Legislative Update, August 17, 2006

Funds for Technology, Art & Music, Physical Education, and After-School Programs

In the 2006-07 school year, four significant funding opportunities will positively impact middle school education. These opportunities include technology funds from the Microsoft settlement, the new art and music block grant, the new physical education incentive grant, and the coming expansion of after-school programs.

Technology Funds: The Microsoft Settlement

As a result of a settlement agreement in an antitrust case against the Microsoft Corporation, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell has announced that an expected $400 million to $600 million will soon be available to California public schools for technology purchases and technology-related professional development. The funds will be distributed through the California Department of Education's (CDE) Education Technology K-12 Voucher Program.

The vouchers can be used to purchase technology-related professional development (including the CLMS Technology Conference, November 16-19, 2006), hardware, software, computer network and technology infrastructure equipment, and technology maintenance.

The request for application (RFA) to districts will be available from CDE in mid-September 2006. Public school districts that have state-approved technology plans may apply on behalf of eligible schools. Schools eligible for the funding are those where at least 40 percent of attending students are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program.

The per pupil voucher amount is estimated to be between $98 to $159, depending on the total amount of funding and the total tally of completed applications.

More information regarding the Education Technology K-12 Voucher Program may be obtained from the CDE web site: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/et/st/voucher.asp.

Art and Music Grants

The 2006-07 state budget includes $105 million in ongoing funding for a K-8 district-level art and music block grant. It should be emphasized that this funding is separate and distinct from the one-time art, music and PE block grant that was also included in the 2006-07 state budget. That one-time block grant it is limited to the purchase of materials, supplies and equipment and is explicitly one-time in nature. In contrast, the $105 million program is ongoing and it is intended to support staff, professional development (including the CLMS Annual Conference), and programs year after year.

The language in the budget act concerning this art and music program reads as follows:

"The funds appropriated in this item may be used for hiring of additional staff, purchase of new materials, books, supplies, and equipment, and implementing or increasing staff development opportunities, as necessary to support standards-aligned arts and music instruction."

Although this ongoing funding is allocated on a per ADA basis, with a minimum grant amount per school, there is no requirement for the school district to allocate the funds to every K-8 school in the district. The school district could, for example, decide to allocate all the money to elementary schools, all the money to middle schools or to a specific grade level. For this reason, it is important for middle school educators to work with their school district staff to discuss the reasons to support art and music at the middle level.

Physical Education Incentive Grants

The state budget includes $40 million to fund K-8 district-level physical education incentive grants. According to the provisions of the budget, these funds will be allocated to schools on a random basis, so as to ensure geographic distribution throughout the state. Funding is in the amount of $35,000 per school site. The law says these funds are to be used for the following purpose:

"The funds appropriated in this item are for transfer by the Controller to the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide incentive grants to schools serving kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 8, inclusive, to support the hiring of more credentialed physical education teachers.

"These grants shall be allocated in the amount of $35,000 per school site in order to hire teachers to provide instruction in physical education courses. Grant recipients shall be randomly selected and be equitably distributed based on type of school, size, and geographic location."

The Department of Education is currently developing the implementation guidelines for this new program. Given the random distribution requirement, it is certain that some middle schools in the state will be receiving this funding. Middle school educators should stay alert for further funding announcements concerning this new program. CLMS will continue to provide updates as more details become available.

After-School Programs

Under the terms of Proposition 49, which was approved by the voters in 2002, there will be an enormous expansion of after-school programs in 2006-07. The applications for this funding will be made available following the enactment of SB 638 (Torlakson), the implementing legislation for this program. It is expected that SB 638 will be signed into law in early- to mid-September. All public elementary, middle and junior high schools are eligible to apply for the program.

Interested members of CLMS should join the California Department of Education (CDE) funding e-mail list at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/af/joinlist.asp to receive notification when this funding becomes available.

For more information about the after-school program, visit the CDE website at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ba/as/ases06fundingfaq.asp