Governor Signs Senator Portantino’s K-12 School Funding Bill
For Immediate Release: September 24, 2024
Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400
Governor Signs Senator Portantino’s K-12 School Funding Bill
Sacramento, California – Senate Bill 98, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank), was signed into law by Governor Newsom. The bill highlights the significance of public school funding models based on enrollment rather than attendance and kick starts much needed research on establishing a more equitable funding framework for our public schools.
“Funding based on enrollment promotes and creates greater stability for California schools and ensures funding is more equitable and predictability,” stated Senator Portantino. “The existing system for determining budgets for K-12 schools relies solely on student attendance and negatively impacts too many districts across the state. Many children face challenges such as unreliable transportation, unstable housing, and suffer from health-related issues that may lead to absenteeism. This study is an important advancement and I appreciate the Governor for signing SB 98 into law. Californian lags behind most states in shifting to enrollment based funding and this moves us closer to making this positive change in approach. I am grateful to the efforts of the coalition behind our effort.”
California is one of only six states that does not consider student enrollment figures for determining state aid to school districts. In California, school administrators plan budgets and expend funds based on the number of students enrolled, while they receive money based on average daily attendance.
“School funding based on student attendance is an outdated mechanism that fails to consider the efforts schools expend to counter absenteeism, or the fixed costs that schools face whether a student shows up or not,” said Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “When students are absent, we do not pay school staff less, nor do the cost of utilities or building maintenance decrease. When attendance counselors, mental health professionals, and transportation coordinators provide necessary supports, those services also incur significant costs to districts. The study in Senate Bill 98 will address important questions with the promise of demonstrating enrollment-based funding and promotes equity by recognizing the true cost of serving all students, including those who face challenges to attend school. I thank Governor Newsom for signing this important bill and I am grateful to Senator Portantino for being a staunch advocate for Californian’s students.”
SB 98 directs the Legislative Analyst’s Office to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on the effects of changing the student count methodology of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) from average daily attendance to student enrollment. The research would include the fiscal, programmatic, and administrative impacts of changing the student count methodology, and phase-in approaches to implement the cost of an enrollment-based funding model over several years. The bill is the culmination of a multi-year effort by Senator Portantino, the California School Employees Association, and the LAUSD.
"Our current attendance-based funding system is a disservice to students, especially those in underserved communities,” stated California School Employees Association President Adam Weinberger. “Penalizing schools with higher absentee rates unfairly diverts resources away from those who need them most. Our members know firsthand the hidden costs of absenteeism—from tracking down missing students to preparing make-up assignments. We are thankful for Senator Portantino’s leadership in authoring Senate Bill 98 and the Governor for signing it into law. This legislation will shed light on the inequities of our current system and provide lawmakers with the data necessary to create a more equitable and sustainable school funding model."
###
