| Report Recommends Sending Special Ed Funding Directly to Districts |
California should dismantle its system for distributing special education funding for the state's 718,000 students with disabilities and send the money -
billions of dollars - directly to local school districts, according to a
recent report by the
Public Policy Institute of California
(PPIC).
The recommendations in the report would alter the way special education finance has worked in the state for nearly 40 years and could severely affect regional special education agencies known as Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs).
Under the plan, state money for special education would be folded into the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), completing Governor Jerry Brown's goal of creating a unified funding system for all children. Funding earmarked for students with disabilities would continue to be spent for general special education, but districts would have "no firm restrictions on use," the report recommended. Districts would have more flexibility to respond to individual needs earlier, before formally designating students as having disabilities.
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A pair of education researchers have a new take on which schools work - and why...
Public Schools Beat Private Schools
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Like many in their field, Christopher and Sarah Lubienski, education professors at the University of Illinois, had long taken it as a given that private schools generally outperform public schools. Why would parents shell out thousands of dollars a year in tuition if they weren't getting more for their money? Moreover, studies in the 1980s and '90s had apparently settled the matter, showing that private schools produced higher test scores even when accounting for the demographic differences between public and private.
But more recently, when she was working on a study of math instruction, Sarah Lubienski came across a result she didn't expect. When she divided the schools she was looking at into public and private categories and controlled for demographics, the schools stacked up quite differently. Public schools seemed to be producing better test scores than private. They were also doing better than charter schools.
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Losses in Enrollment Create a Vicious Circle
by Barry Dragon, EH&A Vice President
A recent report prepared by CA's Department of Finance (DOF) using data provided by both the CDE and the CA Department of Public Health indicates that over the next ten years there will continue to be a statewide decline in enrollment given existing trends in births and migration. This will vary by location as both Kern & Riverside Counties could generally anticipate increases in enrollment over this period while both Los Angeles and Orange Counties will experience the biggest declines.
The data provided by DOF focuses on counties and does not provide trends for any particular district. Because much of the funding provided to Districts is calculated on a per-pupil basis; and because Districts are required to develop multi-year financial forecasts by the State to attest to their fiscal condition, it is of critical importance that each school district examine, or have examined, their own enrollment trends and patterns paying close attention to attrition rates between grades, local residential development, growth of charters, migration patterns, etc. This data should then be used in developing their specific enrollment projections.
Declining enrollment can be particularly insidious because having less students means less funding which can then result in Districts cutting back programs, facility maintenance efforts, hiring quality staff. This can result in a District being perceived in providing less than a quality which can then result in less students. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that while 80% to 85% of the typical District's expenditures are comprised of salaries and benefits, there remains a portion of total District expenditures that are fixed by nature (think energy costs, facility maintenance, etc.). Because of this condition, Districts often find it difficult to shed expenditures at the same rate as the loss of revenue occurs when declining enrollment exists.
What can you do?
- Look for ways to increase seat time
- Examine attrition rates between grades to determine if there are factors under the District's control
- Create programs, where possible, that attract students to particular schools
- Examine the District's inter-district transfer policy
Remember that while you can't control all the factors, you do have more control than you first imagine. If you have any questions, regarding this article, please feel free to contact
Barry Dragon
([email protected]) at (858) 231-5550.
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California's Facility Services Leader EH&A
Announces a New Logo and a New Name!
After 10 years of serving California school districts, Eric Hall has decided to sport a new look for this iconic company. The name officially remains the same, but the company will be known as simply EH&A. This change in company reference allows for greater recognition of skilled associates while still paying homage to the President and Founder Eric Hall. The change becomes effectively immediately and all contracts, communication, and marketing will reflect that change.
The logo for the company has also changed. The bright yellow ruler is gone, but still remembered with incremental marks on the bottom portion of the logo. A new tagline "Helping School Districts Measure Up" is a slight change from the previous statement. The changes were created by the marketing and graphics team at Raindrop Marketing of San Diego. Raindrop works with several school districts to design websites, devise branding campaigns, energize communication plans, and assist with strategic planning.
The listing of services provided by EH&A received a facelift as well with the help of Raindrop Marketing. After several hours of focused discussion moderated by the team at Raindrop, EH&A associates chose key areas to emphasize. These main services feature the high skill level of all EH&A associates and permit associates to focus in these specialized areas in order for the company to remain as California's Facility Services Leader.
- Planning- Master Plans, Asset Management, Capacity Analysis,
Demographic/Enrollment Study
- Finance- State School Facility Programs, Budget Evaluation, Local Funding Resources
- Construction- Architect/Contractor Selection, Program/Project Management,
On-site Expertise
- Communication- Management/Organization Studies, Leadership Development, Staff Support
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EH&A Joins the Small School Districts' Association
Adding to its already impressive list of membership in the highest rated organizations in California, EH&A recently joined the Small School Districts' Association of California (SSDA). By joining this outstanding group, EH&A will be able to better serve the facility needs of all districts both small and large. Associates at EH&A will be staffing a booth at the SSDA Annual Conference March 6-8 in Sacramento, as well as doing the same at the CASH and CASBO conferences in order to become better acquainted with their members.
