(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.
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.
