On Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom released his proposed 2023-2024 California budget. Unlike last year, when we experienced record surpluses, the budget recognizes that revenues are coming in well below projections and may continue to decline. The budget comes in at $297 billion dollars with a deficit of around $22.5 Billion. With declining revenue, the Governor has made some cuts to existing programs and stopped expanding other programs. 

That said, education as a whole avoids most of these cuts. Proposition 98 is funded at $108.8 billion, which is $1.5 billion lower than last year’s projections but still represents a significant state investment in education. Total education funding, including all dollars, is $128.5 billion. K-12 per pupil funding totals $17,519 Proposition 98 General Fund and $23,723 when including all funding sources.

The COLA, for almost all educational programs and special education, is funded at 8.13%. Along with the Proposition 98 funding level, this is a massive win for the education community. Additionally, the Governor has funded a new equity multiplier at $300 million to provide funds for some of the state’s neediest students. This funding is the culmination of efforts by Secretary of State Shirley Weber and her daughter Assemblywoman Akilah Weber. During her time in the State Assembly, Secretary Weber always authored legislation to provide funding for these students, and her daughter continued those efforts over the last two years. The administration has finally agreed to the funding. The Governor also reaffirmed his commitment to Universal Transitional Kindergarten by 2026 ($855 Million) and strengthening the State’s Preschool Program ($116.3 Million). Additionally, the Governor funds Proposition 28, passed by voters last year. It creates a new Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Block Grant.

Other education funding of note, includes:

  • Propostion 98 Rainy Day Fund – over $8 Billion
  • Literacy Recovery Emergency Block Grant – $7.9 Billion one-time funding
  • Educator Effectives Block Grant – $1.5 Billion one-time funding
  • $250 Million one-time funding for literacy coaches and reading specialists
  • $50 Million one-time funding for professional development for educators on learning acceleration in math, literacy, and language development
  • $15.2 Million for dyslexia research and screening tool pilot projects
  • $15 Million one-time funding to support 6,000 teachers to receive their supplementary state certification in reading and literacy
  • $10 Million one-time funding to train educators in evidence-based literacy instruction, literacy interventions, and executive functioning skills
  • $30 Million one-time funding for the Charter School Facility Grant Program
  • $3.8 Million to support the K-12 High Speed Network Program (K12HSN)
  • $3.5 Million for all middle and high school sites to maintain at least two doses of naloxone hydrochloride or another medication to reverse an opioid overdose  

Governor Newsom’s budget also continues to pursue the reforms he has targeted for the state’s Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs) by implementing some new proposals. These are:

  • Limiting the amount of additional funding that SELPAs are allowed to retain for non-direct student services before allocating special education base funding to their member local education agencies.
  • Stabilizing current SELPA membership by extending the moratorium on the creation of new single-district SELPAs by two years from June 30, 2024, to June 30, 2026.
  • Increasing fiscal transparency by requiring CDE to post each SELPA’s annual local plan, including their governance, budget and service plans, on its website.

Other than direct funding augmentations, many of Governor Newsom’s proposals will require implementing language in the education trailer bill or bills. Trailer bills are policy bills that accompany the budget, and there are usually more than 20. They contain the actual provisions that will implement the budget’s individual proposals. The trailer bill language should be out in a week or two. 

At that point, the California State Assembly and California State Senate will commence budget subcommittee hearings on the Governor’s proposals. Those hearings will allow advocates to weigh in publicly and advocate for or against the proposals or for changes to them. This process will continue for several months until Governor Newsom releases his May Revision to the January budget. The Revision will account for tax receipts and the state’s current fiscal climate. It may also contain different or additional proposals the administration would like to pursue. The budget will pass on or before June 15, with the trailer bills following that date.

California has a historic budget surplus of $97.5 billion. Of which, $49.2 billion is in discretionary funds after Prop 98 and other commitments are accounted for.

Budget Overview

  • $300.7 billion in the total budget
  • $227.4 billion in the General Fund
  • $37.1 billion in reserves
  • $9.5 billion in the School Stabilization Reserve

K-12 Overview

The May Revise includes total funding of $128.3 billion ($78.4 billion GF and $49.9 billion other funds) for all K-12 education programs.

