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Legislation: [ AB 2274 - AB 1736 - AB 1626 - SB 1651 ]
Following a prolonged stalemate, the state budget for 1998-99 was finally approved in mid-August. For K-12 education, this year's budget generally brings good news. Following are items of particular concern to continuation high schools.
The 1998-99 Budget includes funding for one-time grants to school sites, of $30 per ADA, with a minimum grant of $10,000. The funds may be used for one-time purposes in accordance with a plan approved by the school site council.
The 1998-99 Budget includes one-time funding to school districts and county offices of education of an equal amount per ADA (about $12 per ADA) for the purchase of science laboratory materials and equipment. The budget also includes funding for the second round of Digital High School Grants. Many continuation high schools benefited from the first round of Digital High School Grants, and more should receive funding from this new allocation.
CCEA agreed to seek language in the 1998-99 State Budget to allocate any cost-of-living adjustment in a manner which promotes equalization of funding for continuation high schools. The Legislature and Governor approved that language.
The most significant impact of the COLA language is that every district serving continuation high school ADA will now receive special funding to support their continuation high schools.
AB 1736 (Torlakson) - CCEA Co-sponsored Bill relating to Independent Study Limit for Continuation High Schools - would exempt pregnant minors and teenage parents from the limitation under current law which provides that a continuation high school may not generate more than 10% of its ADA through independent study. AB 1736 has passed the Legislature and has been signed by the Governor.
AB 1626 (Wayne) - Social Promotion -One of the major education policy bills passed by the Legislature this year; this measure would require the governing board of each school district and each county board of education to approve a policy regarding the promotion and retention of pupils between the following grades: second grade and third grade; third grade and fourth grade; fourth grade and fifth grade; the end of the intermediate grades and the beginning of middle school grades; and the end of the middle school grades and the beginning of high school.
The policy must provide for the identification of pupils who should be retained or are at risk of being retained, based on the results of the STAR test or the student's grades and other indicators of academic achievement designated by the district. AB 1626 further requires that if a pupil is performing below the minimum standard for promotion, the pupil shall be retained in his or her current grade level unless the pupil's regular classroom teacher determines in writing that retention is not the appropriate intervention for the pupil's academic deficiencies.
SB 1651 (Leslie) - Comprehensive Statewide School Accountability System -Contains a short-term voluntary accountability program and a long-term mandatory program with rewards and interventions. The bill has passed the Legislature and is before the Governor. It is doubtful whether the Governor will approve this bill. In a letter of opposition to SB 1561, Governor Wilson characterized the bill as a "toothless proposal that rewards low-performing schools through the infusion of funds thus making it nothing more than a cleverly designed categorical spending program."
One of the significant developments this year was the decision by the California Department of Education (CDE) to convene a tri-agency work group to study the various issues surrounding educational options. The three agencies are the Department of Education, the Department of Finance, and the Legislative Analyst's Office. It is a similar tri-agency format which led to the major reform of special education in 1997.
CCEA has been asked to participate directly in deliberations of the work group. Based on those discussions, the Department expects that recommendations will be released by the end of 1998, leading to administrative policy changes, as well as budget and legislative proposals in 1999.
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President's Letter --- Exemplary Programs --- Teacher of Year --- Model School --- Fair view PeerCopyright © 1998 by the California Continuation Education Association.
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