News Impacting CA School Districts Through August 28
Federal News
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s call to adopt sweeping education reforms that would dramatically reshape California’s public education system and qualify the state for competitive federal school funding.
The National Education Association (NEA) has formally announced its opposition to core elements of the administration’s $4.35 billion Race to the Top fund.
Sacramento News
The Department of Finance released its most recent multiyear budget forecast. Projections show an operating shortfall of $7.4 billion in 2010-11, widening to $15.5 billion in 2011-12, the first year of the next governor’s term in office. In the past two elections, the governor had to make difficult choices before he unpacked his things.
Keep an eye on this story. State property tax values fell 2.4%, the first such drop since California began keeping records 76 years ago in the depths of the Great Depression. The 2.4% drop in the assessed value of all taxable property statewide means California will sending more General Fund dollars to fund Prop 98 since the property tax dollar offset is dropping.
Reforming State and Local Governance
Whenever groups attempt to develop a reform package, there is the chance of a quid pro quo. Calbuzz examines California Forward reform package and discovers an interesting item that would limit the Legislature’s ability to raise revenue through “mitigation fees” on business.
The Senate Local Government Committee has updated its fact sheets on California’s cities, counties, special districts and redevelopment agencies in the committee’s on-line reference library.
School District Impacts
You know there are problems with public education funding when a regional magazine covers the impacts on local school districts. Diablo Magazine prepared an article detailing impact of $100 million in revenue losses to suburban school districts east of San Francisco. Superintendents in all districts have been left with little choice but to slice into programs, increase class sizes, or reduce staffing. Unfortunately, district leaders expect to be slammed with more bad budget news next year.
A group of high school student researchers — the Council of Youth Research, sponsored by UCLA’s Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access (IDEA) — spent five summer weeks this year researching the effects of education cuts in Los Angeles-area schools and neighborhoods.
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