LCFF COLA Increase – 6.56%

  • $1.1 billion ongoing Prop 98

LCFF Base Funding Increase

  • $2.1 billion ongoing Prop 98

Declining Enrollment

  • $2.1 billion for declining enrollment
  • To minimize reductions in LCFF funding that would otherwise result due to increased absences, the May Revise proposes allowing all classroom-based local educational agencies to be funded at the greater of their current year average daily attendance or their current year enrollment adjusted for pre-COVID-19 absence rates in the 2021-22 fiscal year.
  • Specifically, the May revision enables local educational agencies to utilize a modified version of 2021-22 average daily attendance to determine their 2021-22 LCFF allocations.

The May Revise also proposes further modifying the three-year rolling average to conform with this adjustment. The total ongoing costs associated with these policies are estimated to be $3.3 billion ongoing Prop 98 and $463 million one-time Prop 98.

Discretionary Block Grant

  • $8 billion one-time Prop 98 in discretionary funds, allocated on a per-pupil basis.

Community Schools

  • $1.5 billion one-time Prop 98 to expand access to the community schools grants.

Nutrition

  • $611.8 million ongoing Prop 98 to augment the state meal reimbursement rate sufficient to maintain meal reimbursement rates beginning in 2022-23.

Facilities

  • $3.9 billion in School Facilities
    • New Construction – $1.8 billion GF, allocating $2.2 billion one-time GF in 2021-22, $1.2 billion one-time General Fund in 2023-24, and $625 million one-time GF in 2024-25 to support new construction and modernization projects through the School Facility Program.
    • Maintenance – $1.8 billion one-time Prop 98 for schools to address outstanding school facility maintenance issues.

Expanded Learning Opportunities Program

  • $4.8 billion, and full funding implementation of $2,500 for every low-income student, English language learner, and youth in foster care in the state.
  • $1 billion one-time Prop 98 to support Expanded Learning Opportunities Program infrastructure, with a focus on integrating arts and music programming into the enrichment options for students.
  • LEAs will be required to offer expanded learning opportunities to all low-income students, English language learners, and youth in foster care, and local educational agencies with the highest concentrations of these students will be required to offer expanded learning opportunities to all elementary students.

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  • Local Assignment Option for Transitional Kindergarten Teachers—To temporarily increase the pipeline of qualified transitional kindergarten teachers, allows teachers with preschool teaching permits who hold bachelor’s degrees that meet basic skills requirements and are enrolled in coursework leading to be assigned as the teacher of record in a credential to teach transitional kindergarten. This flexibility is proposed to sunset on June 30, 2026.

Educator Workforce

  • $500 million one-time Prop 98 to expand residency slots for teachers and school counselors.
  • Expand the Golden State Teacher Grant Program to school counselors, social workers, and psychologist candidates who earn a credential and serve in a priority school for four years.
  • $86 million one-time Prop 98 to create a Pre-K through 12th grade educator resources and professional learning to implement the Next Generation Science Standards, Math Framework, Computer Science Standards, and math and science domains in the Preschool Learning Foundations. $300 million one-time Prop 98 to augment LEAs professional learning through the Educator Effectiveness Block Grant with a priority for STEM educators.
From the January Budget:

Independent Study

  • The budget emphasizes the Governor’s commitment to in-person instruction but recognizes the need to streamline independent study and allows LEAs to choose between traditional independent study and course-based independent study for short- and long-term instruction models.
    • In addition, the budget proposes streamlining the administration of programs allowing synchronous instructions to count for instructional times in traditional independent study, in addition to student work product, and flexibility in collecting signed independent study plans.

Early Literacy

Coupled with other investments in early education, professional development, along with support for dyslexia and other learning disabilities, these investments will support improved literacy outcomes for children.

  • $500 million in one-time P98 available over 5 years for high-needs schools to train and hire literacy coaches and reading specialists.
  • $200 million in one-time P98 for the establishment of grant programs to enable LEAs to create or expand multi-lingual schools or classrooms.
  • $10 million in on-time P98 for the California Department of Public Health and First 5 California on the Books for Children Program.
  • $2 million one-time P98 to incorporate early identification for learning disabilities into the state’s preschool assessment tool and $60 million one-time P98 to provide training for professional development.

Trailer bill language clarifies that expanded learning opportunities programs may be used to hire literacy tutors.

