Panel hears push for $1 billion in ongoing funding to expand California community schools

The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education on the record considered the governor's proposal to make the Community Schools Partnership model an ongoing, statewide funding stream.

In a presentation, Shadi Neri of the Department of Finance said the state has invested about $4.1 billion one-time Proposition 98 funding to date and the governor's budget proposes $1 billion in ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund to expand the community schools model to roughly 3,700 additional sites and provide ongoing support for existing schools. DoF described a plan to align the expansion with the Statewide System of Support and strengthen technical assistance and an accreditation process to preserve implementation fidelity.

The Legislative Analyst's Office recommended continuing the state's one-time funding approach rather than establishing a new ongoing categorical program, citing concerns about…