TALKING POINTS ON AB 792
(Havice)
- There are approximately 500
continuation high schools in California. They are the
state's primary drop-out prevention program, generally
operating with reduced class sizes to address the
individual needs of students who have not been successful
in the traditional high school.
- There is consensus that the
current funding system for continuation high schools is
completely indefensible.
- Huge funding disparities
exist today among school districts. Current funding for
school districts ranges from $0 additional funding per
ADA to operate a continuation high school, while others
receive revenue limit add-ons in amounts exceeding
$30,000 per ADA served in a continuation high school.
- Disparities also exist under
current law because the revenue limit add-on a district
receives is calculated only once, in the first year of
the school's operation. The law does not call for any
annual adjustment of the add-on to reflect increases or
decreases in the number of students or staffing at the
school.
- The equalization formula in
AB 792 would hold school districts accountable for
providing a quality program to students because the
funding is based on the ratio of staffing to students.
- Continuation high schools are
diploma granting institutions. The school is required to
align its curriculum with the district. To receive a
diploma, a student must complete the same amount of
credits as a student at the traditional high school in
the district.
- Continuation high schools are
required by law to provide increased counseling for
continuation students. The ratio built into the formula
in AB 792 presumes that the school will employ counselors
for the students.
- Continuation high schools
serve a disproportionate amount of the pregnant and
parenting teens. This is because the continuation school
provides these teens with more flexible hours for the
student to attend school. AB 792 would ensure that these
students will be served and are given the opportunity to
complete their high school education.
- Last year, both houses of the
legislature approved equalization funding. However, the
funding was vetoed, but the Governor's veto message
expressed support for continuation high schools and a
willingness to revisit the issue.
- Based on the Governor's veto
message, the sponsors of the bill - the California
Continuation Education Association and the Association of
California School Administrators - have drafted a
comprehensive equalization proposal for funding
continuation high schools. The new proposal is contained
in AB 792.
- The Department of Finance has
acknowledged that the formula in AB 792 addresses the
Governor's concerns for a comprehensive reform of
continuation school funding, which also protects the
accountability and program quality of the continuation
education program.