Special Education

$500 million ongoing P98 for special education funding formula, paired with the following policy changes:

  • Improve LEAs abilities to project their special education funding allocations and undertake comprehensive program planning, amend the special education funding formula to calculate special education base funding allocations at the LEA level rather than Special Education Local Planning Area (SELPA) level.
  • Consolidate two special education extraordinary cost pools into a single cost pool to simplify the current funding formula.
  • Allocate Educationally Related Mental Health Services directly to the LEA rather than to SELPAs.
  • Develop a Special Education Addendum to the LCAP that will include planning and promote cohesion by linking special education and general education planning, so parents of students with disabilities have a defined role in the LCAP development.
  • Support efforts to develop comprehensive IEPs by focusing a special education resource lead on IEP best practices and establishing an expert panel to continue the work of creating a model IEP template.
  • Establish an alternate diploma and a workgroup to explore alternative coursework options for students with disabilities to demonstrate completion of the state graduation requirements.

Improving Services to Young Children with Disabilities

  • $849,000 GF and 6 positions to support CDE’s transition process efforts.
  • $51 million GF in 2022-23 and $68.1 million GF ongoing to reduce regional center service coordinator caseload ratios to 1:40 for children through age five to increase family visits from bi-annually to quarterly and strengthen federal compliance with timely service delivery and transitions.
  • $10 million GF to promote inclusion in preschool of three- and four-year-olds served by regional centers. Resources will support preschool efforts to improve the accessibility of their programs.
  • $3.2 million GF to establish IDEA Specialists at each regional center. The IDEA Specialists will provide expertise on IDEA services through technical support to both regional centers and local education agencies providing school-age services.
  • $1.2 million GF to increase DDS resources to make improvements to the Early Start Program to drive toward inclusive services, help streamline intake processes, align systems, and increase interagency collaboration with CDE.

Educator Workforce

$54.4 million for accelerated preparation and supporting, training, and retention of well-prepared educators:

  • $24 million one-time GF to waive some teacher exam fees,
  • $12 million one-time GF to extend the waiver of select credential fees.
  • $10 million one-time GF competitive grants programs to public and private institutions to develop and implement integrated teacher preparation programs.
  • $5.2 million P98 and $322,000 GF to re-establish the Personnel Management Assistance Teams to support LEAs in improving hiring and recruitment practices.
  • $1.4 million GF to establish career counselors for prospective educators at CTC.
  • $924,000 GF to support multiple grant programs and fee waivers.
  • $900,000 for CTC to contract a public outreach to highlight the value and benefits of educational careers in prekindergarten – 12th grade.
  • Extend CTCs ability to authorize any holder of a credential or permit issued by CTC to serve as a substitute teaching assignment, aligned with their authorization for up to 60 cumulative days for any one assignment.
  • $5 million one-time P98 for community college-university teacher credential collaboratives.

Anti-Charter School Bill (AB 1316)

Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell introduced an anti-charter school bill scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Education Committee next Wednesday, April 28th. The bill would have a devastating impact on charter schools and create new mandates on school districts.

(To view the bill go to leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and put in the bill number AB 1316.)

In short, the bill does the following:
  • Creates new auditing and accounting standards to create parity between school districts and charter schools. Requires training for auditors and creates an Office of Inspector General in the Department of Education, among other things.
  • Creates a new funding determination process for non-classroom-based charter schools that would reduce the amount of funding they receive from the state.
  • Rewrites Independent Study law in California to require more teacher and student contact, a minimum school day, and metrics for ending Independent Study agreements.
  • Change vendor contracts by requiring vendor personnel to hold an appropriate credential, enforce competitive bidding and prohibit agreements from being calculated as a percentage of charter school revenue.
  • Prohibits the use of multi-year track systems.
  • Limits the ability of small school districts to authorize additional charter schools.
  • Increases oversight fees that charter schools pay their authorizer.

Again, these statutory changes would be devastating to charter schools, and the financial impact would be incredibly harmful. We ask everyone to call or email the members of the Assembly Education Committee and state their opposition to these changes. Below is the contact information for those members.

