| | Because the Act is specifically exempted from the State Mandates Act, there is no fiscal impact to the State. School districts, however, will bear the cost of additional students attending school. In 2001-2002 there were 148,348 students in public kindergarten. Assuming an average age distribution across the year, extending the period of attainment by approximately 3.5 months would add approximately 43,200 students to the school population. Using the most recent 2000-2001 average per capita tuition charge of $6,466 for all districts, House Bill 203 would cost school districts approximately $279 M. The state would not provide any specific funding for these students until the next year when they would be counted in the general state aid (GSA) average daily attendance (ADA) figures. |