CSBA’s ELA Adequacy Committee holds last meeting of 2015, prepares final report
Published: October 28, 2015
CSBA’s Education Legal Alliance Adequacy Committee met last Thursday in West Sacramento. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an overview of the committee’s draft report and gather feedback from committee members to help prepare the final report, which will be released at CSBA’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show in San Diego, Dec. 3-5. The report will be used to push for more funding for education and add value to the conversation about adequate funding in California in light of the LCFF. Additionally, the committee’s work has assisted the ELA in oral argument in the Robles-Wong v. California lawsuit.
At last week’s meeting, the committee heard presentations on the draft report’s five chapters. CSBA’s Fiscal and Policy Consultant Robert Manwaring presented on the first two chapters, which provide a snapshot on education funding in California along with updated estimates from the “Getting Down to Facts” studies. (Released in 2007, these comprehensive studies found the state’s education system to be lacking in numerous ways, including its funding levels.) CSBA Staff Attorney Josh Daniels provided an overview of the chapter that discusses possible sources of new and other revenue to adequately fund education in California. Naomi Eason, assistant executive director of member services at CSBA, presented a picture of 21st century education, where personalized learning and the whole child approach factor significantly in students’ career and college success. Finally, Manuel Buenrostro, CSBA policy and programs officer, summarized a chapter that looks at results of adequacy measures, such as academic achievement, college enrollment and labor participation, and the achievement gap. Robust Q-and-A sessions and full committee discussion followed each presentation.
For more on the ELA Adequacy Committee and its work, read the cover stories in the April and July 2015 issues of California School News.