The superintendent said the state Department of Education would likely select a mix of schools from urban and rural areas statewide. "We want to get a good representation of all schools in the state," Hamamoto said at a news conference.

Democrats will likely vote this week to create the new formula, which bases school finance on student need instead of enrollment, and to require new councils at each school that would have some power over school budgets and academic plans.

The legislation also includes $400,000 for a pilot program so the DOE can make the transition by the 2006-2007 school year.

Hamamoto said she hoped to have the school councils in place at all schools by the 2005-2006 school year so they have the time for training. The councils would likely start to learn what school budgets will look like under the formula in early 2006.

Breene Harimoto, the chairman of the state Board of Education, said today that the Democrats’ reform package could bring meaningful change to public schools.

"I think now is the time for everybody to put their differences aside and come together," Harimoto said.