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 reduced district flexibility compared with the Local Control Funding Formula and the state's capacity to provide effective oversight for thousands of new grantees. Michael Alferas of the LAO urged annual planning and reporting requirements, phased eligibility, and statutory timelines for accreditation guidelines to ensure manageability and early access to technical assistance.

Kimberly Rosenberger, speaking for the California Department of Education on behalf of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, urged support for the $1 billion ongoing commitment and asked the Legislature to add $20 million for county offices of education and regional technical assistance centers (RTAC/STAC) to ensure adequate supports as the model scales.

Public comment overwhelmingly supported ongoing funding. District officials, principals, parents, students and non-profit advocates told the subcommittee that community schools have reduced chronic absenteeism, raised graduation and A-G completion rates, and provided integrated student supports such as mental health services, family engagement and expanded learning. Multiple student speakers described personal benefits from arts, theater and tutoring programs made possible by community school investments.

LAO and some committee members cautioned that ongoing categorical funding could create administrative burdens and reduce local discretion, and asked for stronger planning, reporting, accreditation timelines and additional technical assistance funding. Department of Finance staff described the proposed accreditation model as qualitative and iterative, similar to other school accreditation systems, and said noncompliance would first trigger technical assistance and, if not corrected, make a site ineligible for ongoing apportionments until it returns to compliance.

Committee discussion also raised specific implementation questions: DoF said self-certification would be required for apportionment eligibility and the administration envisions a phased accreditation schedule with opportunities to reenter the program after remediation. The Department of Education requested the additional county-level supports the LAO and commenters recommended to preserve fidelity as the model expands.

The subcommittee did not take a final vote on the proposal during the hearing; members heard substantial testimony in favor of ongoing funding balanced by LAO recommendations to limit risk through phased implementation, reporting requirements and an emphasis on technical assistance.

The committee moved next to public comment and then adjourned; the proposal and suggested trailer bill language will remain subject to budget negotiations and follow-up staff work.