UNDERSTANDING CALIFORNIA’S NEW EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA

In 2013, California adopted the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). LCFF decides how much money each school district gets. It also mandates that district officials solicit input from school employers, parents, and community groups. As a result, school districts across California are actively gathering information from and giving information to various stakeholder groups. However, many parents are still scratching their heads on how the new funding code affects their children, school, and community. 

 

Under the fairly new system, districts must develop and adopt a three-year Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) articulating how they will support all students to achieve academically, with specific focus on English Learners, Socio-economically Disadvantaged Youth and Foster Youth.

The law is in response to years of disinvestment in California’s public school system. California is ranked one of the lowest states in per pupil spending, 48th in teacher to student ratio, and at or near the bottom for funding of other adult staff such as custodians and office personnel. This translates into larger class sizes, fewer teacher aides, outdated facilities, inadequate technology, and few or no music, art, library, physical education or counseling programs.

According to former Redwood City Superintendent Jan Christensen. “Some of the inequity faced by  students stems from our state’s arcane school-funding system,” she said. “In California, some school districts are funded by the state, and others are funded by local property tax. Districts with the highest property values and the lowest number of students end up with many more dollars per student per year. Voters in these higher-funded communities also tend to approve ballot initiatives that bring further resources to local schools.”

These funding discrepancies impact every realm of education, from English language acquisition and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) proficiency to college and career readiness.

It’s important to note that LCFF changes how money is distributed, but does very little to change the actual amount of money that is going toward schools. Even with its implementation, California’s education funding will fall far short of other states and the chasm of educational inequity will continue to expand.

LCFF is a step in the right direction, but it cannot be the last. We must address the bigger issue of restoring justice to California’s education finances, including the devastating effects of Proposition 13. 

For more information on California’s new education formula, including whom it benefits and what does it mean for students, go to California’s PTA website, http://www.capta.org and search LCFF, or check out what the California Department Education has to say, https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/lc/lcfffaq.asp#FC

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

REMEMBERING OUR TROOPS

On November 11, 2017, we honor and thank the men and women who serve our country. Veterans Day was instituted three years after the end of World War I. It ended at the 11^th hour on the 11^th day of the 11th month in 1918.

For most people, this is a much appreciated day off. Not so for our troops. They work diligently through holidays and weekends, twenty-four-seven, securing our safety and freedom.

America has been fighting two of the longest wars in our history. However, we may finally have a reason to be optimistic. President Obama vowed to pull the remaining 40,000 U.S. troops from Iraq this year, symbolically ending the 9-year war.

In May, an elite team of U.S. Navy seals killed the mastermind of 9/11, Osama Bin Laden, in Pakistan, initiating the dismantling of Al Qaeda and the beginning of the end of the 10-year old war in Afghanistan. The president also promises to bring 33,000 American troops home by the summer of 2012, and continuing withdrawal at a steady pace allowing Afghans to take over their own security by 2014.

One way we can all show our appreciation to American military heroes who are stationed around the world is to write them letters. If you have a family member or friend serving, this is the perfect opportunity to say, “We miss you and thank you.” Have the kids participate and they will develop a deeper meaning of service and sacrifice. Pictures drawn are very popular and photos are a nice personal touch. If you want to make it easier for a soldier to respond to your letter, enclose a self- addressed return envelope with a blank piece of paper inside it.

Visit www.packagesfromhome.org or www.amillionthanks.org for recommended guidelines and more ideas, such as things to donate, drop off locations and much more.

There are also books appropriate for children that reveal more about the war on terrorism and past wars.

The War on Terrorism series, by DianeYancey traces the day-to-day efforts of American armed service personnel in a nation that many of them hardly knew of prior to their deployment. The book describes the soldiers' daily routine, including the problems of hygiene, diet, shelter, and climate.

The Wall by Eve Bunting is a richly illustrated story about a father and his young son who visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to find the name of the grandfather the boy never met.

In Going Solo, children’s author Roald Dahl writes of his own experiences as a pilot during World War II.

However you decide to spend Veterans Day, you may enjoy taking a moment to reflect on our incredible fortunes as a free nation and remember who keeps, not only Americans, but millions of people across the globe secure. And then pray for peace. We need our troops home and we can certainly use some of the military budget to stimulate our economy.

Perhaps Charles Sumner said it best, “Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to peace.”            

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

One Easy Step for School Success – Be There!

Parents are often bombarded with advice on how to help their children succeed in school, but one critical factor often gets overlooked: The most faithful foreteller of success at school is very basic – showing up. Research shows the likelihood of dropping out of school skyrockets to 75 percent when attendance drops below 80 percent. This is a disturbing statistic and one that has not been given enough attention. The John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities (JGC) at Stanford University conducted several studies on the attendance patterns of schools in the Bay Area. According to their findings, the group most likely to be chronically absent are Kindergarteners. Further, children who miss 10 days or more of their first year in school, whether in preschool or Kindergarten, are more likely to establish poor attendance habits and to struggle with reading mastery. Frequent absences early in a child’s education can have long-term consequences.

It seems self-evident that kids who are at school get the most get the most out of it. What’s surprising is the impact attendance has on all aspects of a well-rounded education. Students with good attendance are more responsible and have better work habits. They also learn valuable social skills and develop a broader worldview. The academic upside is also compelling. Better student attendance is a statistically significant predictor of better academic performance and it is true for all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.

For parents, understanding the importance of attendance is the easy part. Actually getting kids to school every day, on time is the challenge. Here are a few tips to help achieve that goal.

·      Lay out clothes, pack lunches and backpacks the night before.

·      Have a backup plan for getting the kids to school if something comes up. Ask a family member, a neighbor or another parent if you can rely on them to take your kids to school, or pick them up, when you need an extra hand.

·      Keep your kids healthy by ensuring they get enough sleep and teach them the importance of washing their hands frequently.

·      Make sure your children have the required medical immunizations. There are immunizations needed for Kindergarten as well as transitional Kindergarten, and seventh-graders need a Tdap (pertussis booster) vaccine. If you have questions, check with your pediatrician.

·      Keep track of your child’s absences. Many parents are surprised to see the number of days missed on their child’s report card. Sometimes we simply forget what took place weeks or even months ago. Writing absent days on a calendar may help you square up.

·      Have a chat with your kids about the importance of being present at school. One missed day of school can mean two days of falling behind. Missing school makes It more difficult to stay on track with assignments and every day in school is another chance to learn something new.

·      Attend back-to-school night. Most of the important events, dates and information you will need for the school year will be supplied at this meeting. Also, it demonstrates to your kids and their teachers that you are involved and engaged and that school is a priority.

·      If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask the office staff, teachers, and/or administrators.

Beyond the most important reason to attend school – to ensure learning and academic success – showing up on time, every day is a life-long lesson that all of us can benefit from.

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.