Students who count for SEEK

Here's a way to see the growth in students and student needs recognized by the SEEK formula:

In the graph, the "add-on equivalents" number is one way to get a quick sense of how the "regular" needs generated by attending students compare to the extra needs of students with low incomes, learning disabilities, and other challenges. Think of it as saying that in 2009, responding to those added challenges was a responsibility roughly as large as serving 158 thousand more students. (For number-lovers, I calculated the "equivalents" by dividing the add-on funding total each year by the per-pupil guarantee amount.)

From 2002 to 2009, Kentucky schools added roughly 21,000 students in average daily attendance for purposes of the basic portion of the SEEK guarantee. In the same period, our schools added the equivalent of 25,000 students for the SEEK add-ons for needs based on income, language, or disability challenges.

The graph below give a further sense of where the add-on growth occurred. The limited English add-on did not begin until 2006.

Notes: the funding figures used for this analysis come from the KDE website here. All counts shown above are based on dividing statewide totals by that year's base guarantee amount per pupil. The same results could be calculated by taking the original student counts and multiplying by the SEEK weight assigned to that group. All years shown are fiscal years.