Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday unveiled his preliminary spending plan for 2022-23, a $286.4 billion budget proposal that would once again increase funding for public health, schools, community colleges and economic relief.
The proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 builds on last year’s plan, which the state says is the largest recovery package in the nation. The latest budget proposal was broken down into five key areas: the pandemic, climate change, homelessness, cost of living and public safety.
A recent EdSource article helps break down the governor’s new spending plan and proposed funding for public education. A few highlights include:
- K-12 schools and community colleges will have $24 billion more to spend in 2022-23, with two-thirds coming from a one-time surplus from 2021-22 revenues.
- An additional $8.2 billion will be ongoing funding through Proposition 98, the highest Proposition 98 investment in California history.
- Per-student funding under Proposition 98 would be $15,261.
It is important to keep in mind that this budget is just a proposal. The plans still need to be discussed in the legislature and a revision to the budget will be presented in May.
And here are some of the other stories we’re following this week.
- The California Department of Public Health updated its COVID-19 guidance for K-12 schools with revised quarantine recommendations and a modified approach to contact tracing.
- With winter break over and classes reopened, the current surge of COVID-19 is leading to soaring absenteeism in schools throughout Orange County, reports the Orange County Register.
- And the recent COVID-19 surge has created a “rescheduling nightmare” for many local high schools that have been forced to cancel and postpone games and sporting events.
- In related news, the Los Angeles Unified School District postponed all athletic competitions this week due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.
- The Orange County Department of Education is gathering nominations for its annual Counselor Recognition Program. Nominations for 2022 are due by Jan. 28, and the winners will be announced during National School Counseling Week, which is Feb. 7-11.
- Academic event season is upon us, and the OCDE Newsroom has posted a rundown of some of the standards-based contests and events that OCDE will have a hand in from now through June.
- Inside the Outdoors Foundation, in partnership with the City of Newport Beach, is providing an opportunity for local residents to give back to the community during an MLK Day of Service trash pick-up event on Saturday, Jan. 15.
- Hundreds of staff and students at various school districts in Orange County have tested positive for COVID-19 following the winter break, and the number of confirmed cases at schools is now higher than it’s ever been, according to the county healthcare agency’s COVID dashboard.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom this week signed an executive order aimed at giving schools more flexibility when it comes to short-term staffing for in-person learning.
- And finally, the Ocean View School District Board of Trustees voted Tuesday night to demolish Park View School, clearing out an area that has been largely vacant since the 1980s and subject to graffiti and loitering.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.