The 2017-18 Budget

California Spending Plan

(Final Version)

Proposition 98

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State budgeting for schools and community colleges is based primarily on Proposition 98, approved by voters in 1988 and amended in 1990. In this section, we provide an overview of Proposition 98 changes under the enacted budget package. We then highlight Proposition 98 spending changes specifically for K‑12 education and community colleges. On the “EdBudget” portion of our website, we post dozens of tables containing additional detail about the Proposition 98 budget (as well as the child care and higher education budgets).

Overview

Proposition 98 Establishes Minimum Spending Level. Proposition 98 establishes a minimum spending requirement commonly called the minimum guarantee. The minimum guarantee is determined by three main formulas (known as tests) and various inputs, including General Fund revenue, per capita personal income, and K‑12 attendance. The state can spend at the minimum guarantee or any level above it. Spending above the minimum guarantee one year typically becomes part of the base for calculating the minimum guarantee the next year. If the minimum guarantee increases after budget enactment due to updated inputs, the state owes a “settle‑up” obligation. In some years, the state also creates or pays “maintenance factor.” Maintenance factor is created when General Fund revenue is weak relative to per capita personal income and is paid when General Fund revenue is stronger.

2015‑16 and 2016‑17 Minimum Guarantees Down but Total Spending Up Slightly. Figure 1 shows how estimates of the minimum guarantee and Proposition 98 spending have changed from the June 2016 to June 2017 budget plans. The 2015‑16 minimum guarantee has decreased $379 million due to lower‑than‑expected General Fund revenue. Proposition 98 spending that year, however, has increased $53 million due to various minor adjustments involving the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and community college apportionments. The 2016‑17 minimum guarantee has decreased $558 million, again due to lower estimates of General Fund revenue. Proposition 98 spending that year has decreased by $484 million, but total spending, including a settle‑up payment of $514 million, is up slightly ($29 million) from the June 2016 level. The settle‑up payment allows the state to cover some 2016‑17 LCFF costs using funds set aside for Proposition 2 (2014) debt payments. In both 2015‑16 and 2016‑17, Proposition 98 spending is above the calculated minimum guarantees.

2017‑18 Spending Up $3.1 Billion Over Revised 2016‑17 Level. Figure 2 shows Proposition 98 spending for each segment from 2015‑16 through 2017‑18. In 2017‑18, total spending across all segments is $74.5 billion, an increase of $3.1 billion (4.4 percent) from the revised 2016‑17 level. For 2017‑18, the state funds at the estimate of the minimum guarantee. This estimate builds upon the higher levels of spending provided in 2015‑16 and 2016‑17. (Had the state not funded above the guarantee in those two years, the 2017‑18 guarantee would have been $542 million lower.) Test 2 is the operative test in 2017‑18, with the change in the guarantee attributable to a 3.7 percent increase in per capita personal income and a 0.05 percent decline in K‑12 attendance. The increase in the guarantee also reflects a maintenance factor payment of $536 million. Under the administration’s estimates, the state would end 2017‑18 with an outstanding maintenance factor obligation of $900 million.

About One‑Third of Increase Covered With Higher Property Tax Revenue. Of the total Proposition 98 spending provided in 2017‑18, $52.6 billion is state General Fund and $21.9 billion is local property tax revenue. From 2016‑17 to 2017‑18, state General Fund increases $2.1 billion (accounting for about two‑thirds of the $3.1 billion increase in spending) and property tax revenue increases by $1 billion. The primary factor explaining the growth in property tax revenue is the projected 5.3 percent growth in assessed property values, which is similar to the average growth rate over the past 20 years.

Budget Plan Notwithstands Statutory Supplemental Payment Through 2020‑21. A law enacted in 1990 requires the state to provide a supplemental appropriation when Test 3 is the operative test for calculating the minimum guarantee and school funding otherwise would grow less quickly than the rest of the state budget. The budget plan notwithstands the supplemental appropriation through 2020‑21. Under the administration’s estimates, this has no effect on school funding in 2017‑18 because Test 3 is not operative. In the latter three years of the period, the administration estimates that notwithstanding the supplement will reduce required Proposition 98 spending by $440 million in 2018‑19, $300 million in 2019‑20, and $110 million in 2020‑21. (These estimates are highly sensitive to a variety of assumptions, particularly growth in General Fund revenue and per capita personal income.) To the extent the state provides a lower level of funding in these years, it will have a corresponding increase in its maintenance factor obligation.

