"Great news for California schools" says Romero of decision to accelerate stimulus funding
California Political Desk
August 06, 2009
SACRAMENTO – Senator Gloria Romero, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, says that the U.S. Department of Education´s decision to accelerate payments to states receiving federal education recovery funds will make a huge difference for cash-strapped California schools. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has announced that the Department will accelerate stimulus spending by making $11.37 billion in Title I, IDEA, and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) funding as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) available to states on or around September 1, a month earlier than previously announced.
The Department of Education also released requirements for approximately $12.6 billion in Phase 2 State Fiscal Stabilization Funds and $4 billion in Race to the Top competitive grants. It will not require states to make progress on four key reform mandates as a condition for receiving the last stimulus education funding payments. Instead, states that cannot fulfill the reporting requirements will still receive the funding provided they can explain how and when compliance would be achieved.
"The race to the top is on in the Golden State with this great news for California schools," said Romero (D-East Los Angeles). "It allows for greater flexibility in the short term as schools work through severe budget cuts, while maintaining an ongoing commitment to major education reform. I will continue to work with my fellow legislators to ensure that there are no barriers preventing California schools from receiving these much-needed federal funds."
Earlier this week, Romero announced a public hearing to examine whether California is ineligible for any of the $4.35 billion in federal "Race to the Top" funds for education reform because of a state law that limits use of student achievement data in teacher evaluations. A joint hearing of the Senate Education Committee and Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, which Romero also chairs, will be held in late August.
The "Race to the Top" fund is a separate pot of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) monies. The draft guidelines released by Education Secretary Arne Duncan make a state ineligible to apply for a grant if it has any legal barrier to using student achievement data for evaluating teachers and principals. Duncan has repeatedly criticized California's Education Code Section 10601.5 as such a barrier, or "firewall," that impedes teacher effectiveness. State education officials argue that nothing in state law prohibits a school district from using student test scores for teacher evaluation or compensation.
"With California public schools facing another $6.5 billion in state budget cuts, now is not the time for uncertainty or ambiguity," said Romero. "We must maximize every opportunity to receive federal funds. I am prepared to carry legislation to achieve the necessary reforms and help obtain federal funding so that California students have access to the best possible public education."
The four reforms being pushed by the Obama administration are: improving teacher effectiveness and the distribution of highly qualified teachers; establishing longitudinal data systems that link students from pre-K to college; enhancing quality of assessments and standards; and taking steps to improve consistently low-performing schools.
California has received $3.26 billion in federal recovery funds for K-12 and higher education so far and stands to receive another $1.6 billion in the second round of funding.
The Department of Education also released requirements for approximately $12.6 billion in Phase 2 State Fiscal Stabilization Funds and $4 billion in Race to the Top competitive grants. It will not require states to make progress on four key reform mandates as a condition for receiving the last stimulus education funding payments. Instead, states that cannot fulfill the reporting requirements will still receive the funding provided they can explain how and when compliance would be achieved.
"The race to the top is on in the Golden State with this great news for California schools," said Romero (D-East Los Angeles). "It allows for greater flexibility in the short term as schools work through severe budget cuts, while maintaining an ongoing commitment to major education reform. I will continue to work with my fellow legislators to ensure that there are no barriers preventing California schools from receiving these much-needed federal funds."
Earlier this week, Romero announced a public hearing to examine whether California is ineligible for any of the $4.35 billion in federal "Race to the Top" funds for education reform because of a state law that limits use of student achievement data in teacher evaluations. A joint hearing of the Senate Education Committee and Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, which Romero also chairs, will be held in late August.
The "Race to the Top" fund is a separate pot of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) monies. The draft guidelines released by Education Secretary Arne Duncan make a state ineligible to apply for a grant if it has any legal barrier to using student achievement data for evaluating teachers and principals. Duncan has repeatedly criticized California's Education Code Section 10601.5 as such a barrier, or "firewall," that impedes teacher effectiveness. State education officials argue that nothing in state law prohibits a school district from using student test scores for teacher evaluation or compensation.
"With California public schools facing another $6.5 billion in state budget cuts, now is not the time for uncertainty or ambiguity," said Romero. "We must maximize every opportunity to receive federal funds. I am prepared to carry legislation to achieve the necessary reforms and help obtain federal funding so that California students have access to the best possible public education."
The four reforms being pushed by the Obama administration are: improving teacher effectiveness and the distribution of highly qualified teachers; establishing longitudinal data systems that link students from pre-K to college; enhancing quality of assessments and standards; and taking steps to improve consistently low-performing schools.
California has received $3.26 billion in federal recovery funds for K-12 and higher education so far and stands to receive another $1.6 billion in the second round of funding.
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