1/15/2003
22
General Education Programs
–Transportation Sparsity
–This formula recognizes the additional costs of transporting students in districts with fewer students per square mile
–Basic transportation costs were made part of the formula allowance in 1996-97 when $170 was “rolled in” to the allowance. 
–  Transportation sparsity revenue is determined by the level of “sparseness” per square mile within a district.  This is computed by logarithmic calculation using a sparisty index and density index.
–  Sparsity Index:  The greater of .2 or the number of square miles in the district divided by the number of WADMs.
–  Density Index:  The number of square miles divided by the number of WADMs.  Density index may not exceed .2 or less than .005.
–Annually this formula is increased by the growth in the basic formula allowance and is reduced by 4.85% of the formula allowance.  The reduction represents the percentage, in 1997, that the $170 was of the basic formula allowance.
–  $56.6 million in FY 03.