Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1337485
for California State University and Univer- sity of California, an increase of 3 percent from last year. It calls for one-time funding of $30 million for the CSU system and $15 million for the UC system to help with housing, food insecurity, mental health and technology issues for students. Inequities in district reopening incentives In an effort to incentivize local school districts to reopen for in-person instruction, the budget includes $2 billion for In-Per- son Instruction Grants, which would provide additional funding and resources for school districts to begin offering in-person instruction for some students as soon as Feb. 16 and all elemen- tary students by March 16 — part of Newsom's "Safe Schools for All" plan. Base grant amounts would be $450 per student, increasing to more than $700 per pupil for schools with a high enrollment of low-income students, youth in foster care, and English learners. This plan has already garnered crit- icism and opposition from legislators. In addition, superintendents of seven of the largest school districts in the state (Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Long Beach, San Francisco, Oakland and Sac- ramento) warned Newsom in a letter that the plan fails to address the needs of urban school districts, does not address the disproportionate impact COVID is having on low-income communities of color, and reverses a decade-long commitment to equity-based funding. " While pleased that 'Safe Schools for All' prioritizes the reopening of public schools with substantial funding, we cannot ignore that the plan fails to address the needs of the urban school districts that serve nearly a quarter of California students, almost all of whom live below the poverty level," the superintendents wrote. Many of the superintendents have already indicated they will not apply for the grant, instead moving forward with their own reopening plans when it is safe to do so. LAUSD's school board also authorized to sue the state if the proposal becomes a reality. Health and safety remain highest priority With uncontrolled COVID spread across the state, Boyd says, CTA continues to support full distance learning for all schools in the purple tier (greatest health risk). Protecting the health and safety of educators and students should be the guiding principle. "We share many of the concerns that the superintendents and others have articulated about the structure and implementation of the governor's proposed reopening plan. We look forward to continuing to work with the administra- tion and the Legislature on ensuring a safe reopening of all public schools. We eagerly await the day we can safely return to our classrooms, where we know our students learn best and thrive." Boyd says educators are ready to pro- v i d e ad ditional l earnin g supp or t s to students who have been struggling during the pandemic. "e attention to the immediate needs of Californians comes at a critical time, and we appreciate the budget plan's sup- port for struggling students, those with special needs, English learners, and those who have housing insecurities. Together with parents and administrators, we will work toward solutions that best meet the needs of our students." Public education accounts for approximately 40 percent of all state general fund spending. Funding received by school dis- tricts fluctuates annually based on revenues, per capita personal income, and school attendance. e State Legislature is reviewing the proposed budget prior to Gov. Newsom's May Revision. The budget must be passed before midnight on June 15. Proposed K-14 education funding, Governor's Budget Summary, 2021-22. " We look forward to continuing to work with the administration and the Legislature on ensuring a safe reopening of all public schools. We eagerly await the day we can safely return to our classrooms, where we know our students learn best and thrive." — CTA President E. Toby Boyd 39 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 21