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Military families with children in local school districts might see a “First Count” survey soon.
The survey helps determine, in part, how much funding the schools receive.
Fort Leavenworth School Liaison Officer Jessica Brushwood said schools depend on families to fill out the survey and return it to the child’s school district so that district can continue to support education of military children.
“The return of this form is very valuable to the school district military children attend,” Brushwood said.
Schools in Kansas depend upon property taxes for funding, but state-funded schools with military families don’t have that option.
To make up for lack of funding, the U.S. Department of Education grants impact aid to schools with military children. Fort Leavenworth Unified School District 207, Leavenworth USD 453 and many other nearby schools receive impact aid.
In talking to Col. Wayne Green, Garrison commander, Brushwood said Fort Leavenworth leaders are supportive of the impact aid survey, calling it the “lifeblood for the quality of our schools.”
William Heinen, chief financial officer for the Fort Leavenworth district, said the district has about 2,000 children — almost all from military families — and receives about $10 million each year.
Leavenworth schools have fewer military children and receive about $100,000 each year, said Kevin Gullett, chief financial officer for the Leavenworth school district.
The money is funneled through the Kansas Department of Education as a reimbursement for the base state aid per pupil paid to each district in a complicated formula that gives additional weighting to children with special needs, less weighting to children in all-day kindergarten and many other unique considerations.
In 2010, for example, Leavenworth schools received $108,040 in federal impact aid. Of this amount, the state of Kansas claimed $52,940 as a reimbursement for base state aid per pupil that had been provided to the district.
“It’s a small piece but it’s an important piece,” Gullet said. “It helps overall when you look at the cost of paying a teacher’s salary.”
Gullet said Leavenworth schools are complying with federal law when they send out surveys. The surveys are also subject to audit by the U.S. Department of Education.
“All the information is strictly confidential,” Gullet said. “It’s not something we disclose to anyone outside the education field.”
Gullet said the majority of military children in the Leavenworth schools attend Leavenworth High School, but there are a few in the elementary and middle schools as well.
For more information on working with schools in the area, contact the Fort Leavenworth School Liaison Officer at 684-1655.
Military families with children in local school districts might see a “First Count” survey soon.
The survey helps determine, in part, how much funding the schools receive.
Fort Leavenworth School Liaison Officer Jessica Brushwood said schools depend on families to fill out the survey and return it to the child’s school district so that district can continue to support education of military children.
“The return of this form is very valuable to the school district military children attend,” Brushwood said.
Schools in Kansas depend upon property taxes for funding, but state-funded schools with military families don’t have that option.
To make up for lack of funding, the U.S. Department of Education grants impact aid to schools with military children. Fort Leavenworth Unified School District 207, Leavenworth USD 453 and many other nearby schools receive impact aid.
In talking to Col. Wayne Green, Garrison commander, Brushwood said Fort Leavenworth leaders are supportive of the impact aid survey, calling it the “lifeblood for the quality of our schools.”
William Heinen, chief financial officer for the Fort Leavenworth district, said the district has about 2,000 children — almost all from military families — and receives about $10 million each year.
Leavenworth schools have fewer military children and receive about $100,000 each year, said Kevin Gullett, chief financial officer for the Leavenworth school district.
The money is funneled through the Kansas Department of Education as a reimbursement for the base state aid per pupil paid to each district in a complicated formula that gives additional weighting to children with special needs, less weighting to children in all-day kindergarten and many other unique considerations.
In 2010, for example, Leavenworth schools received $108,040 in federal impact aid. Of this amount, the state of Kansas claimed $52,940 as a reimbursement for base state aid per pupil that had been provided to the district.
“It’s a small piece but it’s an important piece,” Gullet said. “It helps overall when you look at the cost of paying a teacher’s salary.”
Gullet said Leavenworth schools are complying with federal law when they send out surveys. The surveys are also subject to audit by the U.S. Department of Education.
“All the information is strictly confidential,” Gullet said. “It’s not something we disclose to anyone outside the education field.”
Gullet said the majority of military children in the Leavenworth schools attend Leavenworth High School, but there are a few in the elementary and middle schools as well.
For more information on working with schools in the area, contact the Fort Leavenworth School Liaison Officer at 684-1655.
