Latest Updates

• ACSA Raises Serious Concerns About How State and Federal Officials are Addressing Persistently Low-Achieving Schools
  Many LEAs were taken by surprise when the California Department of Education (CDE) posted a “preliminary” list of 188 schools labeled “persistently low achieving (135 in Tier I, 48 in Tier II and 5 failing to meet 60% graduation rate) on March 8, 2010. This alert is based on an analysis of the proposed School Improvement Grant Application, SB X5 1 (Steinberg/Brownley) and federal guidance. These topics can impact both Title I and Non-Title I schools.
• Federal Hot Topics: Keeping It All Straight
  If you have been searching for a summary of key legislative changes related to Race to the Top which impacts all LEAs please find the attached federal Power Point handout to assist you. “Federal Hot Topics – Keeping it all Straight” contains the main provisions now in state law regarding the new standards commission, assessment and accountability changes, required interventions for struggling schools, the Open Enrollment Act and more. Summary of statutory changes begin on slide #12.
• President Unveils Federal Education Budget Strategy
  President Obama conveyed to the nation his desire to move forward on education reforms during the January 27, 2010 State of the Union address. A first phase to this process is today’s unveiling of the proposed federal education budget for FY 2011.
• Federal Adult Education Funding
  ACSA has been asked to participate in a series of conference calls with various state departments of education with congressional members on the House and Senate Appropriations Committee in order to secure additional funding for adult education. The House Appropriations Sub-Committee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies will be holding a hearing on July 8th. California has three members of Congress that sit on this sub-committee. They are Congress Member Mike Honda, Barbara Lee and Lucile Roybal-Allard. We have been asked to solicit support from our adult education community with these three members. If you live or work in any of these three Congressional Districts, please contact both the district and Washington, D.C. offices. Attached is a sample letter for your assistance.
• U.S. DOE WEB CONFERENCE RE: ARRA REPORTING GUIDANCE TO BE HELD AUGUST 10TH
  Web Conference is being held August 10th. The purpose of this web conference is to provide clarifying guidance on the quarterly reporting requirements under Section 1512 of the Recovery Act.
• U.S. Department of Education Issues Guidance on Education Technology Program under ARRA
  The U.S. Department of Education just released guidance on the use of funds made available through the Ed Tech Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
• Latest Update on Use, Reporting of ARRA Funds
  On Tuesday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell held a conference call with K-12 educators conveying the latest information regarding the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
• ARRA IDEA FAQs and ARRA Timeline for Distribution of Funding
  Two important documents were just released to the field by CDE to assist you in your planning and implementation for use of the ARRA funds. Posted on the CDE’s web page you will find the following:
• Policy Advisory Part Two ARRA/IDEA and Title I Guidance
  In the second part of a two part advisory from ACSA on the three main funding streams that are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) we cover federal guidance for the use of IDEA Part B, ARRA formula funds and ESEA Title I, ARRA formula funds. The purpose of this advisory is to cover the requirements, reporting and use of these new limited term funds. This advisory comes directly from the federal guidance.
• ARRA State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) Application
  
• Information and Webinar on the Federal Stimulus funds now available
  Most budget discussions in Sacramento are focusing on the Federal Stimulus Package, and when and how those funds will be available to local education agencies (LEAs). ACSA hosted a webinar providing the latest information on the Federal Stimulus Package and how those funds would be released to the state.
• ACSA’s Federal Stimulus Policy Paper
  The ACSA Board of Directors adopted a policy position paper on March 24, 2009 which stresses that the federal stimulus funds must be distributed quickly and use of these funds must be determined locally. While the funds are considered “one-time” only and local education agencies are cautioned not build in these funds into long-term budget obligations the intent of these funds is to save jobs and restore education programs.
• Federal Stimulus Plan Webinar Powerpoint Presentation
  Please click the above link to view the latest information on the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) 2009 and timelines from the ACSA Federal Stimulus webinar held on March 19th. The presentation may be used by LEAs to share the lastest information with their districts.
• AARA Implementation Timeline
  State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF), ESEA Title I, Part A and IDEA, Part B will be available in two phases. Funds from these programs are to be delivered by formula from the US Department of Education to the State.
• Federal Stimulus Timeline for 2009-10
  Below is a timeline of expected implementation of the American Recover and Reinvestment Act (known in common parlance as the “federal stimulus” package). This information was provided by the California Department of Education.
• Federal Stimulus Package Rumors Fly
  Two days after President Obama signed the federal stimulus bill rumors are flying and educators are worried that local education agencies (LEAs) may not receive State Stabilization Funds or additional IDEA or Title I funding as promised. There is speculation given California’s longer term budget crisis and immediate mid-year cuts that our state policymakers may not pass through federal funds to LEAs and instead use the funds to creatively backfill at the state level.
• Duncan Hails Passage of President's Stimulus Package
  The above link will take you to a press release on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Also, the Department has created a specific ARRA web page where additional information on the act will be posted as it becomes available.
• Stimulus bill's COBRA subsidy will affect employers
  Employers will have to scramble to comply with federal legislation providing a subsidy of COBRA health insurance premiums to laid-off employees, reports Workforce Management. Employees who were laid off from September 1, 2008, through December 31, 2009, will be eligible for a 65 percent federal subsidy of their COBRA premiums under provisions in the massive economic stimulus bill.
• Federal Stimulus Package Moving to the President’s Desk
  Today the House voted 246 to 183 to approve the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Senate is voting Friday evening on the $789 billion dollar plan to boost the economy. We anticipate the final bill will be on the President’s desk for signature by Monday, February 16, 2009. ACSA has been strongly advocating for the education components by focusing on the California Delegation and leadership.
• U.S. Senate to Vote Huge Education Cuts
  A U.S. Senate vote -- that would potentially decimate previously agreed-to increases for Title I, IDEA and 'stabilization' money to replace state cuts -- is set to take place as early as this afternoon. We need your help, now.
• Act Today To Support Senate Bill 336
  The Senate is currently debating amendments to S.336 (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) which contains $138 billion in Education and Training Funds. A final vote on S.336 is expected Thursday or Friday of this week, so action now is critical. If S.336 passes this week we anticipate a House/Senate conference committee will be held next week to reconcile the differences between S.336 and HR 1 which passed the House last week and contains similar provisions for education with some differences.
• ACSA Lobbies Congress to Support Stimulus Package
  President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be voted on by the House of Representatives this Wednesday, January 28. We urge you to act today to secure the support of your congress member for important new funding for K-12 education. This is a critical moment when your advocacy will make a difference. Please click the above link to take action.
• Overview of HR 1 Spending Proposals
  
