Legislation & Advocacy
01.27.12: Big Three Tax Initiatives
Please click here for an overview of the big three tax initiatives. read more
11.21.11: State Unemployment Rate Falls
Notwithstanding the gloom from the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) report I wanted you to know the following more positive news about the rest of the year. Remember the Department of Finance has always said they believed most . . . read more
11.16.11: All Children Are Equal Act (H.R. 2485)
All Children are Equal Act (H.R. 2485) to be Considered by the House Education and the Workforce Committee Contact Your Member of Congress Now to Urge Support The U.S. House of Representatives' Education and the Workforce . . . read more
06.06.11: Legislative Update
June 3rd was the last day for bills to pass their house of origin (Assembly Bills to pass the Assembly and Senate Bills to pass the Senate) if they are to continue this year. Click here to view the current status of significant bills. . . . read more
05.06.11: SSDA Activities
SSDA has been lobbying on legislation, state budget and the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) recommendations on small school district consolidation. SSDA has responded to the LAO. SSDA has testified on numerous bills during . . . read more
03.28.11: Mandate Reimbursement and Flexibility Reform Legislation
Senator Emmerson is authoring the SSDA-supported SB 887 for mandate reimbursement and flexibility reform. Click here to view a support letter by the sponsor, the Riverside County Schools Advocacy Association, . . . read more
03.06.2011: Open Enrollment Legislation
The Open Enrollment Act reform bill ( Assembly Bill 47 by Assembly Member Huffman ) is set for hearing in Assembly Education Committee on March 16, 2011. SSDA supports this important legislation and will be working with legislative staff on . . . read more
01.20.11: National Gallery of Art Teacher Institute
The National Gallery of Art invites teachers of kindergarten through grade twelve to apply for a six-day seminar that explores American art of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Individual sessions will integrate art, social . . . read more
01.05.11: Governor Brown Makes Appointments to State Board of Education
This looks like a high quality, experienced, positive State Board of Education. Governor Brown should be complimented for these appointments. ~Dave Walrath Governor Brown today . . . read more
01.03.11: California Voting Rights Act
Many school districts, including small school districts, will need to review how they elect their trustees after the 2010 Census. The California Voting Rights Act provisions could require changes from at-large to trustee area elections. . . . read more
11.03.10: Election Update
State Legislature Still Democratic Governor-Elect Jerry Brown will be able to work with a solidly Democratic Legislature. Democrats picked up one Assembly seat to be at 52 to 28 in that body. They are just two members . . . read more
10.19.10: Low Interest School Facility Bonds Available
The second round of Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCB) is available from the California Department of Education. The application (click here to view the application) allows small school districts to secure the bonds with . . . read more
10.01.10: Status of Significant Legislation on Governor's Desk
SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR AB 191 (Assembly Budget Committee) Requires that all March 2011 deferred payments to county offices of education, school districts, and . . . read more
09.27.10: Governor Signs AB 2560
State Application Process Will Now Move Quickly California QSCB Authorization AB 2560 (Brownley) , signed by the Governor on Friday, is the state legislation that provides the authority to the California Department . . . read more
09.09.10: Frequently Asked Questions About Special Sessions
Because we do not have a budget at the end of the regular session, school districts have many questions about what happens next. Just as the Governor has called special sessions for budget emergencies, taxes, school reform, water, and . . . read more
09.07.10: SBE Hearing - Open Enrollment Act
During the morning of September 16 th , the State Board of Education will hear the Open Enrollment Act final regulations prior to the 15-day comment period. Please attend or be prepared to send comments if your school district has a . . . read more
09.03.10: Legislation Update
Sponsored Legislation SB 898 (Ashburn (R)) Relates to the After School Education and Safety Program to serve pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 9 at participating public elementary, middle, junior high and . . . read more
09.02.10: City of Bell Scandal Results in New School Superintendent Contract Procedures
In responding to the scandals from the City of Bell, other cities and the Public Employees’ Retirement System, the Legislature cast a wide net in making changes to employment and retirement provisions for local government management . . . read more
08.13.10: Status of Legislation
Click here to view the status of significant legislation tracked by the Small School Districts' Association. read more
08.10.10: SSDA Amendments Accepted
Senator Simitian and Senator Ashburn have accepted SSDA proposed amendments to their bills - SB 1381 (Simitian) and SB 623 (Ashburn) - that withdraw SSDA’s opposition to those bills. The SB 1381 . . . read more
07.30.10: Status of Significant Legislation
Please click here to view the status of significant legislation in pdf format. read more
07.30.10: CPUC Lifts Suspension of PBI and Gov't/Non-Profit Projects
Yesterday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a Ruling, directing the California Solar Initiative (CSI) Program Administrators (PAs) to resume processing all applications, including those PBI and . . . read more
Legislative Update
SSDA Sponsored Bills: SB 898 (Ashburn (R)) Relates to the After School Education and Safety Program to serve pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 9 at participating public elementary, middle, junior high and . . . read more
05.24.10: New Regulations Affecting Project Funding
For school districts thinking about entering contracts between now and the end of this year, the district should be aware of the new regulations affecting project funding. New Labor Compliance Program (LCP) regulations have been submitted by . . . read more
04.23.10: Opposed Legislation Update
AB 1605 (Coto (D)) Amends existing law that relates to the design and construction of school buildings to ensure that plans and specifications comply with various structural safety standards. Authorizes a local educational agency to . . . read more
