California 2021-22 Budget

May Revise K-12 Education Highlights

Below are the highlights of Governor Newsom’s May revision of his 2021-22 budget proposal for California. Keep in mind that the May Revise details aren’t necessarily what will make it into the 2021-22 budget. The Legislature and the Governor will be negotiating the actual language of what does/does not make it into the final budget. Regardless of the final outcome, K-12 school districts in California will be receiving more money per ADA (nearly $14,000) than they ever have before.

May revise projects a $75.7 billion-dollar surplus in state revenue.

Prop 98 funding projected at $93.7 billion for 2021-22 and per pupil funding just shy of $14,000. One-time funds to K-14 in the amount of $8.1 billion to be based on a district’s ADA. This funding will be released in the 2022-23 year.

School district reserve caps of 10% are triggered and will be in effect starting in 2022-23.

Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) COLA increases to 4.05% from the January budget proposal of 3.84%. Mandate block grant (MBG) COLA increases to 1.7% from 1.5%.

• Adds the Feminine Hygiene Products mandate to the block grant, with an increase to MBG funding of $560,000. This will bring the MBG rates to the following amounts:

• $32.79/K-8 ADA

• $63.17/9-12 ADA

May revise includes a discretionary increase of $520 million to the Prop 98 funding.

Includes an additional $1.1 billion over what was proposed in January to pay the 2020-21 K-12 budget deferrals. This gives a total deferral balance left in 2021-22 of $2.6 billion (instead of $3.7 billion proposed in January).

Assumes a return to full-time in person instruction for all schools in 2021-22.

To help ensure the safety of staff and students during the return to in person instruction, the May revise includes $2 billion in one-time funds to ensure the health and safety of people on campus. The money will be geared toward COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, cleaning, PPE, and improving ventilation.

The state is also enhancing the independent study option when parents don’t feel comfortable in sending their children to school in person. The state will require districts to provide access to technology and the internet, provide a dedicated and rigorous independent study curriculum, develop/implement tiered reengagement strategies for students not meaningfully participating in instruction, and track/record daily student participation and interaction with independent study teachers.

The May revise contains a 5-year plan for districts with the highest levels of low income, English learners, and foster care students to provide these students with access to no cost after school and summer school programs by 2025-26. Costs to implement this proposal are $1 billion in 2021-22, growing to $5 billion in 2025-26.

The May revise also proposes universal TK for all 4-year olds by 2024-25. The proposal would be phased in over the next 4 years. Increased costs anticipated at $900m in 2022-23, growing to $2.7b in 24/25.

If you have any questions about the May revise or K-12 funding, please give me a call.

Until next time,

Mike Brown Good Governance Program Manager Organizational Effectiveness ∙ Leadership ∙ Achievement SCHOOL INNOVATIONS & ACHIEVEMENT Makers of Award-Winning Software & Service 916.669.5116 Direct 800.487.9234 Main (x5116) 888.487.6441 Fax 877.954.4357 Help Desk mikeb@sia-us.com