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Health & Fitness

CUEA Bargaining Up-date Explains Local Control Funding Formula - But Leaves a Few Things Unexplained

Local Control Funding Formula

The Base Grant When Full Funding is Received will be:
  • $7,675 for students in grades K-3
  • $7,056 for students in grades 4-6
  • $7,266 for students in grades 7-8
  • $8,638 for students in grades 9-12
Full Funding will not be received until 2021. So the figures given do not show the real picture regarding ADA for the current year for which contracts are being negotiated.

The funding CUSD received  for 2013-2014 is the Base Grant of $6,500 plus a Supplemental Grant of $273 for a total of $6,773 per student.

The Funding CUSD is projected to receive for 2014- 2015 is the Base Grant of $6,500 plus a Supplemental Grant of $577 for a total of $7,077 per student.

By 2021 CUSD is projected to receive its maximum ADA of $8,271.

What the Public needs to understand is that the new funding formula severely underfunds school districts in affluent areas.

Per Pupil Spending

  • Capistrano Unified School District 2013- 2014: $6,773

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Average in the State of California: $9,139

  • Average in the United States: $10,560

  • Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

    Every student irrespective of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status should receive a base funding grant that will provide every student with a basic education.

    A basic education is defined as providing students with the funding that is necessary to provide every student with access to qualified teachers in clean, safe schools with access to free instructional materials.

    Source: http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1392894044236

    So while CUSD is receiving more per pupil funding then it has in the past- such funding will not be sufficient to increase employee compensation and at the same time restore the school year to 180 days, decrease class sizes, restore programs and begin the $822 million in building repairs and maintenance that have bee deferred.

    Unless the Base Funding formula is increased to $9,500- the best we can hope for for our students is to maintain the status quo.

    Parents and the Public need to become actively involved in budget decisions because the LCFF has eliminated categorical programs which allows the District to spend money anyway it would like with accountability being defined by the Districts LCAP. Under the Districts current Plan- Public input is limited to a written letter to Superintendent Farley. 

    I sent a certified letter, return receipt requested to Governor Brown regarding the Base Funding Grant on March 26, 2014 and cc'd Kamala D. Harris, California State Attorney General, Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education, Al Mijares, County Superintendent of Schools, Orange County Department of Education, Joseph M. Farley, Superintendent, Capistrano Unified School District, Tony Rackauckas, Orange County District Attorney and to date have not received a single response.

    My letter can be read at: 
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WCSUA6CP4ofuy0hJhxKmE9Do0Psrb3ruwqKfsJO3LIY/edit

    Why is public in-put regarding budget decisions being limited to a written letter? One that may never be answered. One that will never be read by our Trustees- the people elected to represent students and taxpayers in all matters before the Board.

    Our children deserve better from our elected officials. If you want to contact your representatives regarding the Base Funding Grant- contact information can be found at:

    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IUhm4XORIQBnz8fqip05bmbq-KVgpMztfrvVdxBaYM0/edit
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