BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Gloria Romero, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 339
AUTHOR: Torres
AMENDED: April 29, 2009
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: June 17, 2009
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: James Wilson
SUBJECT : Federal Education Funding
SUMMARY
This bill defines school districts to include county
offices of education and "other agencies" so that the
county offices and other agencies will be eligible for
federal funding distributed by the State Board of
Education.
BACKGROUND
Current law provides that whenever federal aid to education
is provided to the state, and the disposition of the funds
is not otherwise specified by federal or state law, then
the distribution of those funds to local educational
agencies shall be determined by the State Board of
Education, consistent with the requirements of federal law.
Current law provides for county boards of education and
county superintendents of schools to direct county offices
of education. County offices of education operate a
variety of alternative schools such as county community
schools, juvenile court schools, as well as Regional
Occupational Programs and Centers (ROP/C) and Special
Education Local Plan Areas (SELPA). County offices also
assist school districts in a variety of ways, providing
instructional and financial support services and exercising
oversight over the fiscal condition of districts, among
other functions.
County offices have historically received federal funds
provided for services related to their areas of
responsibility, such as special education and neglected and
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delinquent youth. On the other hand, counties have often
not been eligible for federal funds under programs such as
the Title I basic grants because those programs are
distributed to schools on the basis of the characteristics
of pupils in an attendance area, and county schools serve
pupils that are referred to them, but do not serve pupils
on the basis of their residence in an attendance area.
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ANALYSIS
This bill:
1) Makes various legislative findings related to county
offices of education and declares legislative intent
that "children served by county offices of education
have the most to gain through the provision, to the
county offices, of equitable and equal access to
grants and other funds that are provided to school
districts."
2) Defines school districts to include county offices of
education and "other agencies" so that the county
offices and other agencies will be eligible for
federal funding distributed by the State Board of
Education.
STAFF COMMENTS
Need for the bill. The supporters of this measure believe
that it will "ensure that county offices are not
inadvertently left out when federal funds are allocated"
and it may well achieve that objective. As noted in the
background, however, some of the largest federal programs
like Title I direct only specialized subpart funding to
county offices and their omission from the main formula is
a matter of federal law and not "inadvertent."
SUPPORT
Advancement Project
California Association of School Business Officials
California Teachers Association
Humboldt County Office of Education
Inyo County Office of Education
Lake County Office of Education
Los Angeles County Office of Education (Sponsor)
Orange County Department of Education
Riverside County Office of Education
Sonoma County Office of Education
OPPOSITION
None received.