Assembly Education Committee:

Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell (Chair)
Phone number: (916) 319-2070
Email address: assemblymember.odonnell@assembly.ca.gov

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (Vice Chair)
Phone number: (916) 319-2006
Email address: assemblymember.kiley@assembly.ca.gov

Assemblyman Steve Bennett
Phone number:(916) 319-2037
Email address: assemblymember.bennett@assembly.ca.gov

Assemblywoman Megan Dahle
Phone number: (916) 319-2001
Email address: assemblymember.dahle@assembly.ca.gov

Assemblyman Alex Lee
Phone number: (916) 319-2025
Email address: assemblymember.lee@assembly.ca.gov

Assemblyman Kevin McCarty
Phone number: (916) 319-2007
Email address: assemblymember.mccarty@assembly.ca.gov

Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva
Phone number: (916) 319-2065


Update: AB 1316 Moves Out of Committee

On Wednesday, AB 1316 by Assemblyman O’Donnell was voted out of the Assembly Education Committee on a party line vote, 5-2.  As we have described before the measure has a number of anti-charter school provisions that were developed without input from parents, students, administrators and teachers.  AB 1316 also creates several new mandates on school districts and creates an Office of Inspector General in the California Department of Education.

The measure next goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for a fiscal analysis and vote.  The author is pushing this as a good governance measure that is needed to ensure that non-classroom based schools are good stewards of public dollars but it goes well beyond that.  It would have a devastating impact on many schools and their programs and is an attempt to force more students back into in person instruction.  Coming off a year where the state forced almost all public schools students into a distance learning model it is ironic that there is legislation attempting to curb that model of education.

We will keep you updated as the bill continues through the process.

You can view AB 1316 here.

California Governor releases budget

On Friday January 8th the Governor released his annual budget proposal and it reflects the impact of COVID on the state. Now that it has been released the legislature will begin to hold hearings in their Budget Subcommittees. In May the Governor will release his May Revision which will reflect changes to his January proposal. The legislature has to pass the final budget by June 15th or they cease to get paid until it is passed. We will continue to provide updates to you throughout the process. Some of the highlights for K-12 include:

  • The Budget provides $85.8 billion in Proposition 98 funding to K-12 schools and community colleges for 2021-2022. When combined with a one-time supplemental allocation of $2.3 billion and the benefit of CalSTRS and CalPERS rates ($1.1 billion) the funding increases to $89.2 billion.
  • $2 billion in one-time funds to encourage schools to offer more on-line instruction during the pandemic. It excludes non-classroom based charter schools.
  • $4.6 billion in one-time funds to address learning loss due to the pandemic.
  • Creating a compounded combined cost-of-living adjustment of 3.84%.
  • Paying off all of the 2019-20 deferrals and $7.3 billion of the 2020-2021 deferrals leaving on ongoing balance of $3.7 billion in 2021-2022.
  • A one-time supplemental payment of $2.3 billion for K-14.
  • Language defining “exclusively in partnership with” to define how charter schools that work with pupils over 19 years of age can continue to receive ADA.

Investing in Educators:

  • $250 million in one-time funds for an Educator Effectiveness Block Grant for staff professional development.
  • $50 million in one-time funds to create statewide resources and provide targeted professional development on social-emotional learning and trauma-informed practices.
  • $8.3 million in one-time funds for the California Early Math Initiative for professional development for teachers working with students in pre-K through third grade.
  • $7 million in one-time funds to the University of California Subject Matter Projects to create high-quality professional development on learning loss.
  • $5 million in one-time funds for professional development on ethnic studies.
  • $225 million to improve the state’s teacher pipeline:
    – $100 million in one-time funds for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program.
    – $100 million in one-time funds to expand the Teacher Residency Program.
    – $25 million in one-time funds to expand the Classified School Employees Credentialing Program.

Special Education:

  • $300 million in ongoing funds for the Special Education Early Intervention Grant.
  • $5 million in one-time funds to establish professional learning networks to increase LEA capacity to access federal Medi-Cal funds and $250,000 for a lead county office of education to provide guidance for Medi-Cal billing within the statewide system of support.
  • $500,000 in one-time funds for a study to examine certification and oversight of non-public school special education placements.

Student Health and Well-Being

  • $264.9 million in one-time funds to enable LEAs to expand existing networks of community schools and establish new community schools.
  • $400 million in one-time funds, available over multiple years, for the Department of Health Care Services to implement an incentive program through Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans.

Though there are still votes to be tallied we wanted to get you an early election update on some California races. Over the next week or so as additional ballots are counted some of these races will change. As expected, Joe Biden carried California in the Presidential race so we will focus on other races of note.

