Legislation & Advocacy: Legislative Alerts
01.23.12: School Funding Flexibility Survey Request
As some of you may know, for the past two years we’ve conducted a school district finance survey to provide the legislature with information on how districts are building their budgets and responding to recent state budget-related . . . read more
12.05.11: Home-To-School Transportation - Request for Action
SSDA sent an Urgent Action Needed request ( 07.14.2011: Urgent Action Requested ) regarding the targeting of small rural school districts with the State Budget proposal to eliminate Home-to-School and Special Education Transportation as . . . read more
08.17.11: Action Still Needed
SSDA sent an Urgent Action Needed request ( 07.14.2011: Urgent Action Requested ) regarding the targeting of small rural school districts with the State Budget proposal to eliminate Home-to-School and Special Education Transportation as . . . read more
07.14.2011: Urgent Action Requested
State Budget Targets Rural School Districts - Urgent Action Needed The 2011-12 State Budget agreement includes a possible cut to Home-to-School and Special Education Transportation funding. If state revenues are . . . read more
05.12.11: LAO Consolidation Report Update
Today, May 12, Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education heard the Legislative Analyst’s Office recommendations regarding consolidating small school districts . The Committee took no action. From the Committee’s . . . read more
05.03.11: Action Still Needed on LAO School Consolidation
Yesterday the Legislative Analyst's Office submitted a report on School District Consolidation. The Assembly Budget Subcommittee heard the Legislative Analyst’s report today and took no action. This does not mean the . . . read more
05.02.11: LAO Small School District Recommendations - Action Needed
IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED Please call your State Senator and State Assembly Member today to express your concerns with the Legislative Analyst’s recommendations. Let your Legislator know how the recommendations would affect . . . read more
12.14.10: LEA's Facing SARC Reporting Deadline Can Apply for State Waivers
December 10, 2010 Due to recent actions at the state level there is an opportunity to apply for an expedited waiver of the February 1, 2011 SARC deadline (Education Code 35256). Completed waivers received by the CDE Waiver . . . read more
07.19.10: SBE and CDE Penalize Small School Districts in Draft Low-Achieving Schools List
The State Board of Education (SBE) has adopted regulations to implement the Open Enrollment Act that was passed as part of the state’s failed application for Race to the Top funds. While the state application was not adopted by the . . . read more
07.14.10: PUC Acts to Suspend School Solar Incentives
On Friday, the California Public Utilities Commission acted to suspend governmental and non-profit solar projects from rebates through the California Solar Initiative. This was an unexpected action that will put a chill on school solar . . . read more
06.23.10: Action Alert
Federal Spending to Protect Education Jobs The House of Representatives still is trying to add up to $23 billion to the federal spending bills for K-12 education. California will receive about 12% of any new funds . . . read more
03.08.10: SB 1136 Set for Senate Education on April 14
Senate Bill 1136 (Cox) is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Education Committee the morning of April 14, 2010. SB 1136 would provide some relief from excessive state aid deferrals to small districts with small budgets. Currently, . . . read more
SSDA Urges Members to Support ACSA’S Efforts
The Education Coalition Supports Activities in Local Communities Statewide to “Start the Day for Students” on March 4, 2010 Teachers, parents, principals, custodians, food service workers, . . . read more
12.01.09: Community Day School Funding Deadline
Remember to apply for supplemental Community Day School funding if your district started or expanded a Community Day School in 2008-09 or established a new school in 2009-2010. The deadline is approaching. For more information please . . . read more
11.05.09: Possible Funding Source for Community Day Schools
Urgent : Possible funding source for community day schools established in 2008-09 or 2009-10 Much of the funding for community day schools (CDSs) for schools years 2008-09, 2009-10 and continuing through 2012-13 . . . read more
08.26.09: QEIA Lobby Day Called by ACSA, SES and TSS
QEIA Lobby Day – Wednesday, September 2, 2009 *** HIGH PRIORITY *** The following high priority message contains information regarding a proposed lobby day at the State Capitol for all Quality . . . read more
05.04.09: CDC Requests School District Information
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has asked the American Association of School Administrators to collect information about school closures related to swine flu in the United States. To track school . . . read more
04.13.09: SAB Funding Update
The State Allocation Board (SAB) has adopted a multi-year funding process for all previously approved but unfunded extreme hardship projects. The SAB adopted funding the projects at 21% of the project cost for each year for the next five . . . read more
04.07.09: School Districts of Choice Legislation Update
Many SSDA members have indicated opposition to school districts of choice, and many members have indicated support for school districts of choice. SSDA has no position. However, we want our members to be informed that SB 680 is . . . read more
03.06.09: AB 844 Request for Action
The Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA) is sponsoring state mandate reimbursement reform legislation in the 2009 legislative session. Our sponsored legislation, Assembly Bill 844 , is being authored by Assembly Republican . . . read more
Districts of Choice Update
Many SSDA district members oppose extending the current Districts of Choice interdistrict transfer authority and many SSDA member districts support extending and expanding such authority. Because there is not a general agreement in the . . . read more
02.06.09: Districts of Choice Survey
A legislative office is considering legislation to allow school districts to become “districts of choice.” A district of choice must accept students from other districts up to the district of choice capacity and must establish a . . . read more
01.05.09: CTA Submits Public School Investment and Accountability Act
The Public School Investment and Accountability Act The California Teachers Association has submitted t he Public School Investment and Accountability Act to the Attorney General. They hope to qualify . . . read more
August 14, 2008: Action Alert: AB 2783
Please contact your Assembly Member and Senator and ask them to vote NO on AB 2783 (Plescia). See the following Floor Alert for more information on the legislation: VOTE “NO” ON AB 2783 (Plescia) . . . read more
May 19, 2008: Governor’s Budget Continues Funding for Small School District Deferred Maintenance Extreme Hardship
While the Governor’s May Revision proposes to cut deferred maintenance funding by $222.6 million, the May Revision also proposes to reserve $39.6 million to fund fully the small school district extreme hardship program. . . . read more
May 9, 2008: ARB Attack on School Transportation
This proposed rule by the Air Resources Board (ARB) is one of the biggest threats to school transportation. Starting in 2010, it will force you to replace engines on your older school buses! 1. . . . read more
STRS Credit Enhancement Program
March 6, 2008 SSDA met with representatives of the State Teachers’ Retirement System regarding STRS’ credit enhancement program. This program can help school districts that are facing increased interest costs for issuing new debt. . . . read more
Forest County Funding Loses U.S. Senate Vote
December 10, 2007 The extension of Forest County funding failed a United States Senate vote on Friday. Please keep calling your Representative and ask them to continue supporting the funding extension with new . . . read more
Rural County Funding Going to a Vote
The extension of the rural forest county funding is going to be part of the Energy Bill vote in the House of Representatives. Many small districts receive significant funding from this program that is set to sunset. Today or tomorrow, . . . read more
