The following information was taken from the California Charter School Association:
California Charter School Facilities Funding & Flexibility in Jeopardy – Learn More & Act Now
The Charter School Facility Grant Program (SB 740) is a major source of funding for qualifying charter schools leasing private facilities. This year the Governor has proposed an increase of $28.3 million for the program – a major win – but the California State Legislature must still approve this increase. However, we have serious concerns because the proposed Budget Trailer Bill would impose new rules which may impact your funding.
The proposal would eliminate an automatic funding backfill when the program is oversubscribed. This would likely result in funding cuts to all program participants beginning this year! The new rules would also cap annual grant increases to statewide COLA rates without consideration of the many conditions that cause lease cost increases. If enacted, these changes could be devastating to charter schools that receive this funding.
Send a letter to the Education Budget Subcommittees to support the funding increase and oppose these restrictive new rules by March 1st.
- Download this template letter
- Customize the letter
- Sign the letter
- Put it on your organizations’ letterhead (if applicable)
- Scan and send the letter to Carson Eades at ceades@ccsa.organd we’ll deliver the letters to subcommittee members for you!
April is for Advocacy!
In the past five-years, CCSA has hosted Charter School Advocacy Day in Sacramento. The impact of that event was significant, but with so many key issues decided in April, charter advocates must be present earlier and more often.
One day is not enough.
Plan now to join charter school advocates in Sacramento at a time when legislators consider issues that will significantly impact charter school students – like additional SB 740 facilities funding. Choose any Tuesday in April to make your voice heard! To learn more and register by Friday, March 23, click here.
Participate in the Scholar Dollar’s Program!
The State Treasurer’s office is currently promoting their ScholarShare 529’s Scholar Dollars Grant Program which will award more than $300,000 to California’s K-8 public and charter schools in 2018. This is your school’s chance to earn additional funding for your school while encouraging participation in the state-sponsored college savings plan. You can learn more about how to register your school and how to participate at www.myscholardollars.com
We are less than 40 days away– 25th Annual California Charter Schools Conference
The 25th Annual California Charter Schools Conference will be held March 26 to 28, 2018, in San Diego, CA. With thought-provoking speakers, in-depth programming and fun networking events–you don’t want to miss the largest annual gathering of charter school professionals in the state. To register, visit the conference website at charterconference.org and for complete descriptions, speaker bios and to explore the entire 2018 program, visit the Program Search page. You can search by programming topics, date, grade level, audience and time of day. We look forward to seeing you in sunny San Diego!
- At the Capitol: Statewide Advocacy webpage: Track current legislation and regulations, schedule a legislative visit and more.
- State Budget Update webpage: Find out how the state budget impacts charter schools
- Have questions related to legislation or regulations? Email Government Affairs or call: (916) 448-0995, ext 308.
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