March 23, 2018
Dear AUSD Community:
California is the nation’s most populous and wealthiest state. One ranking, however, is not so laudable – how our state funds the education of its six million school children. In 2015-16, California ranked 41st among all states in spending per K-12 student after adjusting for differences in the cost of living in each state, according to the California Budget & Policy Center. That same year, we ranked last in the nation with the highest number of students per teacher. It shouldn't be this way.
On February 16, Assemblymember Muratsuchi submitted a new bill to the Assembly, AB 2808, which calls for the Governor to increase the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) targets to provide public schools with education funding at the national average. This bill will be heard in the Assembly Education Committee in the next few weeks. For Albany, this funding would allow us to continue to provide much needed services and programs and to recruit and retain highly qualified staff.
Our legislators and senators are more likely to support schools if they hear from students and parents. I am asking the AUSD community to write to the politicians who represent Albany and to the members of the Assembly Education Committee. Letters sent by U.S. Mail have a bit more impact, but emails are tallied and do matter. Whatever you have time for will be a strong positive and will definitely help. Even calling and leaving a simple message that you want them to support AB2808 will have an impact. Below is a letter you can send to our local lawmakers:
- Senator Nancy Skinner: [email protected]
- Assemblymember Tony Thurmond: [email protected]
I know that everyone’s time is valuable, but we deserve to be one of the top 10 funded states, not 41st.
Thank you for all that you do to support Albany Schools!
Val Williams
Superintendent
Superintendent
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SAMPLE LETTER:
March 23, 2018
Re: AB 2808 (Muratsuchi)
Dear Lawmaker:
As a concerned parent/community member in the Albany Unified School District, I am writing to express my strong support for Assembly Bill (AB) 2808 (Muratsuchi), which would increase the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) targets to provide public schools with education funding at the national average. This bill will be heard in the Assembly Education Committee on April 11, 2018, and we ask that you sign on as a co-author of this very important legislation.
The new funding targets established in AB 2808 will help ensure that all school districts can meet existing cost pressures and allow for future growth and enrichment of instructional programs for all students. Current LCFF targets look backwards to 2007-08 funding levels and do not keep pace with the massive growth in fixed costs such as employer pension contributions, health care, and special education services. It is imperative that California look ahead and specify new, higher LCFF targets.
Specifically, this bill would increase LCFF targets as follows:
- From $6,845 to $11,799 for average daily attendance in Kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive
- From $6,974 to $11,975 for average daily attendance in grades 4-6, inclusive
- From $7,154 to $12,332 for average daily attendance in grades 7-8
- From $8,289 to $14,289 for average daily attendance in grades 9-12, inclusive
The funding level proposed by AB 2808 would be financed over time using the growth in Proposition 98 funds.
The Albany Unified School District Board of Education passed Resolution 2017-18-16 Calling for Support of AB 2808 (Muratsuchi) on March 13, 2018.
This is a critical next step to ensure the legacy of the LCFF is continued for future generations of schoolchildren. We seek your support and co-authorship of AB 2808 and sincerely thank you for your ongoing support of our schools and public education.
Sincerely,
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