The Governor presented a May Revision budget with a $97.5 billion surplus which includes funding for Proposition 98 and Proposition 2, leaving approximately $49 billion surplus for discretionary spending. The May Revision focuses on allocating the vast majority of the discretionary surplus to one-time investments that can be adjusted in future years, if needed. The budget reflects $37.1 billion in budgetary reserves, in response to financial uncertainties and projections of financial troubles by 2025-26 fiscal year. The May Revision does not trigger the State Appropriations Limit – it is just $2.6 billion below hitting the limit.
An overarching theme that we have seen this year is the recognition by the Governor and Legislature that we face a teacher shortage and the need to continue investing in the training, recruitment and retention of teachers. We appreciate the recognition and would like to further shed light on the need for bilingual teachers. Our priorities, co-sponsored by our partners at the California Association for Bilingual Education, are in perfect alignment to these goals and would be great assets to expand the state’s bilingual educator workforce.
- We applaud the Governor’s inclusion of $15 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund to continue the work of the Educator Workforce Investment Grant program in areas of Special Education and support for English learners but would like to highlight the need for more funding to be able to better serve our English learners.
- We would also like to see the inclusion of a $10 million appropriation to bring back the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program which was highly successful and had a “grow your own” approach to assist teachers in the bilingual education space.
- We would also like to see the inclusion of a $25 million appropriation in the California State University budget to increase student enrollment in bilingual authorization programs through the recruitment and retention of full-time faculty through their Colleges of Education.
- Lastly, we would like to see a $1 million ongoing appropriation to disaggregate data in order to strengthen California’s guidance and resources to ensure Long Term English Learners (LTELs) students are correctly identified and provided with targeted interventions that best meet their needs.
Other Funding for the Teacher Training, Retention and Recruitment:
- $500 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund to expand residency slots for teachers and school counselors and also allow school counselors, social worker, and psychologist candidates to be eligible for the Golden State Teacher Grant program.
- $300 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund to augment resources available to local educational agencies for professional learning through the Educator Effectiveness Block Grant with a priority for STEM educator support.
- $85 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund to create Pre-K through 12 grade educator resources and professional learning to implement the Next Generation Science Standards, the California Math Framework, the California Computer Science Standards, and the math and science domains of the California Preschool Learning Foundations.
- $80 million ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund for the Classified School Employee Summer Assistance Program, which provides matching funds for intersessional pay for classified employees who work less than 12 months per year.
- $20 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund to support a K-12 Teacher Residency Program Technical Assistance Center.
- $15 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund over three years to support 6,000 teachers in completing the coursework necessary to receive a supplementary state certification in reading and literacy.
- $15 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund to continue the work of the Educator Workforce Investment Grant program in computer science.
Major Proposition 98 Spending Proposals
Community Schools
- Last week, the State Board of Education approved $635 million in planning and implementation grants for 265 LEAs.
- Despite the limited ability of LEAs to apply for community school grants due to staffing/pandemic issues, the California Department of Education received applications requesting $700 million for implementation grants, far exceeding the $400 million grant round.
- The Governor is proposing an additional $1.5 billion one-time appropriation in the May Revision, equating to a 50% increase in the overall community schools investment, to address anticipated need in future grant application rounds.
Expanded Learning Opportunities Program
- To accelerate the implementation of this program, an additional $3.4 billion ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund to the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, increasing total ongoing program funding to $4.4 billion
- Focuses on LEAs with the highest concentrations of low-income students, English learners, and youth in foster care.
- Projected to be implemented by 2025-26 which is an earlier start date.
Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF)
- Cost-of-living adjustment was updated to 6.56 percent, now the largest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in the history of LCFF.
- Discretionary ongoing funds: To help LEAs address ongoing fiscal pressures, staffing shortages, and other operational needs, the May Revision includes $2.1 billion ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund to increase LCFF base funding.
- Enables LEAs to utilize a modified version of 2021-22 average daily attendance to determine their 2021-22 LCFF allocations. The May Revision also proposes further modifying the three-year rolling number average to conform with this adjustment.
- The total ongoing costs associated with these policies is estimated to be $3.3 billion ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund and $463 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund.
We will continue to work with the administration and legislature to incorporate our budget priorities. It is our goal to ensure that the inclusion and success of the State’s English learners be inserted in several program initiatives.
To download the full summary of the Governor’s budget proposal summary click here.