weights | Weighted Foundation Allowance | The state funds a dollar amount per English language learner based on WIDA ACCESS or WIDA Alternate ACCESS composite scores as follows: (a) $935.00 for students with a composite score between 1.0 and 1.9 (b) $645.00 for students with composite score between 2.0 and 2.9 (c) $105.00 for students with a composite between 3.0 and 3.9, If budgeted funds are insufficient to fund these payments, the department shall prorate payments on a equal percentage basis. |
Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 388.1641 |
| Minnesota | Yes | Multiple student weights | English Learner Program Aid | Both a flat dollar weight and multiple dollar weights that vary by EL concentration: a) $704 multiplied by the greater of 20 or the adjusted average daily membership of eligible English learners and b) $250 times the English learner pupil units calculated based on the English learner concentration percentage |
Minn. Stat. Ann. § 124D.65 Minn. Stat. Ann. § 126C.05 Minn. Stat. Ann. § 126C.10 |
| Mississippi | No | ||||
| Missouri | Yes | Flat weight | School Foundation Program | Additional weight of 0.60 for every limited English proficiency student above the threshold. | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 163.011 |
| Montana | No | ||||
| Nebraska | Yes | Flat Weight | Limited English proficiency allowance | The lesser of the following: 1). The school district's designated maximum limited English proficiency allowance; or 2.) The statewide average general fund operating expenditures per formula student multiplied by .25, then multiplied by: (a) The number of students who are determined to be limited English proficient if total number of students is greater than or equal to 12; or (b) 12, if the number of students who are determined to be limited English proficient is between one and 12. |
Neb.Rev.St. § 79-1007.08 |
| Nevada | Yes | Flat weight | Pupil Centered Funding Plan | Additional weight of 0.24 (2021-2022) and 0.23 (2022-2023) | Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 387.1211 SB458 (Budget bill) |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Flat weight | Adequate Education Aid | Additional dollar amount of $725.63 (2020-2021) and $740.87 (2021-2022) | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 198:40-a N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 198:40-d New Hampshire Dept. of Education |
| New Jersey | Yes | Flat weight | School Funding Reform Act | Additional weight of 0.50 for bilingual/limited English proficient students. Additional weight of 0.1250 for bilingual/limited English proficient students who are also eligible for free or reduced price lunch (combination students) |
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 18A:7F-46 N.J. Stat. Ann. § 18A:7F-51 Educational Adequacy Report 2020 |
| New Mexico | Yes | Flat weight | State Equalization Guarantee - Bilingual Multicultural Education Program Units | Additional weight of 0.50 | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 22-8-22 |
| New York | Yes | Multiple student weights | Foundation Aid | The extraordinary needs percent (based on economic disadvantage, English language learners and sparsity) ranges between an additional 1.0 and 2.0. | N.Y. Educ. Law § 3602 New York State Education Department State Aid Handbook (2021-2022) |
| North Carolina | Yes | Resource-based allocation | Students with Limited English Proficiency | Schools qualify for FTE positional allotments if they have at least 20 students with limited English or their average daily membership student count has at least 2.5 percent qualifying as students with limited English proficiency. Funding for these students is capped at 10.6% of the districts' average daily membership. Each eligible LEA receives a minimum of 1 FTE teacher assistant position. Funds allocated under this allotment may only be used for expenditures required to serve "limited English students." | S.L. 2007-0323, Sec. 7.9 N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 115C-105.25(b)(10a) 2020-2021 Allotment Policy Manual |
| North Dakota | Yes | Multiple student weights | Weighted average daily membership | Students qualify for additional weights determined by their participation in program instruction Additional weight of 0.40 for students who are determined to be in the least proficient category on a test of English language proficiency. Additional weight of 0.28 for students who are determined to be in the second least proficient category on a test of English language proficiency. Additional weight of 0.07 for students who are determined to be in the third least proficient category on a test of English language proficiency but have not been in the third least proficient category for more than three years. |
N.D. Cent. Code Ann. § 15.1-27-03.1 |
| Ohio | Yes | Multiple student weights | Amounts for English learners | Additional weight of .2104 for base students learning English Additional weight of .1577 for students who achieve an advanced, accelerated, or proficient level on the state's English language arts assessment in the previous year Additional weight of .1053 for students who achieve an advanced, accelerated, or proficient level on the state's English language arts assessment in the previous two years |
