April 15, 2008

California State PTA OPPOSES Legislative proposals to transfer categorical education funds

The California State PTA strongly opposes current proposals to transfer restricted categorical education funds to schools’ general funds as a strategy to address the State’s current budget crisis. These transfers do not create additional revenues for our schools. The transfers merely take money and programs away from some children and give it to others.

Categorical programs were created to protect funding intended for essential programs for children—arts and music, child nutrition, counseling, libraries, mental health, and more. Several Assembly Bills were recently presented to the California State PTA Legislative Action Committee for review. We chose to oppose these bills (AB 2831 Fuller, AB 2832 Fuller, AB 2890 Duvall, and AB 2933 Committee on Education).

While categorical funding is one of the areas that deserves careful consideration by the Legislature, it should be considered as part of a comprehensive education funding and reform plan, rather than being addressed separately, as these bills attempt to do.

The California State PTA understands that the Getting Down to Facts studies concluded that local school districts and county offices of education need increased flexibility in resource allocation decisions. PTA supports block grants if certain conditions assure that student needs are met. After careful consideration, the California State PTA has determined that the provisions of these bills do not meet those standards and are in conflict with PTA policies.

We believe that these bills are a distraction from the real issue of the financial crisis facing our public schools.

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