Budget Agreement Maintains
the Minimum Funding Level for Schools and Community Colleges in the May Revision
Approved by voters in 1988,
Proposition 98 constitutionally guarantees a minimum level of funding for K-12
schools, community colleges, and the state preschool program. The 2013-14
budget agreement assumes a Proposition 98 funding level of $56.5 billion for
K-14 education programs in 2012-13 and $55.3 billion in 2013-14. These are
approximately the same levels included in the Governor’s May Revision, but
significantly above the $47.2 billion Proposition 98 funding level in 2011-12.
Specifically, the budget agreement:
·
· Provides $4.3 billion over two years to partially
restore previously deferred payments to schools and community colleges. In 2011-12, $10.4 billion in
annual Proposition 98 payments to K-14 schools (21 percent of the total
Proposition 98 funding level) were delayed until 2012-13. Of these deferred
payments, the budget agreement repays schools and community colleges $4.0
billion in 2012-13 and $272 million in 2013-14. Outstanding payment deferrals
at the end of 2013-14 – that is, the amount the state still owes schools and
community colleges – will be $6.2 billion under the budget agreement.
·
· Provides $2.1 billion in 2013-14 Proposition 98 funds to
begin implementation of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). The LCFF restructures the
state’s education finance system by providing all school districts with a base
grant per student, adjusted to reflect the number of students at various grade
levels, as well as additional resources to reflect the higher costs of
educating English learners, students from low-income families, and foster
youth.
·
· Provides $1.25 billion in one-time funding to support
implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), $250 million more
than was included in the Governor’s May Revision. In August 2010, the State Board
of Education adopted CCSS for California’s K-12 schools. The budget agreement
provides school districts and county offices of education (COEs) with CCSS
implementation funding of $1.0 billion in 2012- 13 Proposition 98 dollars and
$250 million in 2013-14 Proposition 98 dollars. These funds are provided on a
per pupil basis and may be used at any time during 2013-14 or 2014-15. The
budget agreement requires school districts and COEs to:
o UseCCSSimplementationdollarsforspecificpurposes,includinginstructionalmaterialsandprofessional
development for teachers, administrators, and other staff involved in the
direct instruction of students;
o AdoptaplandelineatinghowCCSSimplementationdollarswillbespent;and
o ReportbyJuly1,2015howCCSSimplementationdollarswerespent.
