There is One Thing Parents Can Do To Improve the Quality of Education for Every Student

Just the Facts:

• The California Lottery was created for the sole purpose of of providing “supplemental” revenue to public education without the imposition of additional or increased taxes.

• “Supplemental” revenue is required by law to be used for “instructional materials and supplies”, and the “enrichment” or “expansion” of existing programs and levels of service.

• In violation of the State’s Lottery Law- 80% of Lottery Revenues are not used for their intended purpose; but, are used to pay employee salaries, pensions and benefits.

• Only 20% of Lottery Revenues are used for their stated legal purpose.

• In CUSD there are wealth based inequalities in the quality of instruction that students receive in Art and Music which is the result of the District’s refusal to fund Art and Music Programs for every student that align with State Content Standards and Curriculum Frameworks. This has forced parents and the public to fundraise for Art and Music. Those schools that do not have the ability to fundraise go without.

• If Parents and the Public put pressure on CUSD to spend 100% of the Lottery Funds on the students, as required by law, there is sufficient Lottery Funds to provide every K-6 student in the district with an art and music curriculum that is aligned with State Content Standards and Curriculum Frameworks.

• PTA’s and Foundations would no longer be required to use donations to fund Art and Music, which would allow fundraising and donations to be used for other purposes.

The Cost to fund Art grades 1-5 is about $11 per student

The Cost to fund a full year of Primary Music K - 3 is about $97 per student

Total Cost: $108 per student

The Capistrano Unified School District received $8,380,454 in total lottery funds and according to the 2015 - 16 budget that was adopted on June 24, 2015. This translates to $162 per student.

If parents were to demand that CUSD use 100% of the Lottery money for its intended purpose, that would leave $54 for instructional materials and supplies in addition to providing District funded Art and Music for every student.

On June 24, 2015 CUSD adopted a 2015-16 Budget that included $8,380,454 in Lottery revenue. This money has not been allocated yet because employee negotiations have not been completed.

• Unrestricted $6,679,168
• Restricted $1,701,286 (-0- has been allocated to Instructional Materials and supplies)
• Total $8,380,454

Source:
http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/file/1229223560406/1218998864154/1095880305525509113.pdf
page 17 of 166 page 57 of Agenda:

Demand that CUSD use the Lottery Funds in accordance with State law.

Demand that CUSD pay for a District funded Art and Music curriculum that is aligned with State Content Standards and Curriculum Frameworks for every student, not just those students who attend schools where fundraising is easier, because parents are wealthier.

The Lottery Money was specifically mandated to fund instructional materials and supplies and enrichment or expansion of programs beyond the core. The money was mean to reach the KIDS and was not meant to be spent on employee compensation increases.

It’s your right A FREE and EQUAL public Education.

For More Information and Documentation:

See:
Where Did All The Lottery Money Go: http://disclosurecusd.blogspot.com/2016/02/where-did-all-lottery-money-go-as-usual.html

Board Audio regarding Fundraising for Core Educational Programs:

January 27, 2016 Citizen Presentation to the Board “Fundraising for Core Educational Programs” Agenda Item #5 page 7 Exhibit 5A-1 and 5A-2Slide Presentation to the Board Exhibit 5A1: http://www.slideshare.net/DawnUrbanek/fundraising-for-core-educational-programs

Staff Recommendation to Trustees Exhibit 5A-2 at page http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/file/1218998819331/1262503101751/5233370917763515617.pdf

The District’s response contained a direct reference to the fact that under Local Control, the CDE no longer “required” school districts to follow State Content Standards and Curriculum Frameworks. Under Local Control, subject content and instruction time were left to the discretion of the classroom teacher, the school site Principal, and District Administration.

CUSD’s stated position is that California school districts are no longer required to provide every student with the “minimum” curriculum defined by Education Code Section 51210 and 51220. My complaint was denied on the basis that embedding art and music into an individual classrooms daily curriculum satisfied minimum standards for instruction in art and music. The District went on to say that those schools that could fundraise for primary music, taught by a district employee that held a special teaching credential in music did not create wealth based inequities among students, because that was “enrichment” beyond the minimum curriculum as defined by the State’s new Local Control Funding Formula. The District also stated that those schools that could fundraise for programs like Meet the Masters or Art Masters did not create wealth based inequities among students in the district because that was “enrichment” beyond the minimum curriculum required. The same is applied to those schools that can fundraise for science, instructional aids, academic counselors, librarians, class size reduction, instructional materials and supplies and building maintenance.

Staff went on to state:

“The Parent Teacher Association provides access to visual and performing arts programs above and beyond the minimum requirement. The District is very appreciative of the additional programs that enrich our students and wish to maintain these opportunities so generously donated by parents.”

At the January 27, 2016 meeting I used my time to discuss Staff’s Exhibit 5A-2 instead of going through the slide presentation regarding Fundraising for Core Educational Programs that I had originally intended to present.

http://cusd.capousd.org/cusdweb/boardaudio/1-27-16/CUSDBoardMeeting.January.27.2016.mp3

The item presentation and discussion can be hear on the Board Audio at 2 hours 26 minutes 16 seconds - 2 hours 46 minutes 50 seconds

At 2 hours 38 minutes 5 seconds - Fundraising for music teachers compensation increases - $25,000 compensation increase in one year paid for with fundraising dollars which created some schools to drop the program.

At 2 hours 41 minutes 18 seconds - Concern that PTA’s would not be able to fundraise for art and music anymore.

At 2 hours 43 minutes 06 seconds - Differential services must be looked into.

At 2 hours 44 minutes 12 seconds - The law still requires Credentialed Teachers to teach art and music - classroom teachers and parents do not hold a specialized teaching credential in art or music.

At 2 hours 45 minutes 23 seconds - We have a legal path to get adequate funding from the State to provide every student with all core educational programs.

Conclusion by Trustees- Fundraising is creating wealth based inequities in the quality of education that students are receiving within the District; but, the continued lack of adequate funding from the State provides the District with little recourse.