03.30.10: 2010 Significant Legislation
SPONSORED OR COSPONSORED LEGISLATION SB 898 (Ashburn (R)) Summary: Relates to the After School Education and Safety Program to serve pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 9 at participating . . . read more
03.26.10: Legislative Update
The SSDA co-sponsored Senate Bill 898 passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. The bill would establish small school minimum funding grants for after school programs. The bill next will go to the Senate Appropriations . . . read more
03.15.10: A Better Week for Schools
Last week was a good week for schools. The State Controller announced that the state revenues were continuing to exceed – by about $600 million – the budget as passed revenue estimates. Also the Treasurer sold state bonds, . . . read more
02.23.10: SB 1136 - State Cash Deferral Relief for Small Districts
Senator Cox has introduced Senate Bill 1136 to provide state cash deferral relief for small (500 or fewer ADA) school districts. While the state is considering restructuring the revenue limit deferrals to potentially increase the . . . read more
01.28.10: Finally Some Good News About Support For K-12 Education
PPIC poll: Tax us to protect K-12 schools (click to read entire article) Two-thirds of adults surveyed in a Public Policy Institute of California poll say they support higher taxes to maintain funding for K-12 schools. And a full . . . read more
01.28.10: SAB Update
For the past week the Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA) has been lobbying to maintain state school facility grants at their current level. SSDA lobbied the State Allocation Board (SAB) members and staff, but . . . read more
01.06.10: Race to the Top, State of the State and Assembly Updates
The Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA) Executive Committee has discussed the question of whether small schools districts should or should not sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Race To The Top (RTTT). The Executive . . . read more
12.22.09: Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund
Does your district need to remove an underground storage tank? Are you aware of the School District Account in the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund? (See Section 25299.50.2 of the Health and Safety Code ). . . . read more
07.31.10: Status of Significant Legislation
Please click here to view the status of significant legislation in pdf format. read more
09.18.09: Status of Significant Legislation
Please click here to view the status of significant legislation followed by the Small School Districts' Association. (pdf) read more
08.17.09: Recovery Funded Ultra-Low Interest Loans Available to Spur Economic Growth and Energy Efficiency Projects in California
Governor Schwarzenegger released the following press release on August 13: http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/12999/ Public Energy Efficient and Renewable Energy Projects Eligible The California Recovery Task . . . read more
08.14.09: Education Finance Districts
SSDA is working with Assembly Member Tom Torlakson to develop more opportunities for small school districts to join together for cooperative programs. As part of this effort, Assembly Member Torlakson is authoring Assembly Bill 267. . . . read more
03.27.09: SAB Action on Deferred Maintenance
On Wednesday, March 25, the State Allocation Board (SAB) acted on Deferred Maintenance and Deferred Maintenance Extreme Hardship project allocations. The SAB did not adopt the SSDA recommendation (see attached) which SSDA believed . . . read more
03.10.09: Flexibility Survey
SSDA is trying to determine how member districts are using the new flexibility authorized by the budget agreement and as explained in the Superintendent of Public Instruction's letter : While this is a very large subject I am . . . read more
03.09.09: SSDA Special Election Recommendations
SSDA has adopted support positions on Propositions 1A, 1B, 1C and 1F that are all on the May 19 special election ballot. The special election ballot is part of the agreement for balancing the state budget in 2008-09 through . . . read more
Can School Districts Initiate Another Round of Certificated Employee Layoffs after March 15?
Education Code Section 44955.5 allows school districts to initiate additional certificated employee layoffs if: “During the time period between five days after the enactment of the Budget Act and August 15 of the fiscal year to . . . read more
Proposition 39 Audit Requirements
As part of Proposition 39, school districts which enact 55% voter approval bonds pursuant to Proposition 39 must conduct performance audits. These audits are not specific but are intended to ensure that the Proposition 39 bond funds are . . . read more
State Allocation Board Update
PMIB The State Allocation Board (SAB) met on February 25, to continue discussing how to address the state’s credit crunch which has restricted the ability to provide fund releases for new construction and modernization projects. . . . read more
Don't Panic
Yesterday, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer indicated the state’s cash flow problems could result in a delay or termination of funding new infrastructure projects. The Treasurer indicated that such a slowdown or stoppage could occur . . . read more
12.04.08: Lottery Sales Drop
The State Lottery has reported an almost 10 percent decline in lottery ticket sales for the July through October time period. This means school districts should prepare for a similar percent decline in the anticipated 2008-09 . . . read more
11.05.08: When is News not News?
Last night the Democrats increased their membership in both the California State Assembly and Senate. The increase, however, was not to the magic two-thirds necessary to pass a state budget or tax increase without Republican votes. . . . read more
09.03.08: Status of Significant Legislation
The Legislature has completed action on legislation for this two-year session, other than for budget trailer (urgency) bills and the State Budget. Click here for the status of significant enrolled and signed legislation. . . . read more
Legislative and Regulatory Focus
Small School Districts' Association 2007-2008 Legislative Platform School Finance: In addition to ensuring funding for the COLA and full funding equalization, establish the following goals: Provide . . . read more
Legislative Accomplishments
2009 Accomplishments State Ensured that small districts eligible for extreme hardship funding received funds through the flexibility item. Worked on the budget flexibility provisions including CSR flexibility. . . . read more