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3317.016 |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Flat weight | Weighted membership for calculation of Foundation Aid | Additional weight of .25 | Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 70, § 18-201 |
| Oregon | Yes | Flat weight | Distribution formulas for State School Fund to school districts | Additional weight of .5 | Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 327.013 |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Flat weight | Limited English-proficient students | Additional weight of .6 | 24 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 25-2502.53 |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Flat weight | Additional state support for English learners | Additional weight of .1 | 16 R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 16-7.2-6 |
| South Carolina | Yes | Flat weight | Student Weightings: Limited English Proficiency | Additional weight of .20 | Note: While pupil weightings are outline in statute (S.C. Code Ann. § 59-20-40), the most recent weightings used to determine funding levels are set by the state department of education's annual report. Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Funding Manual |
| South Dakota | Yes | Flat weight | English learner adjustment | Additional weight of .25 multiplied by the number of students who scored below a level four on the state-administered language proficiency assessment. | S.D. Codified Laws § 13-13-10.1 |
| Tennessee | Yes | Resource-based allocation | Funding for English Language Learning Students | Funding sufficiently cover the following teacher-to-student ratios: Teachers: 20:1 Translators: 200:1 |
Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-3-307 Basic Education Program Blue Book FY 2021 |
| Texas | Yes | Multiple student weights | Bilingual Education Allotment | Additional weight of .1 for a student of limited English proficiency Additional weight of .15 for students of limited English proficiency in bilingual education program using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way program model Additional weight of .05 for any other student using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way program mode |
Tex. Educ. Code Ann. § 48.105 |
| Utah | Yes | Flat Weight | Minimum School Program - Weighted Pupil Units | Additional weight of 0.025 for fiscal year 2021-2022 Additional weight of 0.1 for future years pending approval |
Utah Code Ann. § 53F-2-314 |
| Vermont | Yes | Flat Weight | Weighted membership | Additional weight of .20 | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 16, § 4010 |
| Virginia | Yes | Resource-based allocation | Instructional, administrative, and support personnel | In addition to positions supported by basic aid, the state provides extra funding sufficient to support extra FTE instructional positions. Starting in the 2021-2022 school year, provides funding for 20 FTE instructional positions for each 1,000 students identified as English language learners. |
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-253.13:2(F) |
| Washington | Yes | Resource-based allocation | Allocation of moneys for bilingual instruction program | Allocations based on a head count number of students in each school who are eligible for/enrolled in the transitional bilingual instruction program. Funding is required to cover an extra 4.7780 hours of instruction per week for students in grades K-6, and an extra 6.7780 hours of extra instruction per week for students in grades 7-12. Provides funding for a ratio of fifteen transitional bilingual instruction program students per teacher. | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 28A.180.080 |
| West Virginia | Yes | Categorical grant | Supplemental funding for the provision of programs required for Limited English Proficient (LEP) students | Subject to appropriations, districts apply for funds. | W. Va. Code Ann. § 18-9A-22 |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Reimbursement System | Bilingual-Bicultural Education: State Aids | The state provides a percent reimbursement to districts subject to appropriations, found by evenly dividing the total appropriation by annual reported costs. For districts for which ELL students comprise at least 15% of total student enrollment, an annual set-aside of $250,000 is divided proportionally and allocated to qualifying districts. | Wis. Stat. Ann. § 115.95 Wis. Stat. Ann. § 115.995 |
| Wyoming | Yes | Resource-based allocation | Resource Block Grant Model, At-risk students and ELL students components | Provides sufficient funding to cover one FTE teacher and 1 FTE pupil support staff per every 100 "at-risk" students counted under the average daily membership. Provides additional funding to cover one FTE teacher for every 100 ELL students counted under the average daily membership (minimum .5 FTE teacher position for every district). |
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 21-13-309(v)(A) (2011) House Bill 127, Attachment A WY H.B. 236 (2017) |
| Total answers |
49
Yes:
2
No:
|
21
Flat:
11
Multiple:
6
Categorical:
6
Resource-based:
3
Hybrid:
1
Census-based:
1
Reimbursement:
|