Learn more about education budget cuts

• QEIA Funding Situation
  The purpose of this message is to inform you of our initial efforts in opposition to the recently adopted 2009-10 funding cut to the Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA). This unanticipated reduction to QEIA district’s revenue limit has created significant challenges for all 135 QEIA districts and 466 schools participating in this program.
• Sample Thank You Letter to Governor for IMFRP Flexibility
  We anticipate the Governor will sign the recent budget deal by Tuesday, July 28. One important element of flexibility included in the final package is a five year suspension of the IMFRP 24 month purchase requirement. ACSA has strongly advocated for this flexibility given the severe budget crisis. Of the districts we have surveyed well over half have been forced to use IMFRP (through Tier 3) to save jobs. We don’t anticipate the IMFRP flexibility will be blue penciled (line item vetoed) but we don’t want to take any chances and therefore request your assistance in getting letters faxed to the Governor ASAP thanking him for this flexibility.
• August 15 layoffs – Will it apply this year?
  With the failure of Propositions 1A thru 1E, reductions to K-14 education funding appear more imminent and austere. As a result, there has been an increased level of interest regarding the August 15 “insufficient increase in revenue limits procedure.” While the March 15 layoff procedure has been used and tested considerably, less is known about the August 15 procedure.
• Cuts called catastrophic
  The Education Coalition and State Superintendent Jack O’Connell announced the catastrophic consequences of $11.6 billion in cuts to education, including the number of educator layoffs and the impact on students in California.
• Briefing Packet - March 4, 2009
  The Education Coalition has issued the following document describing exactly how $11.6 billion in funding cuts impacts public schools in California,.
• Stand Up For Schools
  ACSA encourages participation in the Stand Up For Schools Day of Action, March 13, to protest continued cuts to education funding and to call on the governor and lawmakers to adequately fund public schools.
• Stand Up For Schools Board Resolution
  ACSA's Board of Directors has approved a resolution supporting the Stand Up For Schools Day of Action, March 13, to protest continued cuts to education funding.
• School Leaders Call on Lawmakers to Save Our Schools
  More than 50 superintendents from across the state participated in a rally at the State Capitol Feb. 11 to protest proposed budget cuts to education.
• ACSA Statement on TV Ad
  Bob Wells, ACSA executive director, released a statement in response to the new television ad entitled “Excuse” which advocates against increased flexibility for schools during these tough budget times.
• State Budget Position Statement
  Please click the above link to view the state budget position paper adopted by the executive committee of the ACSA Board of Directors. Included is a section on our advocacy around the federal economic stimulus package as well because of its link to our state budget crisis and the billions of dollars potentially allocated to the state for education.
• Funding Crisis Action Packet 2009
  Find out what YOU can do right now to advocate for public schools. Download information, talking points and sample letters.
• Sample Letter to Governor/Lawmakers
  Contact the governor and state lawmakers immediately in opposition to unfair and onerous cuts to schools and in support of flexibility proposals that protect revenue limit programs including adult education and ROC/P and allow local districts to decide what's best for students. Give lawmakers specific examples of how budget cuts will affect local schools. Click the link to view a sample letter.
• ACSA Issues Call to Action
  School leaders are urged to contact lawmakers immediately to oppose further cuts to education funding and to support the governor's flexibility proposals to ensure school districts can decide what's best for local students.
• Talking Points on Education Funding Crisis - January 09
  ACSA has developed a set of talking points on the education funding crisis.
• California Gets "F" for School Spending
  The respected non-partisan national publication Education Week released its annual "Quality Counts" survey of public education, showing California dropping further in the rankings of per-pupil funding, now ranking 47th in the nation.
• California School Spending Chart
  California continues to lose ground in per-pupil spending, now ranking 47th in the nation, and trailing the national average by nearly $2,400 per student.
• Ed Coal Remains United
  During the nearly 30 years that the Education Coalition has existed, it has stood up for California’s students during tough budget negotiations, and that continues to be the case today.
• Schools Fight Billion Dollar Cuts
  Today ACSA and others members of the California Education Coalition held a briefing to call on lawmakers to approve revenue increases and to describe what a budget without revenues – a $7.2 billion cut to K-12 schools – means for public education.
• New LAO Report
  A new LAO report supports the Education Coalition's call for new revenues and warns of dangers of inaction as the state deficit could hit $27.8 billion.
• Educators Oppose Further Cuts
  The Education Coalition stands firm against cuts to schools as the governor projects an additional $2-4 billion slashed from education.
• ACSA Statement on Budget
  The Association of California School Administrators has released a statement on the passage and signage of the 2008-09 state budget.
• Budget Veto Urged
  The Education Coalition urges the governor to veto the budget passed by the Legislature, which failed to provide a balance of cuts and increased revenues.
• Education Coalition Holds Statewide “Day of Action”
  The Education Coalition held a statewide "Day of Action" on Sept. 5 to call on leaders to pass a responsible budget that invests in students, schools and California’s future.