Unexpected growth in public school enrollment this year continues to affect the state’s bottom line.
In a budget presentation Thursday, state officials asked for another $6.2 million in the current year’s budget to pay for that growth.
That’s on top of the nearly $19 million increase the Department of Education got earlier this year.
“We’re seeing students coming in from home schools, from private schools, as well as some students coming in from out of country. We’re seeing more of the school age students attending the public schools versus the nonpublic schools,” said the Department of Education's Karen Field Rodgers.
Education Secretary Mark Murphy says more parents continue to switch from private or home schooling because of new offerings from the public school system.
“Things like international baccalaureate program in a high school or increased opportunities for advanced placement classes or an increase in the career and technical education opportunities in high schools," said Murphy. "Those are attractive to parents, those are attractive to kids.”
Murphy adds more students are staying in school with the state’s dropout rate at a 30 year low.
The money to cover this school's additional needs will come from any department surpluses or state budget officials will have to find extra cash elsewhere.
Strong growth is projected, too, with Murphy budgeting an added $14.9 million for the 2015-16 school year. That spending is mandatory under state law.
The Department of Education makes up about a third of state spending during this fiscal year, with next year’s proposal totaling $1.3 billion dollars.
