One of the most important functions of the PTA is to provide information to its members about legislation and activities related to the education of their children.  PTA also participates in the legislative process by encouraging citizens to vote, by providing information and by advocating for PTA positions.  

Every month the George White Elementary School PTA will provide an update   on key issues, including developments on education issues at the federal, state and local level.  Our PTA will also produce alerts concerning impending legislation and budget issues.  Look for these important legislative updates on our website, via the PTA listserv, and in our PTA newsletter. 

CUCPTSA Legislative Team Newsletter- September 16, 2011

Local Report Summary September 2011

Reported by Sue Hill

Budget: On June 29, 2011, the Board of Trustees adopted a budget balanced by using one-time federal funds and carryover from the previous school year.  The 2011-2012 budget keeps average class sizes at their current levels, maintains 180 instructional days and does not require additional concessions from employees. The budget relies on the same per student funding level as 2010-2011, but the District could face mid-year reductions if anticipated revenue does not materialize at the state level.

ACLU task force update—The district led a training/informational session for all school-connected organizations on 8/29/11.  PTA, boosters, and foundations representatives were all invited.  Schools have imbedded the new fund-raising policies into their materials as well.  In addition, the school district is in process of updating the school connected organization policy. There was discussion at the September 12 Board meeting on revisions of Board Policy 1230 but the item was only for discussion and no action was taken.

Redistricting for by-trustee area elections--The decision to hire a demographer to redraw trustee area boundaries was postponed at the August 24, 2011 school board meeting. There was a concern that in drawing trustee boundaries they needed a firm that specialized in political redistricting rather than a firm that specialized in demographics used for school attendance boundaries and enrollment projections.  The new trustee area boundaries must be ready for the next CUSD elections in November 2012.  It is particularly important because due to the passage of measure H in November 2010, our school board elections will be held “by trustee area” beginning in November 2012.

STATE UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 2011

Reported by Leslie Parker/Kathy Fischer

State Budget--The state fell $541 million short of July expected revenues, but August revenues came in $134.9 million above projections leaving total general fund revenues behind budget estimates by $403.8 million.  “We now look to September and its $7.6 billion of projected revenue – making it the largest cash month between now and December 15, when a decision must be made on whether to pull the trigger to cut more program funding,” said State Controller, John Chang. 

Under current law, state finance officials must determine in December whether California is on track to receive $4 billion in additional revenue over the 2011-12 fiscal year.  If not, the budget requires the state to impose as much as $2.5 billion in “trigger cuts” to K-12 schools, higher education, public safety and social services. 

Governor Brown vetoed SB X1 6, which would have altered the mechanism for the “trigger” budget cuts by requiring that legislators be consulted on alternatives, because the bill could have affected the state's ability to sell bonds and revenue anticipation notes.  The Assembly passed a similar bill (AB X1 20), which the Department of Finance opposes. 

Two bills signed by the governor were SB 335, to extend the state's existing Hospital Quality Assurance Fee for 30 months; and AB X1 21, to extend a tax on Medi-Cal managed health care plans for one year.  Both bills “provide critical revenues that will keep our budget balanced,” Brown said in a written statement.  

Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/09/jerry-brown-acts-on-3-bills-to.html#ixzz1YACaTRzN

Bills to watch--California State PTA supports:, AB 47, AB 250, AB 124 and AB 165;

AB 5 – (Fuentes) Teachers: best practices teach evaluation….. on 2 year suspension.  Hearing cancelled by the author. PTA supports

AB 18 (Brownley) – Education finance…… on 2 year suspension. (PTA supports with amendments)

AB 47 (Huffman) Schools: open enrollment - would clear up some unintended consequences of the Open Enrollment Act that California approved to be in the running for the RTTT grant.  It would change the method for identifying schools as low achieving to exclude any school with an API of 700 or higher, or any school that’s increased its API score by 50 points or more from one year to the next.  It would also exempt schools for special ed students.  Charters will be included in the group.  There are other provisions.

AB 165 (Lara) Pupil fees……reaction to the ACLU settlement.  Bill would prohibit a public school student from being required to pay fees for specifically defined educational activities, but allow for voluntary donations, fundraising, etc. to continue. 

AB 250 (Brownley) – Common Core Standards …….develops curriculum framework and assessment aligned to Common Core Standards and postpones ending the STAR testing program until Jan 2015 until the new test is in place

AB 124(Fuentes) – ensures the standards extend to English learners