Later school aid certification date advanced

The deadline for certifying state aid under the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act (TEEOSA) would be moved back one month under a bill advanced from general file Feb. 12.

LB838, introduced by Cedar Rapids Sen. Kate Sullivan, would delay the deadline from March 1 to April 10 for certifying state aid, budget authority and applicable allowable reserve percentages under TEEOSA for 2014 only.

Sullivan said the deadline change would provide flexibility to the state Department of Education.

“If we leave the March 1 date in place, the [department] would be required to certify the aid by that date,” she said. “Changing the deadline would provide some flexibility and is still ahead of the April 15 deadline to notify teachers of potential reductions in force.”

The change also would apply to the deadline for the department to report the necessary funding level to the governor, Appropriations Committee and Education Committee.

Senators voted to advance the bill on a 35-0 vote.