 |
 |
 |
|
State budget for schools is promising
Governor Gray Davis' budget proposal for the next fiscal year represents an overall funding increase for K-12 education of $3.16 billion (8.3 percent). That translates into $7,174 in per-pupil spending, an increase of $479 over 2000-01 and $866 over 1999-2000.
The proposal also includes a projected 3.91 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for schools, as well as money to fund the settlement of the special education lawsuit and cover several new initiatives.
One of the more controversial initiatives would extend middle school instructional time by 30 working days (six weeks). Another would target middle schools for staff development in algebra. There is also money for intensive professional development for teachers of reading and math; to attract and retain algebra teachers; and to provide staff development for school principals.
 In January, CTA held a reception to honor newly-elected state legislators. Among the guests were Assembly Member Abel Maldonado with CTA
The proposal includes no additional unrestricted funding other than the COLA, which could change by the time the May Revision to the budget is released.
The budget now goes to the Legislative Analyst's Office for review and fiscal impact analysis. In May, the governor will submit a revised version based on updated General Fund revenues, expenditures and reserve estimates that take the economic forecast into account. At that time legislators will begin the serious business of cutting the final deal with the governor.
 Kerr with Senator Jack O'Connell.
While many of the items in the budget proposal will ultimately find their way into law, says CTA President Wayne Johnson, many will not. "Association chapters in negotiation with districts over salaries should not base final compensation figures solely on the proposed budget as things can and will change. On other items that can be negotiated at the local level (such as longer year, class size reduction, supplemental salaries), chapters should carefully consider the position to take and be ready to bargain those subjects that survive the process."
CTA's Research and Finance Department will communicate changes to staff and leaders as they become available.
Given current conditions, California's budget for education could have been calculated under Test 3 of the Proposition 98 language, which allows the state to reduce education funding in years when state taxes grow more slowly than personal income. Gov. Davis has decided to use Test 2 calculations instead. "Because this alternate calculation (Test 3) is intended to be used when the state is experiencing unusually slow revenue growth, the budget proposes to exceed the minimum funding level, and instead, fund Proposition 98 at the higher level (Test 2)." This higher level funding is $1.87 billion over the Test 3 requirement. Following are some specifics about the budget. For more detail, visit CTA's Web site [www.cta.org].
COLA - The proposed COLA would provide an inflation factor of $168 for elementary districts, $202 for for high school districts and $175 for unified districts. These amounts do not include the Jack O'Connell Beginning Teacher Salary adjustments many districts will also be entitled to if the beginning salary meets the statutory requirements. The proposed COLA will be applied to revenue limits as well as categorical programs, including special education, adult education, ROC/P, class size reduction, SIP, EIA, and the Charter School Block grant.
Growth - The budget includes $368 million for school district and county office ADA increased growth. While the projected growth for 2001-02 (1.08 percent) is less than in 2000-01 (1.46 percent), the total ADA projected for California schools is 5,750,105.
 CTA Board Member Dean E. Vogel, Assembly Member George Nakano, CTA Vice President Barbara E. Kerr, Sanchez and CTA/ABC Chair Bonnie Shatun.
Special education - Included in this budget is $270 million for the current year as a one-time retroactive payment in settlement of the Special Education Mandate lawsuit. Gov. Davis also included the first installment of $25 million that is to be paid for the next 10 years, and $100 million in ongoing funding to SELPAs, beginning in 2001-02. He proposes to spend all of the new federal funds ($124.6 million) to augment the state funds.
A longer year for middle schools - The program would add 30 days of instructional time for use at schools with at least two grades of 6, 7, 8 or 9. Schools must agree to align textbooks to state standards. Approximately $770 per student ($1.45 billion) is designated for the three-year program. The first year's funding is $100 million, intended to cover about 10 percent of the state's 1.3 million middle school students. Funding in the second year ($450 million) would cover half the middle school population. Funding in the third year ($900 million) would cover all students in middle grades.
 Johnson with the new Secretary of Education Kerry Mazzoni.
Intensive professional development in reading and math - Money would be made available to school districts to provide intensive professional development to every teacher involved with math and reading, estimated at 252,000 teachers. The program calls for 40 hours of out-of-classroom training with 80 hours of follow-up. School districts may conduct the training as long as it is aligned with UC standards and is approved by the State Board of Education. Districts are required to have standards-based materials in all classrooms within seven months of approval of materials by the State Board. Another three-year program, this initiative provides $335 million in 2001-02, $335 million in 2002-03 and $160 million in 2003-04. It is calculated at $2,500 per teacher trained. Funding would also be provided to train instructional aides (estimated at $1,000 for 22,000 per full-time equivalent aides).
Principal training - A 10-day training program for all principals and vice principals in the state, one-third per year for three years, would be funded at $3,000 per principal with a $1,000 match by the district. The training would focus on school financial and personnel management, core academic content standards, curriculum frameworks and instructional materials aligned to state standards, the use of student assessment instruments to improve student performance, and leadership and management strategies to improve student performance. Districts could conduct the training subject to State Board approval.
 CTA Executive Director Carolyn Doggett, Assembly Education Committee Chair Virginia Strom-Martin and Kerr.
Intensive algebra initiative - An incentive program to attract and retain qualified algebra teachers to middle and high schools, and to prepare all students for California's new algebra requirement would be funded with $30 million ($50 for each student currently taking algebra and the algebra standards-based test, and $100 for each additional student beyond the current-year number of students). The money could be used to provide salary incentives or training, to lower class sizes, or to improve the pre-algebra skills of students falling behind in math.
Sales tax holiday - Under the budget proposal, the state portion of the sales tax would be suspended for the last weekend in August this year. The $27 million total savings would be deducted from the Proposition 98 base for calculating future school funding.
The budget also includes money to hire a consultant to evaluate whether the current standards-based tests adequately measure the state-adopted content standards, and money to fund the state's part of setting up 10 new high-tech high schools to emphasize math, science and engineering.
 |