The two biggest fights in the state were over Proposition 15 and Proposition 22. Proposition 15 was an effort to increase property taxes on businesses to fund education and other programs in the state. It was supported by a number of labor unions, elected officials and liberal advocacy groups. It was heavily opposed by the business community and other groups. Proposition 15 is currently headed to defeat with a 48.3% – 51.7% margin. Going in the opposite direction Proposition 22 is headed to passage with a 58.4% – 41.6% margin.crowd hands raised

Proposition 22 was pushed by Uber, Lyft and the gig companies as an answer to AB 5 which passed the legislature last year. AB 5 mandated that a number of companies make their workers employees and not contractors. As a result Uber and Lyft led a coalition of companies in sponsoring the ballot measure which changes the law. It was a huge win for them and a bigger loss for the legislature which refused to carve certain companies out when passing AB 5.

In the State Legislature the Democrats will continue to hold super-majorities in both the State Assembly and State Senate. In the State Assembly Democrats will actually lose a seat as two Republicans were running against each other in the 38th district where Christy Smith ran for Congress instead of reelection. In the 38th Suzette Martinez Valladares will be the new Republican member. In the State Senate Republicans are threatened with a possible loss of up to 4 seats. The 23rd district is an open Republican seat where Republican Rosilice Ochoa Bogh is tied at 50% of the vote with Democrat Abigail Medina. In the 21st Republican incumbent Scott Wilk is barely ahead of Democrat Kipp Mueller 50.1% – 49.9%. In both the 29th and 37th districts Republican incumbents are trailing their Democratic challengers. Former Democratic Senator Josh Newman is up 51.6% – 48.4% over Republican Ling Ling Chang in the 29th. In the 37th Republican incumbent John Moorlach is trailing his Democratic challenger Dave Min 48.1% – 51.9%. If these Senate results hold it could leave the Republicans with only a handful of members in the body.

As stated earlier there are still votes to be counted but these are the state of some of the races at the current time.

You can use this website to locate which Assembly and Senate district that you reside in: FindYourRep.Legislature.ca.gov.

Legislature is impeding charter school growth

This year when the California Legislature passed their budget they did not provide funding for growing schools, both traditional and charter schools. In the education budget trailer bill, SB 98, the CA Legislature held school district and charter school funding harmless at the 2019 – 2020 levels which essentially capped funding and provides no new dollars for additional students enrolled in the 2020 – 2021 school year.

This created a lot of acrimony and opposition from different sectors in the education community. Governor Newsom acknowledged the issue, in a message to the legislature, when he signed the budget trailer bill urging them to craft a targeted solution for the funding issue.

Due to this lack of funding four charter schools have filed a lawsuit against the state and numerous education reform groups are lobbying the legislature to address the issue. The legislature adjourns for the year on August 31st so the race is on to enact a fix.

The Department of Finance has released their first draft of language to provide a legislative fix. Though it might work for some traditional schools it is not an ideal fix for charter schools. Additionally, the language specifically leaves non-classroom based charter schools out of the fix. There is no policy rationale to cut off funding for students deciding to change schools during this pandemic that is gripping the nation.

Many non-classroom based charter schools experience growth throughout the year and the COVID – 19 virus has seen these numbers increase for the 2020 – 2021 school year.

I urge you to call your legislator and advocate that they fund all students in California, regardless of what public school they attend. It is an issue of equity and fairness that should not be taken lightly.

You can use this website to locate which Assembly and Senate district that you reside in: FindYourRep.Legislature.ca.gov.

California State Capitol

Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom presented his May Revision to the January budget. As expected, state revenues are significantly down, and almost every program will have funding cuts. Given California’s K-12 education system receives a large part of the budget’s funding, it is also receiving a large portion of the cuts. Governor Newsom stated that he would roll back some of the cuts if the Federal Government provides more fiscal relief to the states.

For those who can remember 2008 and the Great Recession, it appears there will be deferrals and reduced per-pupil funding. Below are the highlights of the May Revision, which the California Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees will hear over the new two weeks. It is unclear whether the Budget Conference Committee will meet or both houses will adopt the Governor’s budget, but the legislature will pass the budget by June 15th.

