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March 2023 Vol. 29, 3

Funding
CSBA budget priorities
Advocacy will focus on fully funding LCFF COLA without cuts to grant funds

Spring flowers are blooming and budget season is picking up in Sacramento as the Legislature continues to hold hearings on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January Budget Proposal. Despite a stormier fiscal outlook than in recent years, many important TK-12 priorities were shielded from cuts in the Governor’s January Budget.

As budget hearings continue and the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office predicts further budget downturn for the Proposition 98 Guarantee, CSBA is committed to defending the historic gains made over the last several years, which have allowed school districts and county offices of education to fund academic interventions, supplemental services and mental health supports to help students rebound from the pandemic.

As negotiations move forward, here’s where CSBA is focusing its budget advocacy this year.

blue illuminated lock graphics surround a single red illuminated lock in the center
LEGAL
In its most recent session, the state Legislature added more safety requirements with which businesses that provide online products, services and features for children’s use must comply.
Policy
Federal guidance available regarding discipline of students with disabilities
CSBA’s March Policy Update will incorporate changes
Protecting instructional time and maintaining a school climate conducive to learning is of universal importance and should be central to a school board’s evaluation of a policy. The rise in emotional and mental health issues among students and the impact on classroom behavior have become greater topics of discussion.

The devastating global pandemic that shut down schools, reordered the norms for gathering in public spaces and forced many into quarantine fundamentally changed the way we live and work. These changes have taken a toll on everyone at every stratum of the socioeconomic landscape. The fallout can clearly be seen in the emotional lives of our children — and nowhere is the crisis more on display than in the classrooms, cafeterias and playgrounds of our public schools. Students’ struggles with emotional well-being and its connection to behavior is a national issue.

Even prior to the pandemic, social-emotional learning (SEL) was being incorporated into classrooms to help improve student outcomes and conditions of learning. The Common Core Standards and implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports were intended to act as a foundation to promote and support robust strategies for engagement.

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Staff
Chief Information Officer:
Troy Flint | tflint@csba.org

Editorial Director:
Kimberly Sellery | ksellery@csba.org

Marketing Director:

Andy Rolleri | arolleri@csba.org

Staff Writers and Contributors:
Alisha Kirby | akirby@csba.org
Heather Kemp | hkemp@csba.org
Teresa Machado | tmachado@csba.org
Kristin Lindgren | klindgren@csba.org
Sally Mandujan | smandujan@csba.org

Director of Graphic Design & Branding:
Kerry Macklin | kmacklin@csba.org

Senior Graphic Designer:
Amanda Moen | amoen@csba.org

Officers
President:
Susan Markarian | Pacific Union ESD

President-elect:
Albert Gonzalez | Santa Clara USD

Vice President:
Bettye Lusk | Monterey Peninsula USD

Immediate Past President:
Dr. Susan Heredia | Natomas USD

CEO & Executive Director:
Vernon M. Billy

The California School Boards Association is the essential voice for public education. We inspire our members to be knowledgeable leaders, extraordinary governance practitioners and ardent advocates for all students.

California School News (ISSN 1091-1715) is published 11 times per year by the California School Boards Association, Inc., 3251 Beacon Blvd., West Sacramento, CA 95691. 916-371-4691. $4 of CSBA annual membership dues is for the subscription to California School News. The subscription rate for each CSBA nonmember is $35. Periodicals postage paid at West Sacramento, CA and at additional mailing office. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to California School News, 3251 Beacon Blvd., West Sacramento, CA 95691.

News and feature items submitted for publication are edited for style and space as necessary.

CSBA & NSPRA logos
President’s Message: Susan Markarian

Member advocacy blossoms with CSBA Roadshow and Legislative Action Week

digital illustration of different colored hands raised with hearts in the palms
The author Leo Tolstoy said, “Spring is the time of plans and projects.” That is certainly true at CSBA, where we have spent the first weeks of March planting seeds of advocacy that we hope will blossom into policy and legislation that improves California schools. At the beginning of the month, I had the pleasure of traveling to San Diego County to introduce the initial stop on CSBA’s 2023 Roadshow, the first event of its kind in almost six years.

