header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
January 20
1993 - Hart High grad Dee Dee Myers (1979) becomes first female White House press secretary [story]
Dee Dee Myers


Tony ThurmondSACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond celebrated the recent signing of the 2023–24 state budget bill and Monday’s signing of the associated trailer bills, noting the degree to which new and continued funding reflects the priorities he has championed for public education since taking office. Despite budget tightening due to economic uncertainty, the 2023–24 education budget totals $108.3 billion in Proposition 98 General Fund monies, including a cost-of-living adjustment of 8.22 percent for the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and additional programs funded outside of LCFF.

“This budget reflects California’s ongoing commitment to excellence in public education. With targeted investments in pandemic recovery as well as support for our high-needs and socioeconomically disadvantaged students through the expansion of equitable opportunities, California stands apart in our commitment to creating safe, inclusive, excellent learning environments,” said Thurmond. “When we invest in all our children, we are building a better tomorrow. What students learn in our classrooms today will be a critical driver of our state’s economic rebound and future success.”

Thurmond has been a champion for numerous educational reforms that are reflected in the new budget. In the areas of early education and literacy, the budget includes $762 million to expand access to Universal Transitional Kindergarten. It provides an additional $250 million to augment the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program, which builds on an initial $250 million appropriated last year and supports the development of school literacy programs and interventions to help pupils in need of targeted support. The budget also includes $1 million to create a Literacy Roadmap to help educators apply the state’s curriculum framework to classroom instruction, navigate the resources and professional development opportunities available to implement effective literacy instruction, and improve literacy outcomes for all pupils with a focus on equity.

There is also a new, significant Equity Multiplier included in the budget that will provide an ongoing $300 million annually for school sites with a high percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged pupils and with high non-stability rates. This funding supports evidence-based services and supports to improve student outcomes. This concept originated as an idea in Thurmond’s Black Student Achievement Task Force and with legislation he sponsored, Assembly Bill (AB) 2774 (Weber).

As part of his work to promote equity and excellence for all students, Thurmond championed several other key pieces of legislation that have been folded into the new state budget. Specifically:

– Thurmond fought to increase the stipend to $40,000 for the teacher residency program. This is a tremendous win for education and is a direct result of Senate Bill (SB) 765 (Portantino), which was sponsored by Thurmond.

– Thurmond was an early supporter of SB 691 (Portantino), a mandate for local educational agencies (LEAs) to assess young pupils for risk of reading difficulties such as dyslexia. LEAs will be required to screen children in kindergarten or grades one or two starting in 2025–26. This work is supported by a $1 million allocation for a panel of experts to select approved screening tools. The screening mandate grew from this bill and, under Thurmond’s leadership, the CDE convened parties including the UCSF Dyslexia Center to strengthen the bill further so the final language and funding could be included in the budget.

– The $20 million to expand the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program, AB 1127 (Reyes), was sponsored by Thurmond and remains a key part of Thurmond’s literacy and teacher recruitment and retention work.

– AB 555 (Carrillo), the removal of barriers to serving three-year-olds in California State Preschool Programs, was supported by Thurmond and demonstrates a historic opportunity to serve families that need it most during the expansion of Universal PreKindergarten.

While the overall budget news for California schools is positive, the new budget does include a $1.6 billion reduction to the $7.9 billion Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant that was in place for county offices of education, school districts, and charter schools for learning recovery initiatives to be used through 2028. Additionally, there is a reduction of $200 million from the $3.6 billion initially allocated to the Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant. Both proposals were established in the 2022–23 Budget Act.

Other notable aspects of the 2023–24 state education budget that remain critical to State Superintendent Thurmond’s priorities include:

– Fully funding the cost of California’s Universal Meals Program with an appropriation of $110 million in the 2022–23 budget year and a $154 million increase in the 2023–24 budget year.

– Addressing opioid overdoses in middle and high schools and providing LEAs access to resources from the State Opioid Settlement. This includes $3.5 million annually to allow LEAs to purchase opioid antagonists such as Naloxone.

