72-5148. Same; transportation weighting. (a) The transportation weighting of each school district shall be determined by the state board as follows:

(1) Determine the total expenditures of the school district during the preceding school year from all funds for transporting students of public and nonpublic schools on regular school routes;

(2) determine the sum of: (A) The number of students who were included in the enrollment of the school district in the preceding school year who resided less than 21/2 miles by the usually traveled road from the school building such students attended and for whom transportation was made available by the school district; and (B) the number of nonresident students who were included in the enrollment of the school district for the preceding school year and for whom transportation was made available by the school district;

(3) determine the number of students who were included in the enrollment of the district in the preceding school year who resided 21/2 miles or more by the usually traveled road from the school building such students attended and for whom transportation was made available by the school district;

(4) multiply the number of students determined under subsection (a)(3) by 2.8;

(5) divide the amount determined under subsection (a)(2) by the product obtained under subsection (a)(4);

(6) add one to the quotient obtained under subsection (a)(5);

(7) multiply the sum obtained under subsection (a)(6) by the amount determined under subsection (a)(3);

(8) divide the amount determined under subsection (a)(1) by the product obtained under subsection (a)(7). The resulting quotient is the per-student cost of transportation;

(9) on a density-cost graph, plot the per-student cost of transportation for each school district;

(10) construct a curve of best fit for the points so plotted;

(11) locate the index of density for the school district on the base line of the density-cost graph and from the point on the curve of best fit directly above this point of index of density follow a line parallel to the base line to the point of intersection with the vertical line, which point is the formula per-student cost of transportation of the school district;

(12) divide the formula per-student cost of transportation of the school district by the BASE aid; and

(13) multiply the quotient obtained under subsection (a)(12) by the number of students who are included in the enrollment of the school district, are residing 21/2 miles or more by the usually traveled road to the school building they attend, and for whom transportation is being made available by, and at the expense of, the district.

(b) (1) For school years 2017-2018 through 2020-2021, the transportation weighting of the school district shall be either the product determined under subsection (a)(13), or that portion of such school district's general state aid for school year 2016-2017 that was attributable to the school district's transportation weighting, whichever is greater.

(2) For school year 2021-2022, and each school year thereafter, the transportation weighting of the school district shall be the product determined under subsection (a)(13).

(c) For the purpose of providing accurate and reliable data on student transportation, the state board is authorized to adopt rules and regulations prescribing procedures that school districts shall follow in reporting pertinent information, including uniform reporting of expenditures for transportation.

(d) As used in this section:

(1) "Curve of best fit" means the curve on a density-cost graph drawn so the sum of the distances squared from such line to each of the points plotted on the graph is the least possible.

(2) "Density-cost graph" means a drawing having: (A) A horizontal or base line divided into equal intervals of density, beginning with zero on the left; and (B) a scale for per-student cost of transportation to be shown on a line perpendicular to the base line at the left end thereof, such scale to begin with zero dollars at the base line ascending by equal per-student cost intervals.

(3) "Index of density" means the number of students who are included in the enrollment of a school district in the current school year, are residing the designated distance or more by the usually traveled road from the school building they attend, and for whom transportation is being made available on regular school routes by the school district, divided by the number of square miles of territory in the school district.

History: L. 2017, ch. 95, § 20; July 1.