Legislative Update

Proposed Budget for 2007-08

On January 10, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger released his proposed budget for 2007-08. In terms of school funding from the local perspective, the budget is fairly simple – a 4.04% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and not much more.

In some ways, however, the significance of this proposal should not be overlooked. Many educators have expressed concern whether the new “on-going” programs enacted in 2006-07 would, in fact, continue to be funded. The answer is that the Governor does propose continued funding for all the on-going programs. This includes, for example, the new middle and high school counseling program and the increased level of funding for CAHSEE intervention.

FUNDING FOR 2006-07 PROGRAMS BEGINS TO FLOW

Starting late in 2006, funding amounts for ongoing and one-time programs included in the 2006-07 state budget were announced by the California Department of Education (CDE). School districts may visit the following websites to view the funding amounts they will be receiving in order to fund the following programs. It will be very important for CCIS members to enter into discussions at the local level as to how the funds will be used.

School Site and School District Block Grants

The California Department of Education has also announced the allocations for the one-time school site and school district block grants. According to CDE, school districts can expect to receive $19.83 per-pupil from the school district block grant and $58.74 per-pupil from the school site block grant. Following is additional information concerning both block grants:

School Site Block Grant

75% of funding will be distributed in January 2007 (based on prior year enrollment).

If the concerned parties are unable to agree on the use of funds by May 1, 2007, the dispute shall be submitted to the county board of education.

75% of funds will be distributed in January 2007 (based on prior year enrollment).

The remaining 25% of funds are expected to be released in September 2007 (based on current year enrollment).

Allowable purposes: “Instructional materials, classroom and laboratory supplies and materials, school and classroom library materials, educational technology, deferred maintenance, professional development, home-to-school transportation, one-time expenditures designed to close the achievement gap, or outstanding one-time fiscal obligations of school districts.”

In mid-December, the Department of Education released the grant amounts for the ongoing Art and Music block grant. This grant will be of great interest to CCIS members because the grant allows for the funding to be directed to support art and music in a variety of ways. Specifically funds may be used for, “hiring of additional staff, purchase of new materials, books, supplies, and equipment, and implementing or increasing staff development opportunities, as necessary to support standards-aligned arts and music instruction.”

According to CDE the Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) will receive $15.94 per pupil for this program.

Finally, in mid-November the Department of Education posted the amount of funding that each school district was awarded for the one-time instructional materials, school and classroom libraries and one-time educational technology grant at the following website: http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r14/imlmet06result.asp

The funding may be used solely for instructional materials, school and classroom library materials, and/or one-time education technology costs.