Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/138130
L E G I S L AT I V E U P D AT E < A CLOSER LOOK AT THE COMPROMISE The compromise funding plan: • unds class size reduction for grades F K-3 to a 24:1 ratio and prevents the State Board of Education from issuing any waivers to increase those ratios. • Provides $1.25 billion for the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. I • ncreases per-student base grants by $537 per student above the governor's May Revision, totaling $7,643 per student. A • dds "economic recovery" funding. The compromise provides additional funding for an "economic recovery payment" to ensure that virtually all districts get back to their 2007-08 state funding levels, adjusted for inflation. (Because of some anomalies, a small number of very small districts would not get back to the 2007-08 levels.) • Provides $4.3 billion over two years to pay deferrals owed to school districts. • Creates the supplemental grant for students of greatest need. Districts would receive an additional 20 percent of the base grant for lowincome and English learner students. • reates the concentration grant. C Districts would qualify for additional concentration funding if 55 percent of their students are low-income and English learners. • Extends the phase-in period. Full implementation allowed over eight years, but could be sooner if the economy continues to improve. • Ensures there are no losers. With the hold-harmless provisions, no districts would get less money in the budget year than they do currently, and nearly all will get more. EDITOR'S NOTE At press time, the budget was approved by the Assembly and the Senate. While the governor may veto certain line items, he has until June 30 to sign the budget into law. See cta.org for details. New budget contains more funding for all districts, $1.25 billion for Common Core implementation Educators will have input about local fiscal decisions BY LEN FELDMAN Using new revenues generated by CTA-backed Proposition 30, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders have reached a budget agreement that provides funds to begin repaying money owed to schools from past years, an additional $1.25 billion to help implement the Common Core State Standards, and expanded appropriations for community colleges and higher education. A key element of the budget — which was approved as the Educator went to press — is the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), a progressive proposal that changes how the state funds schools. While aiming to simplify and increase transparency in school budgeting, the LCFF boosts base funding for all districts and provides more money on top of that to cover the higher costs of educating students most in need. That targeted funding is vital to bridging the student achievement gap. The increased funding is also crucial to helping California reduce a downward spending trend that has driven the state to 49th nationally in per-student spending. While it will take years for our schools to fully recover, this budget agreement is a big step in the right direction. "It's been a long time since we've seen a state budget proposal with a significant increase in education funding," says CTA President Dean E. Vogel. "We call on all lawmakers to support this compromise on the governor's Local Control Funding Formula as part of the final budget because the numbers add up to renewed opportunities for our schools. "We are also encouraged by the $1.25 billion for the implementation of the Common Core June/July 2013 www.cta.org Educator 06 June 2013 v2.2.indd 31 31 6/15/13 9:24 AM