Category Archives: Proposition 98 (Mandatory Education Spending)

Educated Guess: LAO: No need to cut schools $5.5 billion

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By John Fensterwald – Educated Guess

The Legislative Analyst’s Office is suggesting an alternative to the massive cut to K-12 schools and community colleges that Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing if his tax initiative fails in November. Instead of a real spending cut of $2.8 billion or $415 per K-12 student, districts and community colleges would be cut $1 billion or only $162 per K-12 student, under the LAO  plan.

The LAO detailed its alternative in an analysis of Brown’s May budget revision, which the nonpartisan, independent agency released on Friday (see pages 21-22 in the pdf version). The difference is the size of  Proposition 98 spending obligation that is calculated for this year and next year, separate from the tax increase.

via LAO: No need to cut schools $5.5 billion – by John Fensterwald – Educated Guess.

The Educated Guess: K-12 schools spared, for now

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By John Fensterwald – Educated Guess

The state budget for next year has deteriorated by $6 billion since January, but Gov. Jerry Brown is not proposing to cut money for K-12 schools – immediately. But if voters in November reject Brown’s proposed $8.5 billion tax increase, schools will be a $5.5 billion piece of what the governor has called “a day of reckoning.”

In his revised budget, Brown is proposing massive reductions in the budgets for courts, as well as state worker furloughs and punishing Medi-Cal cuts to hospitals and nursing homes. Because state revenues have fallen, Brown also could have cut Proposition 98 funding for this year by nearly $800 million. But that would have been impractical this far into the year, so instead he is proposing to redesignate the overappropriation as a prepayment toward settling up a debt to schools under an agreement that Gov. Schwarzenegger made with the California Teachers Assn.

via K-12 schools spared, for now – by John Fensterwald – Educated Guess.

Dan Walters: California’s school finance system is both convoluted and irrational

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By Dan Walters

Thousands of California teachers were given layoff notices a few weeks ago because state law requires the slips to be sent out each spring if administrators and trustees believe cuts are needed to balance their budgets.

Later this month, the districts must decide whether to continue or rescind those layoffs on the assumption that by then they’ll know the state of their 2012-13 finances.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/02/4458295/dan-walters-californias-school.html#mi_rss=Dan%20Walters#storylink=cpy

via Dan Walters: California’s school finance system is both convoluted and irrational.

The Educated Guess: Should districts be handed full control over spending?

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To mitigate the impact of substantially cutting spending for K-12 schools, the Legislature agreed to temporarily let school districts decide how to spend money that had been earmarked for dozens of special programs, from adult education to teacher training. Now, as part of his plan to reform how education is funded, Gov. Brown is proposing to go a big step further and give local districts total and permanent flexibility over nearly all of the remaining categorical programs. He also wants to drop two dozen mandated programs, leaving districts the option of continuing to fund them without state reimbursement. Is spending flexibility over billions of dollars, ending state control over what the Legislature deemed important priorities, wise policy? Can districts be trusted to do right by children? And suppose they don’t – what then?

To explore this issue, we asked four leaders with different perspectives: Jill Wynns, president of the California School Boards Association; John Affeldt, managing partner of the nonprofit law firm Public Advocates; Bob Wells, executive director of the Association of California  School Administrators; and Erin Gabel, Director of Government Affairs for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. What do you think? Please share your views.

via Should districts be handed full control over spending? – by forum.

The Educated Guess: Brown wants financing reform

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By John Fensterwald – Educated Guess

Gov. Jerry Brown hasn’t taken the Education Coalition’s “no” as a final answer on a weighted student funding plan.

In the last two weeks, Brown administration officials have been telling districts and civil rights groups that he remains determined to reform how schools are financed. However, Brown also is open to changing the formula to respond to some of the objections to his initial proposal, Sue Burr, executive director of the State Board of Education and the governor’s key education adviser, said this week.

via Brown wants financing reform – by John Fensterwald – Educated Guess.

The Educated Guess: A lot hangs on Prop 98 ruling

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By John Fensterwald – Educated Guess

The onus was on the attorney for education groups suing the state: convince a skeptical Superior Court judge that the governor and Legislature violated voters’ will and the minimum school funding requirement under Proposition 98 by diverting billions in tax revenue from the General Fund last year.

via A lot hangs on Prop 98 ruling – by John Fensterwald – Educated Guess.

The Educated Guess: LAO praises Brown budget … but not big cuts for schools if taxes fail

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By John Fensterwald – Educated Guess

With some differences over details, the Legislative Analyst’s Office has commended Gov. Jerry Brown’s overall approach to school spending and what he’d do with the higher taxes he’s asking voters to approve. Where they disagree is over what should happen if the extra money doesn’t come and the state  budget has to be cut.

via LAO praises Brown budget … – by John Fensterwald – Educated Guess.

Legislative Analyst’s Office: The 2012-13 Budget: Proposition 98 Education Analysis

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This report analyzes the Governor’s Proposition 98 budget package, including his basic budget plan and back-up plan as well as his multiyear plan to retire the “Wall of Debt” as it pertains to outstanding education obligations. The report makes a number of recommendations, including designating new revenues for paying down existing K-14 payment deferrals; replacing the education mandate system with a discretionary block grant; adopting some version of the Governor’s K-12 funding restructuring proposal, with general spending requirements that districts dedicate additional resources to their disadvantaged students; expanding community college categorical flexibility; canceling initiation of the transitional kindergarten program scheduled to begin in 2012-13; and prioritizing access to subsidized preschool for affected low-income children.

via The 2012-13 Budget: Proposition 98 Education Analysis.

Sacramento Bee: California’s school funding measure under siege in tough times

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By Kevin Yamamura

When teachers unions and education groups backed Proposition 98 nearly a quarter-century ago, they told voters it was “a well-thought-out plan for California’s schools to once again be among the very best in the nation.”

via California’s school funding measure under siege in tough times.