Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1449741
" The unprecedented investments prioritized in today's budget proposal will be instrumental in the learning resiliency and recovery of our 8 million students." —CTA President E. Toby Boyd funding for the creation and expansion of multilingual school or classroom libraries offering culturally relevant texts to support reading instruction. Expanded Learning Opportunities Program: Pro- poses an additional $3.4 billion in ongoing Prop. 98 funding for th e program , w hich provides students in low-income communities with no-cost access to developmentally appropriate academics and enrich- ment activities. State Preschool Program: Includes $308 million in total funding to increase the State Preschool Pro- gram adjustment factors for students with disabilities and dual-language learners. e budget also proposes $500 million in one-time funding to support the Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program. C om m u n ity C o l l e ge s : In clu d e s a n i n cre a s e of $200 million in ongoing funding to expand health care coverage provided to part-time faculty. Proposes an increase of $130 million in one-time funding to support health care-focused vocational pathways for English learners through the Adult Education Program. Proposes $325 million to align with community colleges' multiyear roadmap, including investments in expanded Cal Grants, the implementation of a common course numbering sys- tem, and transfer reform provisions. Independent Study: Proposes changes and flexibility to the current independent study program and timeline. COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave: Proposes new legislation to extend additional COVID sick leave. P u b l i c e d u c a t i o n a c c o u n t s f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 40 percent of all state general fund spending. Fund- ing received by school districts f luctuates 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. e budget must be passed before midnight on June 15. COVID-19 Sick Leave Agreement O U R C O L L E C T I V E A C T I O N , including calls from educators and other union members across the state, proved successful on Jan. 25, when Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders announced an agreement that will provide supplemental paid COVID sick leave (SPSL) to educators, school personnel and all California workers. The proposal, which at press time was scheduled for vote by the Legislature the week of Feb. 7, provides up to 80 hours of SPSL , with a guarantee of 40 hours to all employees. The proposal is retroactive to Jan. 1 and extends to Sept. 30, 2022. It covers workers and care for family members. In recent weeks, thousands of students and educators tested positive or fell ill with COVID-19. This put undue pressure on teachers and school employees faced with having to choose between going without pay and spreading the virus to their school communities. " This leave will allow school employees to quarantine, recover, and return to their students and classrooms," said CTA President E. Toby Boyd, adding that the agreement "is the fruits of our collective labor as educators, labor partners and state leaders committed to the health and well-being of California workers." CTA Candidate Recommendations CTA candidate recommendations for the June 2022 primary election were approved at the January State Council meeting and can be found at cta.org/our-advocacy/election-2022. CTA's recommendation process involves teams of 30 local educators and CTA members from throughout the state, who interview candidates and evaluate them on a variety of criteria, including: • Their positions on and vision for K-12, community college and higher education issues. • Their historical support for public education, students and educators, in such areas as education funding, budget stability, safe schools and campuses for all students, collective bargaining, educator professional rights, charter school accountability, and equal access to higher education. • Their viability for success in the office that they are seeking. Teams then make their recommendations to the CTA Board of Directors. Those approved are brought to CTA State Council (800 delegates), which debates and makes final recommendations. 37 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 2