Las Flores Elementary School PTA

PTA-supported School funding initiative launches
On November 30, 2011 the Our Children, Our Future: Local Schools and Early Education Investment Act was submitted to the Attorney General for title and summary for the November 6, 2012 ballot.
To view a press release announcing today’s filing of the initiative, click here.

More information, including the full text of the initiative, can be found at: www.OurChildrenOurFuture2012.com.

Previous information about initiative: California State PTA has taken a position in support the bold initiative for the November, 2012 statewide ballot — The Our Children, Our Future: Local Schools and Early Education Investment Act. This measure would generate substantial additional funding to begin restoring educational programs for all students that have been cut or eliminated. This measure would:

*Raise approximately $1,300 per pupil in new funding per year to help restore programs, including instruction in the arts, physical education, science, technology and engineering (STEM); reduced class sizes; and more counselors, librarians, and nurses.

*Allocate the money on a per-student basis to be spent directly at school sites, after required public meetings that allow for input on priorities and spending.

*Establish accountability and transparency for how the money is used.

*Provide that approximately 85 percent of the money goes to local K-12 public schools, including charter schools, and 15 percent to improve and expand public preschool and early childhood education programs.

*Include an additional allocation for English language learners and low-income students.

*Generate the additional revenues through a graduated increase to the personal income tax, which our PTA authorities would support as a broad-based, equitable tax with maximum local control that makes the needs of children a priority.

There are a number of other potential ideas for ballot measures being discussed for November 2012. State leaders have met with many different organizations and individuals and researched the various initiative ideas. The measure is sponsored by the Advancement Project, a nonprofit public policy group, which CA PTA believes is the one that best meets California’s need for substantial new revenues to begin restoring education programs.

More information will be shared with all members very soon, and, once the measure is filed this week, CA PTA will begin providing more details about the plans for communications and signature gathering. And will also begin scheduling briefings to help members understand the details of the proposed initiative and have an opportunity to ask questions.

Local Update

Looking to have an update at the district level soon from the Parent Council Meeting held on Monday, November 28.
Save the date: Friday December 9, 2011 10:30 CUSD District Board Room.
All PTA members are invited to the 4th district PTA roundtable featuring Assemblyman Don Wagner and Rick Simpson—Deputy Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker John Perez.

Fourth District PTA Advocacy Team Legislative Agenda
A final proposed draft was unanimously recommended at the Advocacy Team meeting to be presented for approval at the December 8th Fourth District PTA General Association meeting. The purpose of the agenda is to establish an advocacy platform and determine the priorities for our advocacy efforts. Once it is approved by the Fourth District PTA General Association, a printed tri-fold will be created to be used during our meetings with state and federal legislators, locally elected officials and other key decision makers. Details to be provided soon.

State Update

California’s Fiscal Outlook: The 2012-13 Budget (Report issued by the Legislative Analyst's Office)
Our updated assessment of California’s economy and revenues indicates that General Fund revenues and transfers in 2011-12 will be $3.7 billion below the level assumed in the June budget package. This revenue shortfall would translate into $2 billion of potential “trigger cuts” to various state programs—including all of the “Tier 1” trigger cuts and three-fourths of the “Tier 2” trigger cuts. (The Director of Finance will determine the actual amount of trigger cuts next month.)

We forecast that the state will end 2011-12 with a $3 billion deficit, including the effects of the trigger cuts that could result from our revenue forecast. In 2012-13, we forecast that the state will face increased costs due to the expiration of a number of temporary budget measures, a significant increase in Proposition 98 school costs under current law, the required repayment of a $2 billion Proposition 1A property tax loan used to help balance the budget in 2009, and other factors. These factors contribute to a projected $10 billion operating shortfall (the difference between annual General Fund revenues and expenditures) in 2012-13. The $3 billion “carry-in” deficit from 2011-12 and the projected $10 billion operating deficit in 2012-13 mean that the Legislature and the Governor will need to address an approximately $13 billion budget problem between now and the time that the state adopts a 2012-13 budget plan. (50 pp.)
This report is available using the following link: http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=2539.
In addition, see three videos summarizing the report. Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor provides an overview and Deputy Jennifer Kuhn discusses Proposition 98. Deputy Jason Sisney explains the revenue and economic outlook.
What does this mean to CUSD? At this time, we do not have the latest update on the impact. Last month’s report discussed that with the shortfall it could result in mid-year cuts of 11 to 14 million and greater cuts for 2012-2013 school year. There are no redundancies in the district, so that leaves only negotiated items with bargaining units – salaries/benefits, furlough days, increase in class size.

Federal Update

2011 Nation’s Report Cards Show Highest Mathematics Scores to Date for Fourth and Eighth Graders; Reading Performance Is Mixed with Fourth Grade Scores Flat
2011 results for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) were released. This assessment is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. Assessments are conducted periodically in mathematics, reading, science, writing, the arts, civics, economics, geography, and U.S. history.
Since NAEP assessments are administered uniformly using the same sets of test booklets across the nation, NAEP results serve as a common metric for all states and selected urban districts. The assessment stays essentially the same from year to year, with only carefully documented changes. This permits NAEP to provide a clear picture of student academic progress over time.
(Washington, D.C.) – The nation’s fourth and eighth graders continued their steady upward trend in mathematics achievement in 2011, posting the highest scores to date on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as “The Nation’s Report Card.” In reading, however, the picture was mixed: the average score for fourth graders was unchanged from 2009, while the average score for eighth graders continued to rise.
"The modest increases in NAEP scores are reason for concern as much as optimism," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement. "While student achievement is up since 2009 in both grades in mathematics and in 8th grade reading, it's clear that achievement is not accelerating fast enough to compete in the knowledge economy of the 21st century."
See details in the following links:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/
http://4lakidsnews.blogspot.com/2011/11/nation-report-card-ca-schools-struggle.html

See all of the latest local, state, and federal updates on the Legislation page of http://lfespta.com.

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