09/29/2004 GAAS:453:04 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Landmark Education Reforms into Law
Governor Schwarzenegger has signed into law historic reforms that will shift funding control away from the bureaucracy in Sacramento and increase flexibility for local communities. The shift in control will allow communities to address the specific needs of their children without bureaucratic impediment.
Governor Schwarzenegger signed historic legislation to overhaul K-12 categorical program funding:
* AB 825 - Shifts significant control of education funding decisions from the state level to the local level. Specifically, the bill will mean consolidation of 26 existing categorical programs - totaling $1.8 billion into six block grants.
"As I said during my State of the State Address, we must give local schools the power to meet the specific needs of their own communities," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "By consolidating these categoricals, we are reducing the bureaucratic red tape in Sacramento and empowering local communities to meet the specific needs of their students."
"Today Governor Schwarzenegger signed the most comprehensive education funding reforms in recent history," said Education Secretary Richard Riordan. "It will reduce state and local bureaucracy and provide meaningful flexibility for local school leaders to target education spending to best meet the needs of our students. Today, the Governor has shown that he is committed to listening to the needs of local education leaders, and to real reform that puts our schools and children first."
Additionally, the Governor signed laws implementing the settlement reached in the Williams vs. California case. These reforms will mean significant strides in ensuring that California's children have access to a quality education, qualified teachers, and have the tools they need to succeed in school.
* SB 550 & AB 2727 - Establishes minimum thresholds regarding school facilities, teacher quality, and instructional materials and an accountability structure to enforce these thresholds.
* AB 1550 - Puts an end to the shortened school-year calendar for some of the most over crowded schools, by putting an end to the year-round (Concept 6) academic schedule by July 1, 2012.
* AB 3001 - Ensures placement of qualified teachers in low performing schools and enhances an existing oversight mechanism to ensure teachers are appropriately qualified to teach the subject matter to which they have been assigned. Additionally, streamlines the process for highly qualified teachers from out-of-state to obtain jobs in California's schools.
* SB 6 - Provides up to $800 million beginning with the '05-'06 fiscal year for districts to address emergency facility repair projects. Additionally, provides approximately $25 million to assess the condition of school facilities in the bottom 3 deciles, commencing in '04-'05.
"Today is a landmark day for California's students," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "No issue is more important to me than education and these reforms truly put our children first. California is the greatest state in the nation, and we will make sure that our children will have the greatest public schools to meet their full potential."
