 LOCAL
Orange County Committee on School District Organization Hearing
- The petition to change the way CUSD voters elect trustees was approved.
- The issue will go before voters in the June 8, 2010 election.
- CUCPTSA will form a committee to determine whether PTA can take a position on the issue.
CUSD Budget
The Board must identify $25 million in budget cuts for the 2010/2011 budget by December.
Major District Objectives -- CUSD has identified 3 District Objectives: (1) Accelerate Learning of All Students; (2) Provide a Safe and Healthy Environment at Each School Site; and (3) Communicate Effectively with all Stakeholders
Academic Update -- Test results from the 08/09 school year showed tremendous growth in the district.
• API for CUSD is 857
• 84% of CUSD schools exceeded 800 (minimum target)
• 96% of CUSD schools met school-wide growth targets
• CUSD met 40 out of 44 district-wide AYP targets
STATE
Legislative Update
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had until October 11 to sign or veto about 700 bills. Despite his threat to veto lots of bills, the Governor ended up signing about 2/3 and vetoing 1/3. PTA was paying particular attention to two bills (and had a “Support” position on both):
• AB 8 (Brownley), vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, would have established a working group to make recommendations regarding restructuring the state’s school finance system.
• SB 19 (Simitian), signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, removes the prohibition against using student progress data to evaluate teachers, and makes California eligible for up to $1 billion in Race to the Top funds.
There are two bills pending in the legislature that would address Race to the Top eligibility issues:
• SBx5 1 (Romero) would allow pupil data system (CALPADS) to be used in conjunction with the teacher data system (CALTIDES) for making employment decisions related to teachers.
• SBx5 2 (Simitian) would allow data in the California Education Information System and data from CALPADS to be used for purposes of teacher evaluation.
Finance Reform
• The governor and legislature directed a bipartisan “Commission on the 21st Century Economy” to study how to modernize California's revenue laws.
• The Commission submitted its report and recommendations to Governor Schwarzenegger and the legislative leaders, and a Special Session of Legislature was called to review the report.
State Government Reform Movement
• California Forward has submitted its reform proposals to Governor Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders, and The Bay Area Council is calling for a California Constitutional Convention.
• The legislature has formed its own Select Committee on Reform.
FEDERAL
FEDERAL STIMULUS
• State Fiscal Stabilization- California filed an application requesting up to 90% of the state fiscal stabilization funds from the federal government due to the economic situation in California.
• IDEA/Title I – The CDE is expected to announce details about the 2nd round of payments soon.
• Investing in Innovation Grants (i3) – These competitive grants target cutting edge innovation, and will range from $5 million to $50 million. Districts must have met AYP targets to apply.
• Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) ARRA funds – California is currently accepting applications for $33 million in new one-time competitive grants for technology funds.
NCLB/ESEA
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is outlining his vision of a new ESEA (NCLB). He favors: encouraging high standards, helping struggling schools, closing the achievement gap, reducing the dropout rate, new testing and accountability system, information age school calendar, teaching gifted students better.
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