News Impacting CA School Districts Through November 6
Federal News
Declaring there should be “no excuse for mediocrity” in public schools, President Obama on Wednesday pledged to push for recruitment of better teachers, better pay for those who succeed and dismissal of those who let their students down.
Senate Bill X5 1, approved by the Senate Tuesday, would make the state more likely to get a piece of the $4.35 billion in Race to the Top federal stimulus funds offered to the nation’s schools. The bill repeals California’s charter school cap, calls for a strategy to turn around its lowest performing schools and allows students at these institutions to attend any school in the state. It also encourages school districts to reward teachers who consistently improve student scores.
Sacramento News
The Legislative Analyst Office prepared information concerning projected General Fund debt service obligations and the state’s currently authorized, but unissued, general obligation (GO) bonds.
Lost in avalanche of vetoed bills was AB 8. It would have created a working group with broad representation – representatives of the Department of Finance, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the governor, staff of both parties’ leaders, the state superintendent of instruction – to create a comprehensive plan for finance reform by December 2010. No wonder groups are considering the suing the Governor for more equitable education funding.
Think California is unique in having trouble funding education during this recession. Here is a story about Michigan’s struggles.
Given the dismal year for public education and it loss of funds, California School Boards Association did not recognize a Legislator of the Year.
Reforming State and Local Governance
It is one year away from November Election so that means everyone is submitting initiatives to get on the ballot. Here one submitted to allow Christmas music in schools. On a more serious note, two initiatives to change public pensions were filed.
Last week, California Forward filed two initiatives for reforming State governance. The full text of the initiative are here: BEST PRACTICES BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY ACT and COMMUNITY FUNDING PROTECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2010.
It’s more likely to rain in Death Valley on any given day than it is for a California legislator to vote in opposition to the majority of his or her party on any given bill, a new Sacramento Bee analysis shows. However, when the Legislature does act on major legislation like the water crisis, they add all kinds of goodies for their local citizens.
School District Impacts
As school districts prepare for the next round of budget cuts, they are looking at numerous options including: using their reserves, protecting programs before cuts are made and letting the community provide suggestions on reducing expenses.
State Superintendent Jack O’Connell commented on the election results of bond and parcel taxes.
More and more districts are getting increases in class size written into contracts.
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