Urge Governor to Sign SB 84 to Protect QEIA and Restore $402M
It’s urgent right now to press Gov. Schwarzenegger to sign SB 84 to protect school districts’ revenue limits while securing $402 million in promised funding for the Quality Education Investment Act. Nearly 2.7 million students – primarily minority and economically disadvantaged students and English Language Learners – will be harmed should the governor veto the bill.
For a detailed discussion, see http://californiascapitol.com/blog/?p=889. Also, Check our QEIA section additional information.
SB 84 will both protect QEIA and prevent funds from being redirected from schools’ Revenue Limits – districts’ basic per-student funding – until the state Superintendent of Public Instruction certifies that other state or federal funds will be used to replace the Revenue Limit funds.
The QEIA funding was guaranteed as part of the July 2009-2010 state budget agreement. The “QEIA Fix” bill provides a process to allow districts to certify their local budgets and fully implement QEIA. The ambiguity of the original legislation has made some districts increasingly nervous.
Background: Court Ruling Won Funds
Under a court settlement brought by CTA in 2006, the administration agreed to provide the Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) with $406 million annually in non-Proposition 98 funding.
CTA filed the lawsuit when the Schwarzenegger administration refused to repay moneys owed to public education as a result of the suspension of Proposition 98 in 2004-2005.
As part of the 2009 budget agreement, the funding for QEIA was to be provided from other state and federal sources, not at the expense of basic school funding.
CTA and its allies successfully persuaded lawmakers last month to approve the “QEIA Fix” bill.
Once signed, the bill will guarantee that no Revenue Limit funding will be diverted from school districts until replacement state or federal funds have been identified and certified.
SB 84, the “QEIA Fix” bill awaiting the governor’s signature, will repair the financial transaction, protect local school districts, and get the desperately needed funding out to schools.
CTA Coordinators: Contact Lawmakers - Contact Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office.
Call him at 916.445.2841. Fax him at 916.445.5633. Write him at The State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. Email him using the convenient Legislative Action Center.
Urge other CTA members at your school to contact the governor. Use the talking points below. Please make your calls starting immediately. The message is short and simple:
- Sign SB 84 (Steinberg), the Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) fix bill now.
- Protect basic funding for all districts while ensuring that QEIA schools also get their own desperately needed funding.
- The QEIA Fix Bill will ensure that other state and federal funding is directed to the QEIA and those schools of greatest need.
For more information, contact CTA Manager of Legislative Relations Lori Easterling or GR Communications Consultant Len Feldman at 916.325.1500.