Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/994766
G O V . J E R R Y B R O W N delivered his re vi sed 2018-19 stat e budget in May. Because of increased state revenues and local property taxes, and the Proposition 98 guarantee, funding for K-12 schools and community colleges is at an all-time high of $78.4 billion, an increase of $31 billion since 2011-12. The K-12 proposal provides about a $4,600 increase on a per-student basis over 2011-12 levels. e revised budget includes about $3 billion more to fully fund the Local Con- trol Funding Formula (LCFF) two years ahead of time. CTA President Eric Heins notes that the May revise results in " funding for higher education and much-needed fund- ing for health and human services, which begins to address the homelessness crisis impacting our students and our commu- nities. Also significant is the certification of Proposition 98 minimum guarantee and the continuous appropriation of the LCFF, including cost-of-living adjustment. is creates certainty for educators and students in future years." Heins adds, " We appreciate the one- time funding for much-needed beginning teacher induction during this critical teacher shortage." Highlights in the revised budget: • Increases in stand-alone categor- icals apart from LCFF, including special education, child nutrition, foster youth, preschool, American Indian education centers, and the American Indian Early Childhood Education Program. • $200 million ongoing to establish a K-12 component within the career technical education Strong Work- force Program. • An increase of $11.8 million one- time federal funds for additional early math resources, including professional learning and coaching for educators, and math learning opportunities for pre-K–3 children. Important proposals include: • A revised Prop. 98 certification structure that will, among other things, increase certainty around the payment of future certification An All-Time High Education funding a priority in revised budget proposal settlements, and give the state addi- tional budgeting flexibility. • $13.3 million to create the Com- munity Engagement Initiative, to help school districts engage more effectively with local communities, specifically in developing Local Con- trol and Accountability Plans. • $15 million to expand the Multi- Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework to foster positive school climate in both academic and behavioral areas, including positive behavior interventions and support, restorative justice, bullying pre- vention, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practice and cul- tural competency. Regardin g fundin g for c ommunity colleges and higher education , Heins says CTA continues "to have some con- cerns about a few items outlined in the proposal, such as an online community college and the proposed funding for the vital UC and CSU systems." Gov. Brown's January budget proposed establishing a fully online community col- lege; the May revision offers clarifications in governance, collective bargaining, student success, accreditation and curric- ulum. While the budget increases funding to the UC and CSU systems by $92 mil- lion each, the funding is conditioned on potential tuition hikes: UC and CSU's gen- eral fund revenues could be reduced by the substantial amount any tuition hike would cost the state's Cal Grant financial aid program. At press time, the Legislature was due to vote on the budget by June 15. 39 J U N E / J U L Y 2 018 A