Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/556394
T H R E E C T A - C O - S P O N S O R E D measures to increase charter school accountability and transparency have been approved by key legis- lative committees. The Senate Education Committee recently approved AB 709 by Assembly Member Mike Gipson (D-Carson) and AB 787 by Assem- bly Member Roger Hernández (D-West Covina). The Assembly Education Committee approved SB 322 by Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). AB 709 would require charter school governing boards to com- ply with statutes that promote transparency and accountability to parents and the public in the operation of public schools and expen- diture of public funds. These include conflict-of-interest regulations and open meeting and public record laws. AB 787 would prohibit charter schools from operating as or being operated by a for-profit corporation. This will ensure that charter schools will make their students' interest — and not corpo- rate profit — their focus. SB 322 would prohibit charter school admissions criteria and preferences that are not permitted at traditional public schools. The bill will also protect student due process. CTA charter school educators have been in the Capitol support- ing the legislation. Recently, a number of educators at California Virtual Academies (CAVA), a network of online charter schools, held a news conference on the Capitol steps. Their testimony underscored how the for-profit status of the corporation running CAVA has harmed students by putting the focus on profits instead of student achievement. All three measures are expected to see further action when law- makers return in August from their summer recess. State Education Budget: Proposition 98 Guarantee in Billions Charter school measures move unmet needs of their students and classrooms as a result of years of underfunding. With some provisions of Prop. 30 set to expire at the end of 2016, Heins urges continued action. "We must keep pushing forward for our students and the education they deserve," he says. CTA is currently working in coalition with other labor unions and community groups to develop a funding ini- tiative in time for the November 2016 ballot. California State Budget: With the passage of Proposition 30 in 2012, this year's budget: • Increases K-12 ongoing spending by $950 per student under the Local Control Funding Formula. • Provides $500 million to help districts support teacher preparation and induction programs, like Peer Assistance and Review (PAR). • Provides more funding for adult education, ca- reer technical education and special education. • Expands preschool enrollment by 7,000 children. • Increases funding for community colleges, including money to reduce class sizes and hire full-time faculty. • Provides an additional $100 million for state universities — with no tuition hikes. • Provides more Cal Grants to help middle-in- come families afford college. Propositions 98 and 30 Prop. 98 is essentially a formula for calculating how much of the state's revenue is spent on K-14 education. It's complicated, but it works out to about 40 percent of the state's general fund. The amount is guaranteed to be a minimum level of funding; the state can spend more on education if it chooses. Prop. 30 temporarily raised taxes, thereby increasing the state's revenue. An increase in revenue through Prop. 30 automatically translates into an increase in education spending through Prop. 98. Source: California 2015-16 Enacted State Budget Summary 39 V O L U M E 2 0 I S S U E 1 Advocacy . . C H A R T E R S C H O O L S . . . T A X F A I R N E S S M E A S U R E . . .