State to Make Sure LAUSD Doesn't Lose $29 Million Because of Terror Threat Closure

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said today he supported the decision to close Los Angeles schools in response to an email threat, and he directed his staff to work with the district to prevent the loss of millions of dollars in state funding due to the mass closure.

“Creating and maintaining a safe environment for students, teachers, parents, administrators and classified employees is our top priority,” Torlakson said.

“I urge school districts to check their school safety plans to make sure they are up to date,” he said. “The California Department of Education stands ready to assist school districts in enhancing and improving their safety plans. We have a variety of available resources for districts, including on our website.”

Torlakson said he instructed state DOE officials to work with the Los Angeles Unified School District so it can qualify for relief from a loss of Average Daily Attendance funding from the state.

The amount of money schools receive from the state is based in part on how many students attend class on a daily basis. A drop in attendance leads to a drop in funding -- and a full closure of the district for the day could be particularly costly. Torlakson said the LAUSD could lose about $29 million due to today’s closure, but he said he will work to ensure that does not happen.

“We are nearly 100 percent certain that we can take the steps to restore those funds to the district,” he said.

According to the state, a district can receive special ADA credit for days lost due to an “emergency closure.”

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, said the Senate staff will also work with the LAUSD to ensure that schools receive funding for the day.

“Loss of funding should never be (a) factor in keeping students safe,” de Leon said via Twitter.

City News Service