Alliance Blog

To further support pathway success in the months ahead, the Linked Learning Alliance will provide weekly updates and insights on timely policy issues that are relevant to the Linked Learning community.

As the world adjusts to a new normal, policies related to funding, accountability, and other student and family supports continue to evolve. This week’s update draws attention to movement on several key federal and state initiatives that have direct impacts on funding at the local level.

This week’s update focuses on California’s ongoing efforts to address the technological and connectivity issues creating barriers for school districts. We also share the latest on Governor Newsom’s executive order detailing how districts can meet requirements in Local Control and Accountability Plans amid COVID-19, as well as new information on federal funding relief for states and teacher-directed professional development opportunities.

State policy will continue to be critical as we all navigate the realities of COVID-19, and we’ll no doubt be tracking on California’s “May Revise” to the state budget once it’s available. We share news of a recommendation to waive administrative requirements for Perkins, competitive grants that State educational agencies may apply for, and Secretary DeVos’ response to inquiries about IDEA requirements. We also have one California-specific update on the CDE’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) FAQs.

This week’s Sacramento policy news highlights the California Department of Education’s (CDE) guidance for districts as they navigate the uncharted waters of LCAP and budget processes during COVID-19, and the work of legislators as they focus their attention on the state budget and a small set of bills related to the COVID-19 crisis.

In this update, we’ve captured a number of key takeaways from the May Revise, along with some important updates from the May 2020 State Board of Education (SBE) meeting, including new insights about Federal Waivers, the California School Dashboard in general and the College and Career Indicator (CCI) in particular.

Here we share updates on the May Revise analysis, California Department of Education’s webinar on safely reopening schools, and the University of California’s vote to drop the SAT/ACT for student admissions.

The Capitol was abuzz this week, with meetings on Memorial Day and a full convening in the Assembly chambers on Tuesday, to continue to find a way forward on the state budget given the looming June 15 deadline. Read on for updates about action taken on federal funds distribution, legislators’ response to proposed Career Technical Education cuts, and plans for the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community College systems’ approach to engaging students in learning this Fall.

Wednesday and Thursday were big days for California’s budget process. On Wednesday, the state legislature put forward a joint budget package, a show of Senate and Assembly solidarity in their pursuit of protecting education funding. On Thursday, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee discussed the nuances of the plan, and laid out several specifics regarding funding they think should be made available for educational purposes. The Legislature’s preK-14 budget rejects direct cuts to LCFF, Career Technical Education, and other categorical programs. The final budget details are now being hammered out. We’ve captured all of that and more below.