FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2020
Contact: Duc Luu, dluu@publicadvocates.org, 857-373-9118
STATEMENT ON AB 1835 VETO AND FAILURE TO CLOSE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR EDUCATION LOOPHOLE
Statement by Managing Attorney John Affeldt:
We are disappointed the Governor has not taken advantage of the opportunity presented by AB 1835 to close the huge loophole in LCFF’s implementation through which districts have ignored their obligation to increase or improve services for our highest need students. We estimate that the equivalent of billions of dollars of more or better services go undelivered each year and are rolled into general district operating funds due to district confusion or neglect and lax county office enforcement.
Public Advocates has been documenting this problem for years. Our current administrative complaint against the San Bernardino County Office of Education is just the latest example.
There, a number of districts and the county office are failing to deliver the equivalent of over $300 million a year in services for high need students and, thus far, the County has refused to even recognize it has any obligation or authority to ensure districts do their duty. If this issue cannot be addressed soon by the Legislature and the Governor, the matter will need to be resolved by the courts.
We appreciate the Governor’s message in his veto recognizing the need to address the implementation loophole and calling for a fix early next year. We look forward to working with the Administration and the Legislature toward that end.
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