A bill described by Sen. Tim Rave as a “new, innovative way” to fund education is making its way to the Senate floor.

 

Senate Appropriations committee members unanimously passed Senate Bill 176, which would appropriate funds for the development of online resources and a rubric of textbook analysis for use in school districts. The bill was amended to include $1 placeholder funding and to ensure any funds appropriated, should the bill pass, be used from the 2015 fiscal year budget.

 

“This is the kind of thinking we need,” Sen. Al Solano said of the bill’s premise.

 

SASD Executive Director Rob Monson brought the bill to the legislature to help districts save dollars, especially capital outlay dollars, which is the fund districts use to pay for textbooks and has also been a focal point during legislative session as talks, and a bill, have aimed to limit the district’s levy.

 

Monson said the bill would make the resources available to many school districts and TIE could help with the design of the resources, which would be funded as a pilot program.

 

“(We’re) asking (the legislature) to invest some money now to see how it works out,” Monson said.

 

ASBSD supports the bill.