FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Innovate Public Schools responds to CA Governor Gavin Newsom’s revised state budget. While applauding Gov. Newsom’s continued commitments and investments in education, the main concern is the limited resources allocated to increase Black Student Achievement.
Contact: Joanna French, Director Statewide Strategy [email protected]
May 15, 2023
Last Friday, Governor Newsom released the May revision of the proposed budget and held a press conference to discuss the final revision of the California budget. While we applaud the Governor’s continued investments in education, particularly his commitment to providing every California student with universal access to early learning, parent leaders continue to urge the Governor and legislators to ensure their priorities are reflected in the 2023-24 state budget.
In March, parent leaders traveled to Sacramento to discuss three priorities with California legislators. Our California Statewide Parent Leader Board organized around three key issues to uplift in the California 2023-2024 State Budget: Black student achievement, language accessibility for parents and guardians during the IEP process, and high-quality tutoring.
Though parent leaders continue to push for increased investments in expanded learning, particularly high-quality tutoring, as well as support for students receiving special education services, our main concern in this year’s budget is the Equity Multiplier.
Many people, including legislators, are applauding Governor Newsom’s response to the equity multiplier as a bold investment. If providing funding to 6.6% of California’s Black students(1) is a “bold investment”, then we have a long road ahead of us. At Friday’s press conference, the Governor stated that he is committed to “advanc[ing] the cause of addressing these systemic issues”. This is an alternative proposal that doesn’t follow through on the original intent of AB 2774 (Weber) and its commitment to the lowest performing subgroup of students, which in California are Black students. Innovate parent leaders remain committed to working with the Governor’s office and legislature to find a solution to ensure that California’s Black students have the investments and accountability they need to thrive.
A bold investment for California’s Black Students looks like:
- Dedicating new, ongoing funding to the lowest performing subgroup of students not already receiving supplemental funds through LCFF–currently Black students
- Implementing accountability and transparency measures across districts to make sure funds are used to improve outcomes for Black students
- Addressing the systemic issues that Black students face and ensuring all Black students can thrive academically and social-emotionally
- Requiring all districts to implement clear Black Student Achievement Plans that engage parents and community members and holding districts accountable to meeting the goals outlined in those plans. For example, Innovate parent leaders in Los Angeles worked with LAUSD staff to create and implement the Local District South Validated Plan for Black Students.
We will continue to organize for a high quality education for all of California’s Black and Brown students. Though we see opportunity in this current budget, there is far more work to be done. We urge the California State Legislature to invest in and hold Local Education Agencies accountable to providing an education system that supports all students-particularly the students who have been underserved for decades.
Source:
(1) According to an analysis by EdSource, funds distributed through the proposed Equity Multiplier would only reach an estimated 6.6% of Black students in California. (February 16, 2023).
Innovate Public Schools is a power building organization. We are dedicated to building the capacity of parents and families to organize, advocate, and demand high quality schools for their children.