The budget provides a Proposition 98 General Fund level of $52.35 billion in 2019-20, a decrease of $3.54 billion under the 2019-20 Budget Act Proposition 98 guarantee estimate. It also provides a Proposition 98 General Fund level of $44.87 billion in 2020-21, a decrease of $11 billion from the 2019-20 Budget Act for schools and community colleges.

Here are the budget specifics:

  • Proposes total K-12 funding from all sources at $99.7 Billion in the Budget Year.
  • Projects Proposition 98 ongoing per-pupil spending to be $10,632 in 2020-21 and $11,585 in 19-20 a decrease of $1,375 per student and $422 per student, respectively, compared to the 2019-20 Budget Act.
  • Defers $1.9 billion in Proposition 98 funding in the 2019-20 budget year to the 2020-21 budget year, and defers an ongoing total of $5.3 billion in financing for the 2020-21 budget year to the 2021-22 budget year.
  • Proposes a payback schedule for Proposition 98 funding for the difference between Test 1 and Test 2 funding levels.
  • Proposes $4.4 Billion in discretionary federal funds for one-time COVID closure impacts on schools and student learning.
  • Suspends the 2.31% Statutory COLA
  • Eliminates the $589 million Education Protection Act fund to mitigate school funding cuts.
  • Provides $2.3 billion ($1 billion in Budget Year) funding relief for Local Education Agency (LEA) statutory contributions to the STRS and PERS retirement systems.
  • Proposes a reduction of $6.5 billion in Proposition 98 funding for the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), reflecting a 10% reduction.*
  • Provides $645 million Proposition 98 funding for special education services and school readiness supports.
  • Proposes $352.9 million in cuts to K-12 categorical programs*
  • Contains $164.7 million one-time state-level CARES Act investments to address  COVID education impacts, including:
    • $100 million to County Offices of Education for student wellness & health initiatives
    • $63.2 million for educator training and professional development o $1.5 million for state agency operational needs
  • Contains over $23 million in federal IDEA funds for teacher scholarships, mediation costs, and various policy studies and workgroups.
  • Maintains a few January Budget new one-time proposals:
    • $53 million for literacy grants (related to a court settlement)
    • $15 million for CalNEW (refugee student support)
    • $4.2 million for the SACS replacement project, and
    • $4 million for dyslexia training/research and statewide conference.
  • Proposes to increase LEA inter-fund borrowing allowances
  • Proposes to allow the sale of surplus LEA property for one-time spending purposes.
  • Allows special education telehealth practices.
  • Moves the Transitional Kindergarten credential deadline to August 2021.
  • Caps the age that particular charter school programs can generate ADA at 26.

California LegislatureCalifornia Legislature Takes Early Recess

This week on late Monday night the California Legislature recessed until April 13th because of the coronavirus. Before they left town, the Legislature acted on two emergency measures to assist Californians and the state’s schools, most of which are closed for the foreseeable future.

In order to take up the measures, the Governor wrote a letter to the Legislature asking they take action and the Legislature voted unanimously to suspend the 72-hour rule; bills must be in print 72 hours before they can be voted on. In short, the measures do the following:

AB 89 Budget Bill

  • Appropriates $500 million from the General Fund for purposes related to the COVID-19 Proclamation of Emergency. A 72 hour written notice to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) is required before any expenditures from this appropriation.
  • Allows the appropriation to be increased in $50 million increments up to a total not to exceed $1 billion, with a 72-hour notice to the JLBC.
    Expected expenditures include, but not limited to:
    • Leasing and activating two hospitals;
    • Providing hotel beds for people experiencing homelessness;
    • Supporting local governments to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the homeless population;
    • Acquiring hospital and public health surge equipment;
    • Assisting hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities manage the crisis;
    • Cleaning of child care facilities, so they remain open; and
    • Funding IHSS/APS strike teams to support senior isolation.
  • Appropriates $84 million for Camp Fire tree removal cleanup costs. This wildfire emergency-related action has been expected to be part of any “early budget action,” but is not related to the COVID-19 crisis.