"I have always admired the work that SSDA has done for small school districts all over California," said President/Founder Eric Hall. "The time was right for us to join forces with this unique organization and assist small schools with their unique facility needs."
SSDA was established in 1983 to advocate the concerns, welfare, and special needs of small school districts throughout California. SSDA is a growing organization of over 500 small and mid-sized districts. The organization is comprised of a professional group of small district governing boards and superintendents who are uniting to create a better today and a brighter future for education.
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State Allocation Board Update
The SAB meets monthly to apportion funds to the school districts, act on appeals, and adopt policies and regulations.
As part of the meeting held January 25th, the Office of Public School Construction (
OPSC) and SAB Executive Officer Lisa Silverman provided information on the 2016 Office of State Audits and Evaluations (OSAE) Report, along with actions that may be taken to enhance accountability in the School Facility Program (SFP). The passage of Proposition 51 and the accountability measures proposed in the Governor's 2017-18 Budget prompted staff to explore potential regulation and policy changes for the SFP. Silverman presented for consideration a "grant agreement" between the SAB and applicant districts on a per-project basis, which would address some of the OSAE recommendations. She indicated that, with a grant agreement in place, OPSC staff could more efficiently monitor bond funds and confirm each district met its required project milestones. Grant agreements would also provide greater transparency and clearly define expectations and responsibilities.
SAB Member and Assemblymember Patrick O'Donnell (D - Long Beach) indicated the voters have spoken in passing Proposition 51, and the SAB needs to do all it can to get funding out to districts. Furthermore, California's Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH) Chair Jenny Hannah addressed the SAB in public comment, stating that CASH supports transparency and consistency for districts. She called for an expeditious process and offered CASH's help in providing input to align the state and local processes.
The SAB accepted the report and requested that the OPSC staff proceed with development of a grant agreement and companion regulation.
CLICK HERE, to review the complete minutes from the meeting.
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CASH Update
These are notes taken from guest speakers at the last CASH meeting:
Barbara Kampmeinert, OPSC
- Opening of charter school filing round, $500M in prop 51
- May 5 last day for charters to notify districts of need for facilities
- 4.42% increase new grants increase for 2017
Fred Yeager, CDE
- Water accessibility a hot topic; too few water fountains
- $9.5m budgeted for water projects in small disadvantages communities
- Guidelines at www.water boards.cde.gov
- Program to test for lead stays until Nov 1, 2019
Ian Padilla, CASH
- State budget does not include additional authority for the processing and regulatory agencies to staff up for Prop 51 funds
- Moving from WILLIAMS world to an LCAP world in the use and application of the Facility Inspection Tool (FIT); a CASH committee is updating and revising the FIT
- Language being considered to require additional review of storm water regulations by OPSC and CDE and DSA in addition to the State Water Board review for permits
- Grant program for lead water testing requires us to pause because just testing water without the ability to fund or fix the problem is not good planning
- AB68 proposed on the issue of schools proximity to farms and testing of toxins; current regulations require a one mile radius while this bill proposes a two mile radius
Chester Widom, State Architect
- DSA has never been in a better position to handle the challenges ahead of us
- Limited staffing dampens opportunities with local and state bonds passed
- Preparation for onslaught of new work continues with 5 to 6 week bin time, time in the que, DSA contracted with consultants to do structural plan review and access compliance
- $1.6B of apps received in the month of December; plus $489m in review moves DSA to a $2B backlog
- Consultants and retirees, architects and engineers are needed to process apps and use of overtime; moving toward a peak of 10-12 weeks of bin time
- Moving toward electronic plan review, architects are far ahead of DSA in the use of electronic plans; CASH obligation to help with this: 4 year limitations on the use of plans; 1 year after approval with 3 one year extensions, is not working, so a new approach.
- Trouble keeping work moving forward because not enough qualified inspectors are available; DSA looking at the standards for inspectors
Anna Ferrara, School Energy Coalition
- Funding increase over last year; Prop 39 program $422m for next year; $24m increase proposed
- Changes in Prop 39 include no sole sourcing public resources code, new certification in February, one year extension requested of Governor's 5 year program
- CDE has posted a revised entitlement schedule, on their Prop 39 web page.
- SEC will have a meeting on Feb 20 at 2:00 pm at the CASH conference covering the above and any other hot topics
- San Diego will host the Spring Forum May 18
Dave Walrath, Californians for Quality Schools (federal level update)
- Trump agenda proposes $1 Trillion in infrastructure funding; Schools considered part of the mix
- QZAB and QSAB: Senate Dems have proposed $75B for schools in their $1Trillion plan
- California estimated to receive about $800m per year if approved
- Members are encouraged to attend May DC trip planned to lobby for federal facility funds
- President still needs 8 democratic Senators if all republicans approve
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We are pleased and honored to provide facility services, technical support, and professional guidance necessary for the success of all California public school districts and county offices of education.
Eric Hall, President/Founder of EH&A
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