News Impacting CA School Districts Through October 23
Federal News
Educators thought they had friend in the White House after the November election. Now they are not so sure.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s comments on Teacher Preparation: Reforming the Uncertain Profession were made at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Now that some barriers for applying for Race to the Top federal funds have been removed, the State Board of Education, and the California Department of Education will be engaging with stakeholders across the state to share information and gather feedback. To participate please visit California’s Race to the Top website at: http://www.caracetothetop.org/.
Sacramento News
In prior budgets, the Legislature raided City and Counties budgets to fund education. With those options limited due to new Constitutional initiatives, the Legislature turned to redevelopment agencies. As a result, the redevelopment agencies are suing the State for a second time.
Beyond the cuts to K-12 education, higher education cuts are creating problems for high school seniors as they visit campuses.
Reforming State and Local Governance
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, who sits on both the CalPERS and CalSTRS public pension boards, got the attention of his listeners during a legislative hearing yesterday.
“It’s impossible for this Legislature to reform the pension system, and if we don’t it will bankrupt the state,” is the Lockyer quote jotted down by one observer.
School District Impacts
Every school district is being impacted by the $500 per student reduction in education funding. The impacts seem more personal in smaller school districts. Chico School district is struggling to avoid state takeover.
Another sign that school districts are struggling to present sound financial projections. Two Orange County school districts have had their bond ratings downgraded.
San Diego Unified starts a series of workshops to designed to map out a budget strategy for next year. A list of unexpected expenses are projected to put the district $16.6 million in the red this academic year. Next year, cuts from $119 million to $175 million to the $1.2 billion operating budget are forecast, financial planners warned the board.
Already facing a $258 million budget gap for next year, Los Angeles Unified School District now has to begin grappling with an additional $221 million in potential cuts according to district staff.
Sacramento school districts ponder school closures.
A few weeks I shared the story of the seventeen furlough days being implemented in the state of Hawaii. A lawsuit was filed court to stop the furloughs to preserve the quality and integrity of the special education and related services disabled children now receive.
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Comments
4 Comments on News Impacting CA School Districts Through October 23
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Socco on
Tue, 17th Nov 2009 1:18 pm
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MikeMcMahonAUSD on
Tue, 17th Nov 2009 2:27 pm
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Miato on
Thu, 19th Nov 2009 11:13 am
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Mike McMahon on
Thu, 19th Nov 2009 1:11 pm
Hi,
Interesting, did you plan to continue this article?
Socco
Yes as you can see weekly post that on Friday or Saturday.
Hi there,
Can i get a one small photo from your blog?
Thank you
Miato
Not sure what you mean by a small photo from this blog. My picture is on my website I maintain for the Alameda community.
Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!