Budget, federal accountability top the discussion during Back-to-School Webcast 

In a wide-ranging discussion of the Top 10 issues facing public education in California, CSBA President Paula S. Campbell and CSBA staff reviewed the latest developments involving the state budget, federal stimulus funds and federal accountability, among other issues, during the Back-to-School Webcast Sept. 24.

“There is no question about the fact that we are now facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis for schools the likes of which we have not seen since the advent of the Great Depression,” said CSBA Executive Director Scott P. Plotkin in opening the Webcast.

Issue 1: State budget crisis
Schools will receive just 82 cents on the dollar in revenue limit funding this year after enduring 18 months of unprecedented cuts and deferrals due to the state’s fiscal crisis, explained Assistant Executive Director Rick Pratt.

The Legislature did find a way to avoid suspending Prop. 98 by “recapturing” $1.6 billion in categorical dollars that had been appropriated for 2008-09, but not spent. The associated accounting maneuvers helped the state avoid a $6 billion suspension of Prop. 98 in the current year, Pratt said.

The July budget deal also ensured creation of a “maintenance factor” that will eventually restore school funding to the normal Prop. 98 base, although Pratt said that will not occur until the economy begins growing again.

In the meantime, Pratt said it’s possible that schools will see further reductions in state funding, since some of the budget savings the Legislature counted on to balance the budget did not come to pass. “There are some clouds on the horizon that indicate conditions might be forming for another round of midyear budget cuts before this current year is over,” Pratt said.

Recent indications that the rate of job loss has slowed and the housing market seems to have stabilized are positive signs for the state’s economy, although recovery is not expected soon and school revenues are likely to remain flat for the next couple of years, Pratt said. 

Issue 2: Federal issues
The governor, Legislature and state schools chief have stated their intention to ensure California receives every federal stimulus dollar possible, so they have pursued legislative changes to make California eligible to receive its share of $4.35 billion in Race to the Top grants.

“California is in the process of considering some fairly significant changes to state law on the basis of what are, right now, only proposed regulations,” Pratt said.

California stands to receive only about $500 million of the total available for RTTT grants, which is a mere 6 percent of the approximately $8 billion in stimulus money already headed to state schools.

“And it is unknown whether or not California—even if we put all the conditions in place to be competitive—would actually receive funding,” said Pratt, who pointed out that even if the state gets the money, not all districts would share in it.

Assistant Executive Director Holly Jacobson reviewed changes likely to occur during reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. There is now general consensus among educators and state and federal policymakers that the “adequate yearly progress” targets under NCLB—which Education Secretary Arne Duncan recently called “utopian goals”—need to be replaced by targets that measure growth, especially among the lowest-performing students.

“We have a window of opportunity here, as we look at accountability,” said Jacobson, “to be able to craft a way in California to actually meaningfully look at the lowest performing schools, instead of how we’ve been doing it with adequate yearly progress.”

In light of current discussions regarding the reauthorization of ESEA, combined with the common national standards movement being spearheaded by the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers, educators can only expect federal involvement in schools to increase, Jacobson said. “The horse has left the barn on that one,” she said.

Issue 3: Adequacy lawsuit
CSBA’s work to bring a lawsuit against the state for failure to adequately fund public education should come to fruition soon, Plotkin revealed. “It will be part of our strategy to get the system declared unconstitutional, because it absolutely violates the constitutional requirement for a provision for the support of the common schools … based on the standards that are set by the state.” Since the system is “fundamentally broken,” Plotkin added, the lawsuit can help set the stage for possible remedies.

Issue 4: Conditions of children
The economy has taken a toll on children and families, said Senior Legislative Advocate Debra Brown, recounting the rise in the number of homeless students and children without health insurance, and the rise in demand for free and reduced-price meals.
Nonetheless, increased federal aid has allowed some districts to expand their meal programs and interventions for homeless students, she explained.

“In some of this negative economic news, and the impact that it’s had on students and their families, there are some opportunities where schools can step in and help out those students,” Brown said.

Issue 5: School Wellness Conference
CSBA continues to provide leadership in the area of health and wellness for students, families and school staff with the second School Wellness Conference to be held in Anaheim Oct. 6 and 7.

Issue 6: State governance reform
As a member of the Cities, Counties and Schools Partnership and a sponsor of a governmental reform summit held this summer, CSBA continues to support the efforts to “Rebuilding California from the Ground Up.” 

Issue 7: 2010 electoral politics
Candidates for governor and state Superintendent of Public Instruction are lining up for the 2010 election to replace termed-out Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and SPI Jack O’Connell. “The election is likely to be a pretty hot one” that will undoubtedly have a big impact on California schools, Plotkin said.

Issue 8: Education Legal Alliance
With issues such as the adequacy lawsuit, the Algebra 1 mandate, Prop. 39 charter school facilities and mandate deferrals on its docket, the Education Legal Alliance will continue the fight to protect and defend the interests of California schools in the courts, Plotkin said.

Issue 9: School facilities issues
California’s ongoing need to renovate and build new school facilities will not abate during the fiscal crisis, said Senior Legislative Advocate Brian Rivas. But other state priorities such as water and environmental bonds may preempt a large bond for education because of the state’s limited capacity for further debt, he explained.

Issue 10: The changing face of the State Board of Education
Although its influence is often overlooked, the California State Board of Education, whose members are appointed by the governor, wields just as much power over what happens in schools as the state or federal government, Jacobson said. Yet, she pointed out that its members—many of whom are focused on charter schools—are not accountable to anyone. CSBA will continue to monitor the board’s policies and decisions, and represent the interests of local school boards before the board, Jacobson said.

Concluding the BTS Webcast, Plotkin reminded viewers that much of the value of being a CSBA member comes from events like that one and the Annual Education Conference and Trade show, where board members can forge valuable relationships. “The bottom line is,” he said, “we are here to provide information, support and advocacy on behalf of the people we represent.”

Related links:
Find a link to the Webcast under the Spotlight section @ www.csba.org