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Show awchares.,were ., issued Part ot me public elementary and secondary schools are free, but permits the Legislature to allow fees to be charged in the secondary schools. !. Prohibition of Direct Support - The present constitution prohibits state and local governments from making any appropriation toaid in the support of schools controlled, even in part, by a religious organization. The meaning of this provision is not completely clear. It nay prevent governments from paying a school controlled by a religious organization for a service of benefit to the state. The revision siales that state and local governments may not make any appropriati-on for the direct support of a school or educational institution controlled by a religious organization. This clarifies and probably expands the power of state and local governments to offer certain Ws of indirect support. Other Changes -T- he revision makes a number of other changes. Sis the constitution or moved sections are either eliminated from into other sections, as follows: Article X, Section 7: Section 7 guarantees the school trust funds against loss or diversion. Similar language has been included in Article X, Sections 5 and 7 of the revision. Article X, Section 9: Section 9 states that neither the Legislature nor the State Board of Education mayprescribe the textbooks to be used in the common schools. Since 1909, the State Textbook textbooks to be used in trie Commission has been prescribing the schools. The revision eliminates this section to comply witn actual practice. c Article X, Section 10: Section 10 establishes institutions for the H dumb, and blind, and requires that proceeds from lanos given by the United States Government to the state to support 'tee institutions be placed in a trust fund. Although tne "vision eliminates this section, these institutions will continue 10 exist by statute and the state's Enabling Act. 4 tele X, Section 11: Section 11 requires that the metric system 'aught in the public schools of the state. This is tne y ifi id ion tH jji K t' ti the classroom :J required class mentioned in the constitution. Otherwise the L, Legislature, the State Board of Education, and local school boards decide what classes are required. The revision eliminates this section. e Article VII, Section 17: Section 17 states that the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall perform duties as provided by law. The revision eliminates this section, but the office of the Superin-tendent of Public Instruction is still mentioned in Article X, Section 3. f Article XIII,' Section 7: Section 7 currently places a 2 and 410 mill levy limit on the state property tax for general state fK purposes, and allows the Legislature to make an additional levy a for education. The state property tax has not been imposed since ill the early 1970s. Therefore, the limit has not been used. (The hi present property tax is a local tax.) Section 7 also states that the Legislature may determine the method of allocating state funds ts to the school districts. The revision eliminates this section. Us ia: In addition, there are changes that modernize language in the jth constitution. Some sections have also been renumbered. Effective Date If approved by the voters, the revision would become effective July 1, 1987. ?0' le Fiscal Impact ts The proposed constitutional amendment provides that the lie nublic schools be free, but allows the Legislature to authorize fees in secondary schools (grades Fees are already allowed in grades he; 7 12 by statute. The fiscal impact of the fees cannot be estimated, ts action and state and local n. since it will depend on future legislative school board implementation. Additionally, school land adminis- - trative costs which are now funded with school land revenues, may th require clarification by the Legislature as to the future source of j r funds for these costs. rs, s. iSl be ii m ;rt( iyi kck it ok: ; i scti tha ie' r t rn :e i ibil its. we urc eel: ?tl ;m upli unc vbo ngs 31ei Page .7 j |