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:: January
Sacramento Summit Fulfills its Promise as Usual
CalSPRA’s annual Sacramento Summit always proves
to be a treasure chest of invaluable information about
the Governor’s budget, pending legislative maneuvers
affecting schools districts, lobbyist activity, and
legal issues affecting all of us on the job. Even better,
the chance to network and share ideas with colleagues
always reassures us that we are not alone in whatever
crisis we may be experiencing at the time. This year’s
Summit was no different.
Judy Leitz, communications
technician at Stanislaus County Office of Education,
said this year her favorite workshops were two that
played opposite one another. “On
one hand, we had Scott Himelstein, Deputy Secretary
of Education, present information on the Governor’s
budget proposal regarding K-12 education, and on the
other hand, Bob Blattner, Vice President of School
Services of California, gave his take on the Governor’s
budget proposal,” she said.
In a nutshell, Himelstein reported that the total student
spending will be $10,986 per child, which is $660 more
per student than last year, Proposition 98 money remains
an ongoing commitment, and the total proposed budget
for K-12 is $54.3 billion. The breakdown on how the
$54.3 billion will be allocated:
- $2.7 billion will be discretionary, or unrestricted,
funds that districts can use as they choose.
- Prop. 49’s After-School money will kick in
this July, with $428 million earmarked for the Before
and After School Programs. In addition, the state’s
per-student reimbursement to districts for before/after
school programs will increase this year.
- Himelstein claims that retirement
of teachers equals a shortage that will be addressed
with a $100 million Block grant to school districts
to use for principal/teacher recruitment and retention,
as well as for student loan forgiveness when recruiting
teachers. – Title
1-3
- The Governor has proposed a $100 million art and
music block grant that will go to K-8 districts in
the form of $20 per pupil (minimum).
- The Governor has also proposed
a K-8 Physical Fitness Block Grant to the tune
of $85 million. Of this, $25 million is targeted
for incentives for teacher fitness programs. A
teacher who spearheads an outstanding program could
receive $25K.
- $40 million is pledged to help districts help students
pass the California High School Exit Exam. Districts
could receive up to $600 per student until the student
passes the test.
- $50 million has been pledged for Career and Technical
Education opportunities.
- The Governor has pledged a $25
million Block Grant for technology, which is broken
down to $3,000 per classroom. Himelstein said the
state will use this grant to gather information
on what the districts will spend the money on and
to find out what’s
working in the classroom. “The digital classroom
is coming. What do schools need across the state
to prepare and embrace this?” he said.
Briefly, Himelstein also spoke
about streamlining the credentialing process and
looking at alternative pathways for people trying
to become a teacher and going through the process
don’t have to jump
through so many hoops, as well as the idea of Fitness
Centers in Schools and the Excellent Physical Education
Teacher Award Program |
