Project: California’s New School Finance Law: Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF)
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Contact: Zelica Deams Rodriguez, (415) 794-9826; Olivia Ortiz, (408) 854-1511; Isabel Alegria, (415) 431-7434 ialegria@publicadvocates.org
San Jose – Immigrant parents in Alum Rock Union Elementary School District (ARUSD) have leveraged California’s new school funding formula to win major improvements in school/community relations and to engage in district decision-making, among other demands.
On Thursday, June 18th at the ARUSD office, they will be discussing passage of the District’s Local Control Accountability Plan, which includes a commitment to spend $1.2 million to hire full time community liaisons at every school in the district for the 2015-2016 school year, in addition to $20,000 for parent training and $80,000 the parents won last year for additional translation/interpretation capacity at the district level. The district also committed to waive a fee to provide access to fields and facilities for three years.
Though the wins are significant, the plan isn’t perfect. Supported by Public Advocates, the parents are still asking the District to clarify its plans for spending another $6 million that must be used to increase or improve services for high need students during the 2015-2016 school year. The District has proposed to use these funds for facilities improvement. In addition, the last draft of the plan failed to include information about spending related to the District’s basic educational program, as the law requires.
What: Press Conference outside offices of ARUSD
Who: Somos Mayfair, ARUSD parents & students, Public Advocates (Spanish speakers will be available for interviews)
When: Thursday, June 18th; 5:30pm
Where: Alum Rock Unified School District office, 2930 Gay Ave San Jose CA 95127
Why: Demonstrate community’s wins and to urge the District to ensure that its funds destined for high need students translate into tangible outcomes next year.
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