• California Expands Influence in Washington D.C.
  On January 19 President-elect Barack Obama will take office. The 111th Congress formally convened their first sessions the week of January 5, 2009. California is poised to play a much larger role in important areas of public policy in the coming years. Policy areas filled with Californians include education, environmental, energy and labor.
• CA Educators Seek IDEA Funding Increase [pdf]
  California is facing an unprecedented fiscal situation and the Governor is proposing that school agencies be cut by more than $2.2 billion. At the same time, the federal government has failed to meets its commitment to fund federal special education mandates at its 40% authorized levels, contributing to a $3 billion shortfall in funding for special education in California. The combination of these factors has exacerbated the financial burden on every school agency in the state, some to the brink of fiscal insolvency. As an economic stimulus package is developed in late 2008 and early 2009, ACSA and other statewide associations we call on Congress to consider the following: Fund IDEA Now, Fund Federal Preschool Programs and Eliminate Unnecessary Mandates.
• Call to Action: Fiscal Stimulus Package for Education
  Today's vote in the Senate paved the way for a precedent setting two day House-Senate Conference Committee to send a single stimulus bill to the President. Just 10 members of Congress are on the committee and two are from California. They are Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) and Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands). ACSA urges you to make your views known in the next two days.
• Fiscal Stimulus Package for Education 2-9-09
  Here is the latest information on the differences for education under the Federal Recovery Act between HR 1 and S. 336. This is a side by side courtesy of our federal affiliate the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). Once the Senate takes a final vote on Tuesday, February 10 the two proposals will go to a conference committee to reconcile the differences before a final bill is sent to President Obama. The goal is to have one bill to the President by February 13.
• Help Put School Construction Back into HR1
  ACSA Urges Your Help to Save School Construction Funds in Stimulus Package. Immediate Phone Calls Needed to Senator Feinstein, Senator Boxer and House Speaker Pelosi. Click link for more information and take action now.
• Social Security bills
  Two congressional bills would repeal provisions of Social Security law that drastically reduce or eliminate the retirement benefits of educators.
• Duncan Opens Dialog On Federal Education Policy; Says Some Parents See NCLB as “Toxic”
  Ever since President Barack Obama was elected last November, educators have been waiting to see what sort of changes he would propose to the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation drafted under his predecessor, President George W. Bush.
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act list serve
  The California Department of Education is establishing a list serve for updates to its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Web page. Use the link to go to the ARRA webpage, then scroll down and click on link that adds you to the ARRA update listserv.
• ARRA Section 1512 subrecipient reporting
  September 23, 2009 is the first quarterly reporting deadline for LEAS who have been receiving ARRA funds. Pursuant to ARRA Section 1512 the federal government requires as a condition of receipt of ARRA funds, quarterly reports from states no later than the 10th day after the end of each calendar quarter. The first reports are due to the federal government from the states on October 10, 2009 and will cover the period from the effective date of the grant through September 30, 2009. If you have direct questions regarding ARRA reporting you can contact Linda M. Lewis, Education Fiscal Services Consultant, CDE Fiscal Services Division, at 916-319-0658 or arra@cde.ca.gov
• Stimulus bill's COBRA subsidy will affect employers
  Employers will have to scramble to comply with federal legislation providing a subsidy of COBRA health insurance premiums to laid-off employees, reports Workforce Management. Employees who were laid off from September 1, 2008, through December 31, 2009, will be eligible for a 65 percent federal subsidy of their COBRA premiums under provisions in the massive economic stimulus bill.
• U.S. Supreme Court Affirms Reimbursement for Special Education Services
  Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that parents of special education students may seek local education agency (LEA) reimbursement for private school tuition -- even if they had not previously received and/or sought such services from their public school.