As part of the roadshow, CSBA’s top staff are touring the state to initiate a dialogue with members, hear your ideas on education issues and student needs, provide updates on political and legal news, and share information about trainings and other CSBA offerings. The feedback staff gains on these visits informs our legislative advocacy and helps us develop programs and services that are responsive to your needs.

Funding
Legislative Analyst’s Office predicts further budget downturn for Proposition 98
Recommendation to eliminate new, one-time programs align with CSBA advocacy
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January Budget Proposal estimates that the Proposition 98 Guarantee will drop by $1.5 billion for the 2023–24 fiscal year. The state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) thinks that figure is a bit optimistic and estimates the guarantee will end up about $2 billion below the 2022–23 allocation.

“Despite the lower estimates of the guarantee, the Governor’s Budget has about $5.2 billion available for new K-12 spending. This funding is due to lower baseline costs for the Local Control Funding Formula and the expiration of various one time grants funded in the June 2022 budget,” according to the report, The 2023–24 Budget: Proposition 98 Overview and K-12 Spending Plan.

Resources
Report outlines recommendations for summer learning programs
Evaluates summer 2022 implementation of state Extended Learning Opportunities Program
four children laying on the grass next to each other reading a book
A place for fun, community building and learning, a summer program can help address students’ academic and social-emotional needs following pandemic disruptions.

A new report, Summer 2022: How California schools are making the most of new increased state investments, released in January by the Partnership for Children & Youth, offers an overview of trends from the first full year of Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) implementation and recommendations for districts and the state around summer and year-round offerings.

California has allocated billions in ongoing funding to ELO-P. Before 2020, $783 million in state and federal investments went toward expanded learning, according to the report. In July 2021, the state invested $1.75 billion to develop ELO-P, which was established through Assembly Bill 130. By July 2022, ELO-P funding had increased to $4 billion with $5 million identified in state budget toward technical assistance, training and evaluation by county offices of education. By July 2025 the program will be fully funded at $5 billion.

Governance

2023–24 CSBA Officers and Board of Directors

headshot of Susan Markarian

Susan Markarian
President

Pacific Union ESD

headshot of Albert Gonzalez
Albert Gonzalez
President-elect

Santa Clara USD
headshot of Bettye Lusk
Bettye Lusk
Vice President

Monterey Peninsula USD
headshot of Susan Heredia
Susan Heredia
Immediate Past President

Natomas USD
headshot of Frank Magarino
Frank Magarino
Region 1

Del Norte County USD
headshot of Sherry Crawford
Sherry Crawford
Region 2

Siskiyou COE
headshot of David T. Gracia
David T. Gracia
Region 3

Napa Valley USD
headshot of Renee Nash
Renee Nash
Region 4

Eureka Union SD
headshot of Alisa MacAvoy

Alisa MacAvoy
Region 5

Redwood City SD

headshot of  Jackie Wong
Jackie Wong
Region 6

Washington USD
headshot of James Aguilar
James Aguilar
Region 7

San Leandro USD
headshot of Christopher “Kit” Oase
Christopher “Kit” Oase
Region 8

Ripon USD

Governance

School Boards in Action: 5 Questions with Jacquelyn Johansen
Jacquelyn Johansen, trustee, Menifee Union School District
What is your district doing in the 2022–23 school year to foster learning recovery and educational advancements?

The Menifee Union School District carries a deep urgency for learning recovery. We have added instructional minutes to the day, brought back summer school programs, begun scaling our Expanded Learning Opportunities Program and, most notably, continued in the implementation of our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) plan. Through substantial input from educators across the district, we were able to identify 18 high-leverage practices that are sure to have a positive impact on the academic, behavioral and social-emotional success of students. One of our district’s practices that truly energizes me is the ongoing observation and data collection. District staff consistently review data provided by rigorous assessments, whether formative or summative, and couple that with “Learning Walks,” which are critical opportunities for our staff to observe practices, not people. Additionally, we have a comprehensive school counseling program that works in tandem with the MTSS plan to support students’ development.

