NEWS State Board Summary Just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, ACSA released a budget advisory detailing the Legislative Analyst’s five-year projections and the fiscal prospects for 2008-09. This analysis is available on our website at www.acsa.org. The outlook for next year is setting up to be quite challenging for K-12 finances and the overall state budget. For the second time this decade, LEAs will face the effects of another down cycle in the state’s economy. The primary culprits driving this downturn are the housing and credit market meltdowns occurring throughout the nation. In response, ACSA along with the Small School Districts Association and School Innovations and Advocacy, Inc. will once again host their annual Budget Perspectives Workshops throughout the state. These half-day, user friendly workshops will lay out the Governor’s January Budget proposal and its implications for K-12 finance. This year, special emphasis will be placed on providing participants insights and recommendations on what education leaders can expect to occur and how to prepare for pending fiscal challenges. Each workshop will include the talents and experience of veteran education advocates and policy analysts. They are intended for board members, superintendents, management teams, site leaders, and other educators and professionals. Dates and locations include:
January 14, 2008 - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sacramento COE
Santa Rosa - Sonoma COE
Redding - Red Lion Hotel
January 15, 2008 - 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Ontario - Airport Marriott
Visalia USD Conf. Center
San Jose - San Jose USD board room Over the last few weeks it has become apparent that both the House and the Senate will not move bills in 2007 to reauthorize ESEA/NCLB. Congress is currently in recess until December 4 and will return to complete some business before their holiday break. This is not enough time to meet the 2007 deadline and there is not solid consensus between the parties on what key elements of the law should remain and what should change. Despite concerted efforts on the part of both the Senate and House Committee leadership no bill has emerged to be heard in either committee. Along with the lack of consensus between the parties no frontrunner candidate for president from either party has articulated a comprehensive education agenda. Ironically three members of the Senate Education and Labor Committee are running (Obama, Clinton and Dodd) for president. Another factor in the stall is NEA and CTA creating a campaign to defeat any effort to move a bill that includes a merit pay proposal even if it’s voluntary for the states and school districts. The House “discussion draft” included a voluntary merit pay proposal under the Title II reforms. CTA and NEA flooded Congress and lobbied against the Miller/McKeon discussion draft. Democrats have no interest in giving President Bush a win on education when there is such a divide on the war in Iraq . President Bush has also been unwilling to fully fund ESEA/NCLB which has also angered Democrats. For Republicans there are those unhappy with the excessive interference into states’ rights under NCLB but also concern about weakening the school choice and tutoring provisions. What’s Next? Congressman George Miller, ( D-Concord , CA ) Chair of the House Health, Education and Labor Committee has vowed to continue in 2008 to move forward to build consensus in Congress. ACSA met and discussed the goals of Congressman Buck McKeon, ranking Republican (R-Santa Clarita, CA) on the House Committee and he too has vowed he does not want to wait until after the election to work towards consensus. Senator Kennedy’s office has also vowed to continue to work on reforms. A key factor will be who wins the presidential primary in February. The lead candidates will have incentive to develop their own education platforms. If the House and Senate Committee leadership can continue to build consensus on at least some of the issues and, they can work closely with each candidate, we may some headway next year at least on the principles of what the reauthorization should include. ACSA will continue to forge partnerships with both parties in Congress and we will convey our priorities to the presidential candidates. Waiting until 2009 or 2010 to work towards our goals for change is just not an option. Stay tunedÉÉ.. New Region 4 Staff for 2007-08 Charter Professional Development Grants Application Criteria for judging requests for funds Financial report Charter Professional Development Grants policy Meeting Dates for 2007-08 Membership Subcommitee minutes from 10.07.07 | 
