UTLA: AB 114 AIMS TO STABILIZE SCHOOLS

UTLA is putting pressure on LAUSD to fulfill the intent of the CA legislature to rehire UTLA members and restore programs that were cut this year.

FROM THE UTLA WEBSITE | http://bit.ly/kGvjCt

Assembly Bill 114 (AB 114), part of the state budget signed by Governor Jerry Brown on June 30, aims to help stabilize schools by preventing additional teacher layoffs for 2011, ensuring that districts fund schools at 2010-11 levels, and requiring districts to maintain staffing and programs appropriate to those funding levels.

AB 114’s key points:

• Districts are required to assume they will get the same funding they did last year and to maintain staffing and program levels commensurate with this funding level,which may lead to the rehiring of a significant number of UTLA members RIF’d this year.

• The bill protects teachers from further layoffs for the 2011-12 school year, which districts would usually be allowed to do in August under Education Code provisions. Districts are also prevented from making mid-year cuts to school-site programs. However, the bill does not prevent school districts from issuing another round of pink slips next March 15 for the 2012-13 school year.

• The budget contains a projected $4 billion in increased revenues for 2011-12. If tax revenues fall short of projections by $2 billion or more, districts would have to make cuts. If that happens, districts would be allowed to shorten the school year by seven days, on top of the five days already authorized. LAUSD would have to negotiate the additional cuts in school days with UTLA.

- See Sacramento Bee’s article