AB 117 Education Trailer Bill

  • Provides statutory changes needed to implement the Governor’s education executive order, specifically:
  • Appropriates $100 million Proposition 98 General Fund for local educational agencies to purchase protective equipment and supplies and labor related to cleaning school sites. The money will be allocated by ADA. School sites will receive no less than $250.
  • Makes a variety of statutory changes to ensure that local educational agencies continue to receive funding for a full school year, regardless of closures due to COVID-19. This includes apportionments made based on average daily attendance, funding for the Afterschool Education and Safety Program, and the waiver of penalties related to instructional days and minute requirements.
  • Provides time extensions for student assessments and a variety of other educational needs.
To view these measures go to www.http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Additionally, the California Department of Education has issued guidance around the measures. You can find it at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/guidance.asp

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California ElectionsTuesday’s California Election Results

Tuesday’s California election results are still being decided in some races as ballots are still being counted. The results will not bring a significant change to the Legislature however, there were some very high profile races and a few interesting developments.

California State Senate Results

In the State Senate races there were virtually no surprises and the Democrats will still hold a supermajority after November’s general election.

The only notable races were in the 29th Senate District where the results set up a contest between Democrat Josh Newman, who was recalled after his vote for the gas tax in 2018, and current Republican Senator Ling Ling Chang. Chang only received 49.4% of the vote in the three-person primary while the two Democrat’s received 50.6% of the vote. This will make for a very competitive race in November.

In the 37th Senate District, Republican Senator John Moorlach received 50% of the vote while his two Democratic challengers received the other 50% of the vote. This sets up a second competitive race for the general election and puts another Republican seat in jeopardy.

California State Assembly Results

In the State Assembly races, there were several notable developments, but as with the Senate, the Democrats will retain a supermajority. In the 38th Assembly District, which was formerly represented by anti-charter school Democrat Christy Smith, two Republicans garnered the top two spots and will move on to the general election. This means the seat will represent a pick up for the Republicans in November. Smith is running for Congress and was not involved in the race.

In the 42nd Assembly District Independent Chad Mayes, who is a former Republican Assembly Leader, received 35.8% of the vote and he will face Republican Andrew Kotyuk who received 34.5% in the general election.

The 57th Assembly District saw a race that featured two political powerhouses as two of the candidates have relatives that serve in the Legislature. The second-place finisher was Lisa Calderon who is the mother-in-law of the current Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon. She received 19.7% of the vote. The top vote-getter was Republican Jessica Martinez with 29.5% of the vote; Calderon and Martinez will face off in November. Finishing third and missing the November primary election was Democrat Sylvia Rubio with 17.8% of the vote. Rubio has a sister that currently serves in the State Senate and a sister that currently serves in the State Assembly.

In the 59th Assembly District, the current incumbent Democrat Reggie Jones-Sawyer will face off against Democrat Efren Martinez in November. Martinez actually outpolled Jones-Sawyer 49.6% to 45.7%.

In the 72nd Assembly District incumbent Republican Tyler Diep was outpolled by former Republican State Senator Janet Nguyen 35.1% to 26.5%. The two will face off in the November general election.

In the 73rd Assembly District the current incumbent, Republican Bill Brough, failed to reach the November general election after coming in fourth place. The seat will stay in the Republican column but Brough’s time in the Legislature is coming to an end.

In the 74th Assembly District the Republican’s have an opportunity to pick up a seat as the incumbent, Democrat Cottie Petrie-Norris, failed to reach 50% of the vote. She garnered 49.5% of the vote while her two Republican opponents received over 50% of the vote.

California Legislature UpdateCalifornia State Legislature: February 2020 Update

Friday, February 21st was the last day to introduce bills in the California State Legislature. The State Assembly saw over 1,500 measures introduced this year while the State Senate had over 700. These measures will now begin to have hearings scheduled in legislative policy committees. If they are passed out of the policy committee and have a fiscal impact then they will head to the Appropriations Committee.

Unlike last year, there has not been a lot of bills introduced that impact charter schools. Clearly, members of the Legislature and the administration believe that charter schools will have a tough enough time implementing SB 126, AB 1505 and AB 1507 from last year.

This year, only two bills have been introduced that are charter school-specific: SB 1423 which makes some changes to the Charter School Facility Grant Program and SB 1449 which is a charter school spot bill.

A spot bill is a measure that has not been fully amended yet but states that the intention of the bill is to change the charter school law in some manner. There are a plethora of bills that will be heard this year and I am attaching a matrix that will list a number of them, by bill number, and contains a short description of each bill’s contents.

As the year moves along and bills are amended and changed in the California State Legislature, we will keep you updated as to the measures that may impact charter schools.

Click to download the detailed list of bills here: 2020 California Legislature Bill List


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