Governance corner
Practical tips from our MIG faculty
The board’s role in the superintendent evaluation
Colorful question mark speech bubbles over baby blue background

Thoughtful California school district trustees might associate the task of evaluating the superintendent with the responsibility to set direction for the district. While it is important to recognize this, the superintendent evaluation process also plays a part in how boards fulfill their responsibility and accountability to their education partners within school systems, and the broader community at large.

The evaluation process is uniquely positioned to support the growth of the superintendent as the leader of the administrative team and staff, in addition to being the board’s non-elected governance team member. It can contribute to making continuous progress toward measurable district goals. High-achieving boards maximize the superintendent’s evaluation process to demonstrate the importance of being accountable to all those in the community.

Legal
New law implemented to protect online student privacy
LEAs need to know the parameters to ensure compliance with school-associated websites and apps
children's hands typing on a laptop

Local educational agencies are increasingly using online programs for student learning. With any use of such websites and applications, there is a concern about the safety of students who are utilizing them, including in the collection and use of personal information. In its most recent session, the state Legislature added more safety requirements with which businesses that provide online products, services and features for children’s use must comply.

While the Legislature did not place any specific requirements on schools, local educational agencies need to know about the new requirements since they often utilize the online products and services involved for educational purposes. The requirements can provide some measure of reassurance that school-provided online services that are likely to be accessed by children will be safe for students.

Resources

K-12 infrastructure needs require ongoing funding
Fifty-four percent of LEAs need critical infrastructure repairs
Dedicated, long-term federal investments in K-12 infrastructure are critical to ensuring students are educated in safe, comfortable classrooms where they can focus on learning, according to a recent report (ampr.gs/3YP2FPt) by the Center for American Progress (CAP).

Improving air quality and modernizing and maximizing natural light in classrooms have been linked to increased concentration, comprehension and engagement, as well as improved test scores and overall academic performance.

Yet, following decades of underfunding school infrastructure, national spending for K-12 school buildings falls short by an estimated $85 billion annually, according to a 2021 analysis from the 21st Century School Fund, which estimated that it would cost $1.1 trillion to modernize and replace obsolete school buildings and systems over the next decade.

Resources

Student mental health is a significant priority for school board members

Support is strong for training for teens and families, as well as teachers and administrators

School board members consider student mental health one of the most pressing issue facing schools and youth today, according to a national survey of trustees released in January by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) USA, a program administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

While student mental health issues presented a challenge prior to the pandemic, the isolation, stress and grief over loss of friends and loved ones further increased youth needs for mental health resources and services. Currently, suicide is the third-leading cause of death for youth ages 15-19, and one in four adolescents ages 12-17 report having recently experienced a substance use disorder or a major depressive episode.

Resources
Efforts continue to expand broadband access
California has made significant progress since 2020
cartoon graphic of houses near an internet tower by a field

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program is a large federal investment in high-speed, affordable internet. A January brief released by the Pew Charitable Trusts details the goals, requirements and other considerations that states, territories and federal agencies need to meet to access the funds.

BEAD dedicates more than $42 billion to construct broadband networks, offers subsidies to offset the cost of internet service for lower-income households, and makes available programs to provide users with the devices and training they need to use the new and upgraded networks.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which administers the program, has established five minimum requirements for all BEAD-funded projects. They must:

Governance

CCEE details upcoming professional development opportunities for educators
County offices lead efforts in different subject areas

Professional development opportunities were discussed at the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence’s governing board meeting on Feb. 2.

Staff updated the board on the Learning Acceleration System Grant, which is meant to promote rapid improvement in student knowledge and skills following the pandemic, and provide related professional learning opportunities and resources for educators.

