Greetings everyone,
I'm very pleased to inform you that Capitol Advisors, on behalf of CAWS, succeeded in having IB named in the California A-G Completion Improvement Grant Program Trailer. This is critically important as this grant approves money for student fee waivers and specifically mentions IB! As some of you know we've been working on this for months and this is a significant achievement for IB, CAWS and Capitol Advisors.
The summary below of the grant from Lee Angela Reed, Capitol Advisors Partner, includes the section on fee waivers for IB as well as approval for grant money being used for professional development, which is also a boost for IB training. CAWS, of course, hopes that people wait to train with us next summer.
Another sign of progress is in the launch materials for the new TI graphing calculator. It was announced as being permitted in SAT, ACT, AP and IB. I don't think we've been on the main packaging before. I know this doesn't rank with funding, but it clearly acknowledges IB, which is another breakthrough.
Warm regards,
Robin
Education Budget Trailer Bill - A-G Completion Improvement Grant Program
The budget appropriates $547.5 million to provide additional supports to local educational agencies (LEAs) to increase the number of students, particularly unduplicated students, who graduate with A-G eligibility. Funds are available for expenditure or encumbrance through the 2025-26 fiscal year. The funds are provided within three grants:
A-G Access Grant. $300 million is allocated on a per pupil basis to each LEA identified as having an overall A-G completion rate of less than 67 percent, based on the LEA's number of unduplicated students in grades 9-12 for the 2020-21 fiscal year. An LEA receiving a concentration grant during the 2020-21 fiscal year shall receive no less than $75,000.
A-G Success Grant. $100 million allocated on a per pupil basis to each LEA identified as having an overall A-G completion rate of 67 percent or higher, based on the LEA's number of unduplicated 9-12 grade students. An LEA receiving a concentration grant during the 2020-21 fiscal year shall receive an allocation of no less than $75,000. LEAs are encouraged to direct the funds for the A-G Success Grant to pupils in danger of not achieving a “C” or better in A-G courses.
These two grants must be used for activities that directly support pupil access to, and successful completion of the A-G course requirements, including:
- Professional Development opportunities to teachers, administrators and counselors to improve the LEA’s A-G completion rate
- Developing comprehensive advising plans and pupil supports, including tutoring programs
- Expanding access to coursework to satisfy A-G course requirements to all students, not limited to unduplicated students
- Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate fees for unduplicated students
A-G Learning Loss Mitigation Grant. $147.5 million to be allocated on a per pupil basis to each LEA, based on the LEA's number of unduplicated 9-12 grade pupils. An LEA receiving a concentration grant funding during the 2020-21 FY shall receive no less than $75,000. Funds first must be used to allow students who receive a “D,” “F,” or “Fail” grade in an A-G course in the spring semester of 2020 or the 2020-21 school year to retake those courses. If funds are remaining, an LEA may use them to offer credit recovery opportunities to all students to ensure they are able to graduate high school on time.
An LEA must develop a plan by January 1, 2022 on how the funds will increase or improve services for unduplicated students to improve A-G eligibility, including how they supplement and don’t supplant services identified in the LEA’s LCAP and learning recovery plan.
Grant recipients must report to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction on or before December 31, 2023 on how they are measuring the impact of the funds on their A-G completion rate.
Budget Perspectives Workshop. We'll provide a more comprehensive review and analysis of the entire state budget as it relates to TK-Grade 12 education finance in our Budget Perspectives workshops next week. The no-cost workshops are presented in collaboration with county superintendents, ACSA, CSBA, SSDA, and Climatec. You can register for the workshops here.
As always, please reach out should you need additional information.
Take care,
Lee Angela
Lee Angela Reid | Partner
Capitol Advisors, LLC