By Alex White
Executive Opinion Editor
California Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed plan to direct more Proposition 30 funding toward lower income and English-learner districts is the right choice and could begin to bring education equality to districts across the state.
Debate over this Local Control Funding Formula comes along with the creation and passage of Prop 30 last November. It increased taxes, specifically on individuals making more than $250,000, in order to raise more money for schools. If the LCFF proposal were to pass through legislature, Brown would aim to refund the cuts made to per-student education funding in the past years and additionally fund about $2,450 for each English learner, foster youth, or low income student.
If 35 percent of students in a district is disadvantaged, the district would receive grants from the state. If that number is over half, they would get additional funding. These are the rough estimates of the LCFF system that are not yet fully in place.
Debate over LCFF is simply over how proportional the funding increase is in low income urban districts and high income suburban districts. If LCFF passes, Manhattan Beach Unified School District, by these standards, is considered a district that will receive far less money compared to districts like Los Angeles Unified. While this may seem inequitable, it would work to level the already unfair educational playing field for less fortunate students who may not even speak the language taught in their classes. One fact that cannot be overlooked is that regardless of how Proposition 30 funding is allocated, all districts will see some benefit.
The government can only do so much to help students get an education. Externalities, like parents’ involvement in their children’s education, the individual commitment of students and natural intelligence and work ethic, are all crucial factors in learning that the government cannot control. Well-off socio-economic areas naturally have better externalities that go into education. Allowing poorer districts to have better access to government funding would allow them to compete better with more traditionally competitive academic districts. MBUSD and similar districts also have the benefit of strong Parent Teacher Associations and monetarily supportive education foundations that others do not.
However, this is not to say that the state would be intentionally handicapping students in traditionally rich, English-speaking cities like Manhattan Beach or Beverly Hills. Base funding for all districts will still increase, just more money would be going to those who need it; all students will benefit while at the same time the education playing field will become more level statewide.
Although increasing class sizes and making new technology available are pressing issues, low-income districts face even greater problems. LAUSD and Oakland Unified School District both have had problems increasing their graduation rate, which are 61 and 63 percent, respectively. Districts that wouldn’t receive grants don’t even have to deal with problems of this magnitude; money to these districts could go toward programs that get students engaged and increase graduation rates.
That being said, Brown’s LCFF isn’t flawless. Additionally, LCFF has been attached to the budget, causing the proposal to be rushed through the political process, decreasing the expert and public input received on the proposal. Considering the poor job to make voters aware of the direction of Prop 30 funds, Brown should not rush the proposal to ensure that the funding reflects public opinion and to allow debate for a more moderate solution. But, all things considered, the LCFF would work to improve the inequity in the education system.
Additional funds would be made available to all districts with Prop 30 under LCFF, and those who need it most would receive a deservedly more proportional amount amount of funding. When the California State Senate moves to vote on how to properly allocate the Prop 30 funds, it should pass Brown’s well-debated and necessary LCFF plan.
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