– Providing $4 billion in ongoing Proposition 98 funding for the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program for afterschool and summer options for all students.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration Time 0:00
Loaded: 0%
0:00
Progress: 0%
Stream TypeLIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Monday, Jan 20, 2025
L.A. Public Health Windblown Dust, Ash Advisory
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is issuing a windblown dust and ash advisory following strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region through Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m.
Monday, Jan 20, 2025
County Warns: Dangerous Santa Ana Winds, Extreme Fire Weather
Ahead of another forecasted Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag warning and extreme fire weather, Los Angeles County is asking the public to prepare.
Friday, Jan 17, 2025
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman has announced the appointment of Michael Gennaco as Special Prosecutor who is among the nation’s foremost experts in civil rights and police misconduct cases.
DA Hires Special Prosecutor for Police Misconduct Cases
In response to the ongoing challenges posed by the Palisades and Eaton Fires, the county of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control has mobilized its resources and partnerships to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals affected.
DACC Facilitates Adoption, Rescue Efforts in Response to Wildfires
The WiSH Education Foundation Wednesday Webinar series continues 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 with "College Admissions for Visual and Performing Arts Majors."
Feb. 12: WiSH Webinar on ‘College Admissions for Visual, Performing Arts Majors’
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, Jan. 21 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 21: SUSD Governing Board Regular Meeting
A Better World Running will host the Cupid Dash 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at West Creek Park 24247 Village Circle Drive, Valencia, CA 91354.
Feb. 16: Cupid Dash 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon
The Los Angeles County Department of Military & Veterans Affairs will resume normal operations at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall (1816 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California, 90015) on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Jan. 21: Normal Operations Resume at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is issuing a windblown dust and ash advisory following strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region through Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m.
L.A. Public Health Windblown Dust, Ash Advisory
The Master's University men's basketball defense stepped up in the final moments of the game to get an 80-72 conference road win over Benedictine Mesa Thursday night, Jan. 16.
Defense Stepped Up in Mustangs Win over BenU
Three different players each scored 17 points and the team shot nearly 50 percent from the field as The Master's University women's basketball team defeated Benedictine Mesa 83-71 Thursday night, Jan. 16 in Mesa, Ariz.
TMU Women’s Hoops Gets Road Win over Redhawks
College of the Canyons men's basketball had four players reach double-digits but it wasn't enough to keep pace with No. 5 state-ranked Citrus College in a 111-77 road affair Wednesday night, Jan. 15.
Canyons Can’t Get Past No. 5 Citrus College
College of the Canyons women's basketball is still looking for its first conference victory after its 75-54 road loss at Citrus College on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Ceja, Saridin Shine, Cougars Fall at Citrus
Ahead of another forecasted Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag warning and extreme fire weather, Los Angeles County is asking the public to prepare.
County Warns: Dangerous Santa Ana Winds, Extreme Fire Weather
1993 - Hart High grad Dee Dee Myers (1979) becomes first female White House press secretary [story]
Dee Dee Myers
1967 - Original airing of Star Trek "Arena" Episode: Kirk battles the Gorn commander (Saugus resident Bobby Clark) at Vasquez Rocks [watch]
Kirk vs. Gorn commander
1899 - Martin & Richard Wood buy J.H. Tolfree's Saugus Eating House (still inside Saugus Depot), rename it Saugus Cafe [story]
Saugus Cafe
Fritz Coleman’s show "Unassisted Living," in Residency at the El Oortal Monroe Forum in North Hollywood, will be performed on Sunday, Jan. 26 t0 benefit the California Community Foundation Wildlife Recovery Fund with 100% of all profits raised donated to the fund.
Jan. 26: Fritz Coleman’s ‘Unassisted Living’ to Benefit Wildfire Recovery Fund
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, Jan. 22, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 3 p.m.
Jan. 22: COC Board Business Meeting
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau continues its dedicated efforts to locate individuals reported missing following the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires.
LASD Reports 17 Still Missing in L.A. Area Wildfires
The Canyon Theatre Guild opens the Broadway musical, "West Side Story" on Saturday, Jan. 18 on stage at the community theater in Old Town Newhall.
‘West Side Story’ Opens at the Canyon Theatre Guild
The William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board has unanimously approved the appointment of Jordan Meraz as the new Director of Technology Services.
Jordan Meraz Named Hart Director of Technology Services
The American Red Cross is offering financial assistance for families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Los Angeles County wildfires. Assistance available to those affected by Eaton, Palisades, Hurst and Kenneth fires.
Red Cross Offers Financial Assistance to Fire Victims
Cal Fire and the Los Angeles County Fire Department have reported that containment efforts continue for all three activie fires still burning in Southern California.
Repopulation Efforts in Eaton, Palisades Fire Areas, 27 Fire Deaths Reported
Newhall Escrow, founded in 1963, has announced its acquisition by Santa Clarita Valley real estate professional Christian Lazore.
Newhall Escrow Changes Hands
SCVNews.com