RPF S-58100-00003568 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.pdf

RFP S-58100-00003568

Research/Evaluation Study of Oregon State School Fund

(Formerly RPF S-58100-00003059)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. On page 5 of the RFP in the language from HB 5006 it mentions the researcher must have completed at least one multi-year study of weighted student funding. Can the state provide more specificity on what it means by a weighted student funding study?

Many states add additional factors to their school funding formulas to account for differences in costs, student demographics or other factors. Oregon calls these additional factors weights.

However, the researcher experiences may be with another state school funding mechanism that includes multiple factors for calculation of the amount of school funding distribution. The study should have also looked at multiple years of funding. We have also provided more information below about Oregon school funding system.

The SSF amount, along with formula local revenue, is split between school districts, 95.5 percent, and ESDs, 4.5 percent. ODE then allocates the school share to districts using the school funding distribution formula. The formula was designed in 1991, after passage of Ballot Measure 5, with the goal of providing an equitable method for the distribution of state dollars to school districts.

Equalization. With the shift to a primarily state-funded school system, the Legislative Assembly determined that it should make up the loss of local dollars in such a way that funded each student, weighted, about equally, throughout the state. To achieve equal per-student funding, the current formula reduces state aid if local revenues per student are high and increases state aid if local revenues per student are low. The formula uses five different methods to adjust for cost differences among school districts. As follows:

• Teacher experience adjustment

• Transportation grant

• Facility grant

• High cost disability grant

• Weighted student count

The State School Fund or SSF Equalization Formula Basics

1) In dollars, the SSF is the largest of the Department of Education programs, and the State’s largest investment;

2) With local formula revenues, the SSF provides about 80 percent of general operating dollars to school districts and education services districts;

3) Allocated through a statutorily required equalization formula adopted in 1991 and largely unchanged since then;

4) Goals of the formula are to:

• Equalize district and ESD funding

• Compensate districts for certain student and district characteristics through weights, and

• Maintain local control.

5) Districts control spending decisions unless the Legislature directs otherwise.

Weights considered are:

• Category Additional Weight IEP, Special Education with 11 percent Average Daily Membership(ADMr) cap 1.0

• English Language Learner 0.5

• Pregnant and Parenting 1.0 Poverty 0.25

• Foster Care 0.25

• Neglected or Delinquent Students 0.25

• Small School Correction 1.0

2. Page 6 mentions the SSF Advisory group. How often does the group meet and will there be a designated contact from the SSF that will work with the contractor?

Cindy Hunt, ODE Chief of Staff, will be your designated contact from the SSF Advisory Group.

The SSF Advisory group meets monthly.

3. Section 2.3.2, p5. Are all four types of grants within the State School Fund General Purpose, Facility, Transportation, High Cost Disability within scope for this evaluation?

Yes, please consider all four types of grants.

4. Section 2.3.2, p5, Should this evaluation evaluate the State School Fund since its inception in 1991 or focus on the distribution and impacts of the funds in more recent fiscal years?

Proposal should focus on more recent fiscal years.

5. Section 2.3.2, p5, Similarly, for which years are administrative data available for 1) educational allocations and expenditures, 2) student demographic, enrollment, and outcomes, and 3) educator demographics and effectiveness?

1) Educational allocations and expenditures. There is state level data available regarding distribution to school districts for the 20-21 fiscal year and previous years. Oregon also uses a chart of accounts that requires school districts to designate types of expenditures at the local level. This data is available for 20-21 fiscal year and previous years.

2) Student demographics, enrollment and outcomes. Oregon’s Statewide Report Card for 2020- 21 was published November 22, 2021. This report contains data on student demographics, enrollment and outcomes for multiple years. It can be found in the attachments section of this solicitation.

3) Educator demographics and effectiveness. Oregon’s Statewide Report Card referenced above also has information on educators for multiple years. Additional reports on Educators can be found in the attachments section of this solicitation.

The most recent of these reports has data through the 2020-21 school year.

6. Section 2.3.2, p5, What does the Oregon Department of Education consider to be the focal student outcomes (e.g., student test scores, student graduation) for this evaluation?

Student graduation rates including the 4 year cohort and completer rates and 5 year cohort and completer rates. We also collect data for Ninth Grade On-Track which is the percentage of students in their first year of high school on-track to graduate. Oregon also looks at the percentage of students who are pushed out of schools as reflected in the high school dropout rates and regular attenders data. Information on these outcomes can be found in the Attachments section of this solicitation.

7. Section 2.3.2, p5, At what level of granularity are expenditure data available? The RFP references assessing implications on classroom-level resources and we are wondering whether additional data collection, beyond what is already collected by the Oregon Department of Education, are required to measure classroom-level resources.

Oregon also uses a chart of accounts that requires school districts to designate types of expenditures at the local level. This data is available for 20-21 fiscal year and previous years.

8. Does the Oregon Department of Education currently administer surveys to teachers or school leaders? If so, would this survey/survey delivery system be available to the project team for use for this evaluation?

Oregon administered the Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning or TELL survey. The 2018 results and information on the survey can be found in the attachments section of this solicitation.

Oregon next plans to administer the survey in spring 2023, therefore the results will not be available for this work.

9. Does this project have an anticipated budget range?

The anticipated budget is well over $200,000. ODE expects a team of qualified researchers will be needed to complete this work within the timeframes needed.

10. Will the contractor be involved with the SSF Advisory Committee's review of variations in school spending across multiple types of expenditures within 25 school districts?

Yes, and the SSF Advisory Group has already selected the 25 school districts.

11. Can you please provide detail as to whether or not front and back covers, intentionally blank pages, or divider pages will be counted towards the page limit?

The front and back pages, any intentionally blank pages, divider pages, and the required Attachments do not count toward the page limit.

12. When submitting a proposal through the file transfer system, should the consultants select the RFP coordinator as the intended recipient?

Yes, please select Sonja.Svenson@ode.oregon.gov as the intended recipient.

13. Given the language in Section 9 of the RFP, is the final report guaranteed to be made publicly available?

Both the interim and the final report will be publicly available.