California on track for middling status in annual Quality Counts report card

Education Week has released the second installment of its yearly “Quality Counts 2019: Grading the states” report cards. The project’s aim is to show which states do the best job in preparing students for successful futures in college and career. The measurements are based on […]

Budget Conference Committee approves 2019–20 budget with an increase in Proposition 98 funding and investments in PERS/STRS

On Sunday, the Legislative Budget Conference Committee agreed upon its 2019–20 state budget, with $81.07 billion in Proposition 98 spending, matching the Governor’s May Revision proposal with an amount exceeding the minimum guarantee. Overall, the committee’s recommended budget is strong for public education with investments […]

CSBA plays key role in development of air quality guidance tool for districts

Last year, one of California’s most destructive wildfire seasons on record resulted in school officials hundreds of miles from the disasters making difficult decisions amid toxic smoke and unhealthy air, oftentimes without formal guidance or existing policies. Concerned parents and community members questioned whether schools […]

Legislative Update: Policy committee hearings resuming this month

Click here for all 2019 bills with CSBA positions. CSBA co-sponsored bills: Assembly Bill 39 (Muratsuchi, D-Torrance), which would state legislative intent to increase the Local Control Funding Formula base grant targets equivalent to the national average in per-pupil funding (intent language mirroring this bill […]

Legislative Update: CSBA co-sponsored bills on the move as key deadline approaches

On May 16, both the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees held their respective suspense file hearings, determining which bills that require an appropriation of funds will continue to advance this year. CSBA co-sponsored bills passed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and sent to the Assembly […]

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Meeting Pacific Islander student challenges

Nearly 30,000 Pacific Islander students are enrolled in California public schools in the 2018-19 school year. The majority of these students come from low-income households, and many struggle academically and have among the highest rates of chronic absenteeism of all student groups. As one of […]

Report card: Districts must better implement laws supporting, protecting LGBTQ students

A first-of-its-kind report card finds that many of California’s unified school districts must improve their implementation of LGBTQ-inclusive programs, policies and curriculum. The Equality California Institute surveyed and assessed 130 unified districts across the state to produce the 2019 Safe & Supportive Schools Report Card. […]