Define Serrano v. Priest
Landmark case that ruled he state’s system of funding public schools based on local property taxes was unconstitutional, as it resulted in significant disparities in per-pupil spending between wealthy and poor school districts, violating the principle of equal protection under the law; essentially, it determined that a child’s access to quality education cannot be dependent on the wealth of their school district.
it forced the state to get involved.
*Exception: Basic Aid districts- their annual per-pupil expenditures can be substantially higher than if they received state funding.
Define Local Control Funding Formula
The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) is a statewide school funding model in California that was implemented in 2013 to allocate state education funding more equitably and efficiently. The goal of the LCFF is to improve equity in education by directing more funding to schools serving low-income students, English language learners, and foster youth, who are considered to be more in need of support. Every school district receives a base grant per student, supplemental funding for students who are low-income, English learners, or foster youth, and districts with a higher concentration of high-needs students (i.e., more than 55% of students are low-income, English learners, or foster youth) receive an additional concentration grant.
Define School vouchers
School vouchers refer to when a family received public funds to send their children to private schools rather than their local public schools. It is seen as a form of school choice, giving parents more control over their children education and can improve educational outcomes. However, there have been arguments that this undermines the public education system and there is a supply and demand issues as there is more demand for a private school than there is availability.
Define Charter Schools
Charter schools are governed by a charter—a performance contract that outlines the school’s mission, academic goals, and operational structure. These schools must still adhere to some state education laws, but they are exempt from certain regulations that apply to traditional public schools, allowing them to experiment with different approaches to education. Like other public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition and must accept all students, though they may have limited space. When demand exceeds available spots, charter schools often conduct a random lottery to determine which students will be admitted. Additionally, they can hire teachers who may not hold traditional teaching credentials, they can have specialized approaches to education (stem, dual-language, etc), and more.
What are some popular reform measures related to transparency and accountability, quality of staff, governance and support services?
- Accountability/Transparency:
Adequate Yearly Progress (ADP) is a state-wide accountability system mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. It required schools to ensure proficiency of all pupils in mathematics and language arts by 2013-14. However, it was controversial because there was not enough funding and messaging was that if a subgroup was not meeting targets they were failing.
The API is a numerical index ranging from 200-1000 (target of 800). API is based on results of statewide assessments in grades (STAR and CAHSEE). Although, there was backlash because the tests were multiple choice and easy to memorize. Also backlash to stop number-grading schools.
Nonetheless, California shifted from ultra-accountability to almost no accountability today.
What are some popular reform measures related to Quality of Staff?
-Incentive pay/reforming seniority rights: “Last in, first out” layoffs because seniority makes a difference.
-Differential pay: Give additional pay to math/science/spedical ed because harder to recruit this staff but it is argued that this would mess with the collegiality of faculty and state laws of similar pay. Also possibility to pay more for harder to teach schools.
-Merit pay (or pay-for-performance): Pay based on evaluation/merit or seniority and credentials. Pro: Reward teachers for doing better. Con: No fair way of doing it.
-Teacher autonomy/teacher decision-making: Teachers argue that they don’t have enough say yet teachers union has a lot to say at the state level. Also, teachers are not really treated like professionals.
What are some popular reform measures related to governance and support services?
-Teacher dismissal: It is very hard to dismiss a public employee. Therefore, it is stunningly difficult to get rid of a teacher unless they are clearly breaking the law, which is largely due to the fact that the public sector is supported through tax payer dollars. Yet, this makes it difficult to get rid of bad/ineffective teachers.
Define Proposition 98 (1988)
Prop. 98 is a constitutional amendment adopted by California voters in 1988 that establishes an annual minimum funding level for K-14 education each fiscal year — minimum guarantee. Prop. 98 funding comes from a combination of state General Fund revenue and local property taxes. Yet, this floor has really become a ceiling.
How has Californias revenue sources and education funding system influenced educational outcomes and services?
The heavy reliance on personal income taxes means that education funding is tied to the economic cycle, leading to potential instability. The LCFF’s focus on funding higher-needs students has been a significant step toward equity in education.
-By allocating additional resources to districts with higher numbers of low-income, English learner, and foster youth students, the state attempts to address the achievement gap between affluent and disadvantaged communities. However, the system’s reliance on state revenues means that when the economy struggles, even the higher-needs districts can experience cuts in funding, undermining the purpose of equity-based funding.
-California’s education system has faced challenges in attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers, particularly in low-income or rural districts. In times of budget cuts, school districts may be forced to lay off teachers, increasing class sizes and reducing the ability to provide individualized attention to students.
-While local property taxes are still a source of revenue for some districts, this disparity in local wealth means that wealthy districts are able to generate far more funding for schools than poorer districts. The state has made efforts to address this gap, but the system still creates significant funding inequities between richer and poorer districts.
How can California generate more revenue for its education system? (Def split roll property taxes)
- Statewide parcel tax
- Split-roll property tax: Rather than getting rid of Prop 13, split it. Split roll refers to a system that applies a different tax rate, ratio, or assessment schedule to commercial properties from the one that applies to residential properties. (Prop 15, failed)
-Property tax: removing prop 13 would provide much more money to schools - income tax: there would be more money if income tax was increased for everyone rather than targeting the rich
- Sin tax: alcohol taxes (although almost impossible to raise because industry stronghold)
- Sales tax: if that state applied apply sales taxes to the service economy there would be lots more money
- Repeal corporate tax exemptions (but homeowners would lose benefits)
- 55% vote on local parcel taxes: would make it easier for local school districts to raise money, but property taxes in richer areas would still enable such areas to benefit more.
In what ways has California improved equity in its educational funding system?
-Prop 98
-LCFF
-Funding distribution principles: Equitable (funding based on student need)
In what ways can the funding system It still be improved?
-increase amount of funding education recieves out of the state budget
-allow local school districts to raise their own resources (local parcel tax)
-identify new statewide revenue options (raise taxes)
