smf/4LAKids: by one vote the minority party blocks $19 million in Federal Funds to help low performing school districts ...and instead decides to return the money to the feds.
STATE SENATORS SPAR ON EDUCATION BILL
By Ben van der Meer in PolitickerCA .com
Photo: State Senate Pro Tem Don Perata
July 2, 2008 - California state senators fired off angry statements at each other Wednesday after a bill on low-performing school district accountability and funding failed to get a required two-thirds vote in that chamber.
The bill, SB 606, would have allowed low-performing districts to use $19 million in federal money that would've otherwise reverted to the federal government. It would have also helped local school boards work to improve their schools with state oversight.
Because SB 606 was labeled an urgency bill, it needed two-thirds of all state senators to vote in approval to pass. Fourteen state senators, all Republicans, voted against the bill, leaving it one vote shy of that margin.
The bill's author, Senate Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) criticized the Republicans' move in a press release, saying the state was wasting an opportunity to take advantage of federal money.
"Especially in this budget year, we cannot afford to return money to the federal government that could and should be spent on schools because some people think the state should take over school districts," Perata said in the statement.
But State Sen. Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad), Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee, fired back by saying Democrats were too willing to vote for a bill that weakened accountability and was unlikely to be signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger anyhow.
"Instead of working with Republicans to approve an alternative that would have allocated $45 million in federal dollars to support California's weakest school districts, the majority party, knowing their bill would be dead on arrival at the Governor's desk, chose to paint a less than honest picture and voted to weaken the accountability of California schools and tax dollars," Wyland wrote in a response statement.
Wyland noted that last week, Democrats turned back his bill, SB 493, which also dealt with federal funding for low-performing schools but kept accountability measures waived in Perata's bill.
SB 606 will be filed for reconsideration at a future date, according to Perata's press release.
The money for the low-performing schools would've come from the U.S. government's No Child Left Behind Act, which gives states the right to take over operation of a school district that consistently performs below expectations.
State senators spar on education bill | PolitickerCA
REPUBLICANS BLOCK $47 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR POOR STUDENTS
California Chronicle | California Political Desk
July 02, 2008 - (SACRAMENTO) – Legislation by Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) that would immediately appropriate $47 million in federal money for low-performing schools fell one vote short today of receiving the two-thirds majority needed, as all 14 votes against were cast by Republicans.
SB 606 would allow the state to spend $19 million in federal money designated for low-performing schools before the money reverts to the federal government. Absent this appropriation, the State Board of Education´s March action amounts to an unfunded mandate on local school districts.
The bill passed the Assembly last week. In the Senate today, the bill received 26 votes in favor, with Senator Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) joining all Senate Democrats in support of the measure. After its defeat, the bill was granted reconsideration.
"Republicans are denying California´s poorest school children vital funding that would improve their education," Perata said. "Especially in this budget year, we cannot afford to return money to the federal government that could and should be spent on schools because some people think the state should take over school districts."
A decade of experience in school accountability suggests the corrective actions contained in this measure would best help students improve their outcomes.
Along with appropriating the money, the legislation would establish a transparent process for assisting low-performing schools identified as falling short of federal guidelines and allow local school boards to retain policy-making authority while providing state oversight. There are currently 97 school districts in the state that have failed to meet the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
SB 606 requires a two-thirds vote because it is an urgency measure designed to take effect immediately upon the signature of the Governor. If the legislation or a similar bill is not in effect by the end of September, $19 million in school funding will revert to the federal government.
PERATA PRESS RELEASE: Republicans Block $47 Million in Funding for Poor Students
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Lynda Gledhill
(916) 651-4188
(SACRAMENTO) – Legislation by Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) that would immediately appropriate $47 million in federal money for low-performing schools fell one vote short today of receiving the two-thirds majority needed, as all 14 votes against were cast by Republicans.
SB 606 would allow the state to spend $19 million in federal money designated for low-performing schools before the money reverts to the federal government. Absent this appropriation, the State Board of Education’s March action amounts to an unfunded mandate on local school districts.
The bill passed the Assembly last week. In the Senate today, the bill received 26 votes in favor, with Senator Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) joining all Senate Democrats in support of the measure. After its defeat, the bill was granted reconsideration.
“Republicans are denying California’s poorest school children vital funding that would improve their education,” Perata said. “Especially in this budget year, we cannot afford to return money to the federal government that could and should be spent on schools because some people think the state should take over school districts.”
A decade of experience in school accountability suggests the corrective actions contained in this measure would best help students improve their outcomes.
Along with appropriating the money, the legislation would establish a transparent process for assisting low-performing schools identified as falling short of federal guidelines and allow local school boards to retain policy-making authority while providing state oversight. There are currently 97 school districts in the state that have failed to meet the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
SB 606 requires a two-thirds vote because it is an urgency measure designed to take effect immediately upon the signature of the Governor. If the legislation or a similar bill is not in effect by the end of September, $19 million in school funding will revert to the federal government.
For more information on the legislation, visit Senator Perata’s website at www.senate.ca.gov/perata.
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