MARCH 21, 2014Budget panel sensitive to more money for common core
(Calif.) A key legislative budget panel appeared sympatric Thursday to providing schools more funding next year to implement the Common Core State Standards.
Last summer legislative leaders along with Gov. Jerry Brown agreed to provide $1.25 billion for the 2013-14 fiscal year to help school districts buy new instructional materials, provide teacher training and make technological updates tied to the new, national curriculum goals.
While the governor has proposed spending another $149 million next year on student assessments, he has offered no additional funding next year for the Common Core transition.
Thursday, members of the state Senate’s subcommittee on education finance appeared to agree with school representatives that a lot more money will be required to make the conversion successful.
“I think you’ve taken on an enormous challenge and I’ll tell you right off the bat, you are going to need the resources to do it,” said Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Escondido. “I think this whole thing is really, really challenging in the way it will have to be done.”
The subcommittee, which also includes Democrats Marty Block of San Diego and Carol Liu from LaCanada-Flintridge, took no action. But with the state coffers running well ahead of revenue
New i3 grant competition gets underway
(District of Columbia) The application window is open for local educational agencies to compete for federal grants of up to $3 million to advance educator effectiveness, rural schools and use of technology as well as outcomes for English learners or students with disabilities.