CSBA Gives Thumbs Up To Legislature and Governor for 2013-14 Budget
Budget Addresses CSBA’s Governance First Policy Priorities
WEST SACRAMENTO—The California School Boards Association (CSBA) gave a nod of approval today to the 2013-14 state budget, which addresses many of the association’s Governance First legislative agenda priorities, including the importance of restoring base funding of K-12 school districts and county offices of education. One of the most important features of the 2013-14 budget is that it sets in motion restoration of local educational agency funding to at least pre-recession levels, and provides additional funds to school districts serving disadvantaged students, including English-language learners, students from low-income households and foster youth. The budget also includes $4 billion to reduce the excessive funding deferrals. CSBA, a leading statewide policy agency, also applauds the Governor and Legislature for allocating $1.25 billion to support the implementation of the new Common Core State Standards, which were adopted by the Legislature in 2010 and will begin implementation in spring 2014. Finally, the approved budget also provides partial restoration of early childhood education, a grant program to expand the accessibility of career technical education partnerships, and funds for energy efficiency and new green energy projects through Proposition 39.
“We appreciate the hard work of the Governor and Legislature to design a budget that reflects the priorities of the voters – the public wants fair funding for its schools and supports local control. This budget moves school districts and county offices of education toward full restoration to pre-recession funding levels, giving school district leaders and board members the ability to better serve students,” explained Cindy Marks, CSBA president and vice president of the Board of Education for Modesto City Schools. “The provisions included in this budget will save some districts from fiscal disaster by improving their cash-flow positions,” she added. Over the last five years, K-12 budgets were reduced by about $20 billion statewide, $9 billion of which was in deferred payments. As a result, districts across the state were forced to borrow money, without reimbursement for the interest paid on these short-term loans, to meet their fiscal obligations including payroll, facility maintenance agreements and general operating expenses. “By making a commitment to buy down and eventually eliminate deferrals, governance teams can now better manage their budgets. Fewer districts will be facing the prospect of insolvency,” said Marks.
Even though the 2013-14 budget is favorable to K-12 school districts, data presented to CSBA shows that 62 school districts will remain below pre-recession funding levels in eight years when the new formula is fully implemented. CSBA remains committed to ensuring that the Local Control Funding Formula restores all districts to their 2007-08 funding levels. “CSBA will raise the issue of fairness for all districts as discussions begin about the clean-up legislation,” said Marks. Moreover, even with the increased funding in the 2013-14 budget, California’s K-12 education system will remain 48th out of the 50 states in per-pupil funding. “CSBA will also continue its commitment to ensure our schools receive adequate long-term funding to support a 21st Century educational system,” Marks added.
Furthermore, CSBA applauds the investment in the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. “It is encouraging that the Governor and Legislature recognize the enormity of the implementation of Common Core and its projected impact on the teaching and testing of students,” Marks explained. The Common Core State Standards and Smarter Balanced Assessment system will change the delivery of instruction, necessitate a sustained investment in professional development for teachers and other school staff, and require the acquisition of technology to advance student learning and support new authentic assessments. The California Department of Education estimates that the implementation of Common Core will cost $3.1 billion statewide. If both initiatives are to be successful, “We need a sustained investment in our schools. CSBA is committed to working with the Governor and Legislature on long-term funding solutions to enable full implementation of both the Common Core State Standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessment system,” she added.
CSBA’s 2013-14 legislative agenda is anchored on the theme Governance First. CSBA’s legislative agenda includes key educational policy issues and the association’s positions on current legislation that support local governance and the critical role of school board members in rendering and enforcing policies that ensure quality educational programs for all students. The paying down of the deferrals and sustaining local budgetary control by board members through the Local Control Funding Formula were among the association’s Governance First budget priorities for fiscal year 2013-14.
CSBA is the non-profit education association representing the elected officials who govern public school districts and county offices of education. With a membership of nearly 1,000 educational agencies statewide, CSBA brings together school governing boards, and district and county office administrators to advocate for effective policies that advance the education and well-being of the state’s more than 6 million school-age children.