California

Funding priorities for p-12

While funding for California’s public education has experienced much decline in recent years, this year the sector will see an increase in state revenue. According to the Department of Finance (2015), the 2015–2016 California state budget:

Will provide an increase of $6 billion for the state’s local control funding formula (LCFF), on top of the $47 billion last year, representing an average of $1,088 more per student.

Has established the Career Technical Education (CTE) Incentive Grant programs that will awards funds ($400 million in 2015–2016) to meet emerging workforce needs.

Will provide an increase in $500 million for one-time funds for educator support. Funds will be allocated per certificated staff. Funds for professional development and support will also help teachers and administrators with implementation of the Common Core State Standards.

Will provide $50.1 million ongoing and $10 million one-time funds to implement select programs supporting students with disabilities, with emphasis on early education (Department of Finance 2015). There will also be $50 million in a one-time fund for high-speed Internet access and infrastructures.

Will provide an increase of $3.2 billion in one-time funds to reimburse K-12 local education agencies for state mandated program costs and $897 million to eliminate K-12 deferrals.

Will include $500 million for adult education administered by K-12 local education agencies and community college districts. There will also be a one-time $25 million fund to help establish systems to evaluate adult education programs.

Will provide an increase of $34.4 million to provide access for full-day state preschool for 7,030 additional children from low-income families.

An additional $145 million will divert funds from General Child Care to State Preschool, thereby allowing funds for full day state—programs to be housed under the financing of K-14 education. This will enable full-day state preschool providers that are local education agencies to receive access to a single funding stream in their full date state preschool contracts.

Will provide an increase of $52.6 million to provide vouchers to 6,800 additional students from low-income families. The state had eliminated its waiting list for vouchers in June of 2011, which at the time had a list of 200,000 eligible families.

Will provide a one-time grant of $24.2 million to the consortia that will provide support to help infant and toddler childcare providers meet a higher level of quality. The state has also allocated $50 million in ongoing funds to help develop a ranking system for preschools.

Will provide an increase of $61 million to provide a 5% increase in reimbursement rate, used to pay providers of state preschool and other direct-contracted child care/development.

Changes to funding formula for p-12

Last year the K-12 sector transitioned to the LCFF, which provides more discretion for the operating budget to local school boards than the old funding formula (California Legislative Information 2015). It allocates base amounts to schools, with additional concentrated funding to students from English leaner, low income and foster youth backgrounds. The recently (2013–14) adopted formula is California’s primary vehicle for distributing funds to their K-12 public schools (Department of Finance 2015; California Legislative Information 2015).

State issues affecting p-12funding

Revenue boosts from 2014–15, including sources from Proposition 30 (a temporary income tax approved by voters in 2012 to tax residents with annual income of over $250,000 for seven years and state sales tax increase of .25 % over four years) allowed the state to operate with increased funding for education this year (Department of Finance 2015).

Forces diverting funds from traditional public school districts

The state will provide increase of $52.6 million General Fund to provide childcare vouchers for more children from low-income families and an increase of $62.1 million general fund to increase the maximum reimbursement ceiling for childcare providers that accept vouchers (Department of Finance 2015).

P-12per-pupil expenditure

Due to the increase in revenue, the 2015–16 per pupil expenditures will increase to $9...