[CALIBK12] Budget

[Barbara Jeffus]

We just received the following information from Jack O'Connell. He doesn't mention the School and Library Improvement Block Grant but AB 1781, the budget bill, lists $472,836,000 in that fund for 2008-09. In comparison, last year (2007-08) it was $465,265,365 and in 2006-07 it was $447,348,872. Increasing little by little is a good thing. Apportionments to districts will be posted at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/ca/schoollibrary.asp when they are ready.  Barbara

Jack O'Connell's message to CDE staff, 9/23/08.
"...While no one will applaud this budget agreement, it is a relief to have a budget signed. I am directing staff to immediately distribute funds owed to schools and child care centers that were delayed during the longest budget stalemate in state history.

The budget funds Proposition 98 at $58.1 billion and reduces funding for most programs to account for enrollment declines since 2007-08. It does include a modest, 0.68 percent cost-of-living increase for revenue limits only, but as you know school districts face increasing operational costs and greater responsibilities under state and federal accountability systems.

The Governor vetoed a total of $24 million in funding for K-12 programs, including:


 *   $16,400,000 to Stage 2 child care to align the appropriation with updated caseload estimates


 *   $904,000 to Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID).


 *   $6 million to Immediate Intervention/Underperforming Schools Program (II/USP) schools for School Assistance and Intervention Team (SAIT).


 *   $295,000 to Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) for review of Oakland, Vallejo, and West Fresno Unified School Districts.


 *   $862,000 to Child Nutrition Programs.

The Governor also vetoed the following federal funds:


 *   $600,000 Title I for evaluation of the Migrant Education program.

He also vetoed provisional language that authorized:


 *   $1.2 million of Title III funds which were proposed for state level activities for English learners in 2009-10.


 *   $1.8 million of Title III funds for intervention efforts in Local Education Agencies not meeting required benchmarks.

I am pleased that with the signing of the budget, $180 million of Title I funding has been appropriated to local education agencies in Program Improvement Corrective Action. The methodology for how the funds are to be used is in AB 519, which the Governor has yet to act on.

With costs rising and budgets squeezed, combined with the fact that this budget is predicated on uncertain revenues, the signing of the budget brings only temporary relief. I will continue to advocate for a budget that funds education at a level that will enable our schools to close the achievement gap and prepare all students to succeed in the workforce. I urge the Governor and Legislature to quickly begin negotiations on how to meet the true costs of educating California students in the next fiscal year. "


Barbara Jeffus
School Library Consultant
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 3207
Sacramento, CA 95814
916.319.0445
FAX 916.319.0172
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/lb

READ Green. Borrow a Library Book!

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