Reform of California’s complex school finance system likely - by Louis Freedberg
Louis Freedberg
Less than a year after convincing voters to approve a multi-billion dollar tax increase for the state’s schools, Gov. Jerry Brown is on the verge of accomplishing a task that few California governors have dared to take on, let alone accomplish: reforming a school finance system that researchers andeducation advocates alike have for years labelled as inequitable, irrational and excessively complex.
Recognizing that it costs more to educate children with greater needs, Brown’s plan would funnel one in five education dollars to school districts based on the number of low-income students, English learners and foster children enrolled there.
The plan would affect millions of students. One in five students – 1.2 million – are classified as English learners, and almost half – close to 3 million students – are from sufficiently low-income backgrounds to qualify for free- or reduced-priced meals.
Victory for Brown – partial or complete – now seems inevitable, according to Sacramento insiders