There are three projects led by county offices of education that were funded by the grant. The California Collaborative for Learning Acceleration (CCLA) is led by Santa Clara County Office of Education and focuses on math, literacy and language development; the California Literacy Elevation by Accelerating Learning (Project CLEAR) focuses on literacy and language development and is led by San Diego COE; and the Rural Math Collaborative is led by Lake COE.

Governance
CTC outlines its work for 2023

Teacher Residency Programs report cites an increase in educator diversity but challenges remain

In its first meeting of 2023, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) outlined its work for the year, reviewed analysis from the first three years of the Teacher Residency Grant Programs, and, after much discussion, approved Literacy Program Standards and Teaching Performance Expectations for Education Specialist Low Incidence Disability areas, which include students with visual impairments, deaf and hard of hearing students, and children aged 0-5 with disabilities.

New Chair Marquita Grenot-Scheyer opened the meeting with a review of the commission’s responsibilities, and a pledge to continue to be bold in fulfilling those responsibilities. The CTC has four areas under its purview: educator preparation and assessments, educator licensure and related discipline issues, developing and disseminating reports on key issues, and administering and monitoring grants for educators entering the teacher pipeline.

Resources
New requirements promote access to drinking water in California schools
Law prioritizes disadvantaged schools for funding assistance
Someone holding a water bottle under a fountain
California will now require all newly constructed K-12 public schools, as well as any undergoing modernization, to provide water bottle filling stations. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2638 (Bloom, D-Santa Monica) into law on Sept. 29, 2022, after it received unanimous approval in its passage through the California Legislature.

In a win for equity, AB 2638 author Assemblymember Richard Bloom was also successful in gaining an additional $5 million dollars for the Drinking Water in Schools Program in the California State Budget for fiscal year 2022–23 (AB 179). Disadvantaged schools were prioritized from the outset for this program that provides funds and technical assistance for school drinking water safety and access, including new water stations and point of entry (POE) and point of use (POU) water filtration for contaminants. Previous allocations to this program were $9.5 million in 2017 (Senate Bill 828; Guidelines) with awards made to about 70 school districts, and $6.8 million in 2019 (SB 862; the approved funding list for “Round 2” has not yet been released).

County
Yolo County’s Roadmap to the Future
The county office is playing key role in assessing and directing support service coordination

The Roadmap to the Future is a long-term plan to help effectively coordinate the services, supports and opportunities that children, youth and families in Yolo County need to thrive, as well as establish a shared framework to ensure their healthy development.

“The trustees of the Yolo County Board of Education have been concerned with the gaps in services to meet the needs of our students and the students in our communities,” said Shelton Yip, Yolo COE board vice president. “The county superintendent and staff — in collaboration with the County Board of Supervisors, city governments, local educational agencies, county behavioral health and other public/private agencies — is working to produce an outline of existing community assets and conditions to better understand and allocate resources needed to enhance youth development and success.”

UpcomingEvents info: 800-266-3382
Attention: For more information about events, visit www.csba.org/TrainingAndEvents.
Virtual Events
March 28–29
MIG Course 4: Human Resources/Collective Bargaining

April 11–12
MIG Course 5: Community Relations & Advocacy/Governance Integration

April 13
The Brown Act

April 26
MIG Course 1: Foundations of Effective Governance/Setting Direction

In-person events

March 23
MIG Course 1: Foundations of Effective Governance/Setting Direction | Santa Cruz

March 24
MIG 2: Student Learning & Achievement/Policy & Judicial Review | Santa Cruz

April 19
MIG 3: School Finance Part 1 & 2 | Santa Cruz

April 20
MIG 4: Human Resources/Collective Bargaining | Santa Cruz
April 24–26
2023 Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip | Washington, D.C.

May 2
MIG 5: Community Relations & Advocacy/Governance Integration | Santa Cruz

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Thanks for reading our March 2023 newsletter!