Spending Package Reduces Outstanding Settle‑Up Obligation by $603 Million. This payment reduces the state’s outstanding settle‑up obligation from slightly above $1 billion to $440 million. Of the $603 million provided, the budget plan allocates $514 million for covering 2016‑17 LCFF costs, $86 million for the community college guided pathways initiative, and $3 million for the Career Technical Education Incentive Grant program. The state budget package scores all of the settle‑up spending as a Proposition 2 debt payment.

K‑12 Education

$64.7 Billion Proposition 98 Funding for K‑12 Education in 2017‑18. The budgeted 2017‑18 level is $2.7 billion (4.3 percent) more than revised 2016‑17 level and $2.2 billion (3.6 percent) more than the 2016‑17 Budget Act level. The budget increases funding per student by $450 (4.3 percent) over the 2016‑17 Budget Act level, bringing Proposition 98 funding per student up to $10,863.

Package Includes Mix of Ongoing and One‑Time Spending. As Figure 3 shows, the budget includes $2.4 billion in augmentations for K‑12 education. Of these augmentations, $1.5 billion are ongoing increases and $930 million are one‑time initiatives. In addition to these changes, the budget package includes $328 million in one‑time initiatives funded from other sources. (Of this amount, $325 million is from Proposition 98 reversion dollars and $3 million is from a settle‑up payment. Of the reversion dollars, $114 million is for a fund swap primarily relating to special education.) The budget also authorizes $593 million from Proposition 51 (2016) general obligation bond proceeds for school facilities. We describe major K‑12 spending and programmatic changes below. In the nearby box, we describe changes to the state’s school district reserve cap policy.

General Purpose Funding

Accelerates Implementation of LCFF for School Districts and Charter Schools. The budget provides an additional $1.4 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding for this purpose, bringing total LCFF funding for school districts and charter schools to $57.3 billion, a 2.7 percent increase over the revised 2016‑17 level. The administration estimates this funding will result in the LCFF‑target level being 97 percent‑funded. School districts and charter schools may use LCFF monies for any educational purpose.

Augments LCFF Funding for Some County Offices of Education (COEs). The budget provides $7 million ongoing Proposition 98 funding for an increase to the district services portion of the COE LCFF. Specifically, the budget increases COE LCFF targets by an amount equal to (1) $18,697 for each school district located in the county (bringing total funding per district to $131,808) or (2) $80,000, whichever is higher. This change to the formula results in additional funding for the 40 percent of COEs currently funded at but not above their LCFF targets.

Requires All COEs to Develop Plans for Supporting School Districts. Trailer legislation (Chapter 15) requires all COEs to develop plans specifying how they will support their school districts. In these plans, COEs, at a minimum, are to specify how they will provide support to (1) all districts in developing their Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs) and (2) any district deemed low performing. Each COE plan must include goals for each type of district support provided, metrics to measure progress towards achieving these goals, and specific actions the COE will take to meet its goals. Each plan also must describe how the COE will work with other entities, including other COEs, the California Department of Education (CDE), and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence—to support school districts in their county. Chapter 15 also requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to provide assistance to a COE if the SPI finds merit in an LCAP‑related complaint filed against the COE or one of the districts in the county.

Funds One‑Time Discretionary Grants. The largest one‑time augmentation for K‑12 education is $877 million that local education agencies (LEAs) may use for any educational purpose. Funding is based on average daily attendance ($147 per ADA). If an LEA has unpaid mandate claims, funding counts toward those claims. As most LEAs do not have any such claims, we estimate only about one‑third ($268 million) of the funding will end up reducing the K‑12 mandates backlog. We estimate the K‑12 mandates backlog will be $799 million at the end of 2017‑18.

Teacher Workforce

Funds Second Round of Grants for Helping Classified Employees Become Teachers. Chapter 29 of 2016 (SB 828, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) created a program to assist classified school employees (such as instructional aides and library assistants) in completing their bachelor’s degree and pursuing a teaching credential. The program provides grants of up to $4,000 per participant per year. The grants are intended to help cover education costs. The state initially provided the program with $20 million one‑time Proposition 98 funding, providing grants for up to 1,000 participants. The 2017‑18 budget package includes an additional $25 million one‑time Proposition 98 funding, providing grants for up to 1,250 participants.

Creates Two New Teaching‑Related Programs. The budget redirects $11 million one‑time federal Title II local assistance funding to establish the California Educator Development program to help LEAs attract and support teachers, principals, and other school leaders.

The budget also provides $5 million one‑time Proposition 98 funding for a new program to encourage more teachers to obtain bilingual authorizations and teach in bilingual settings.

Takes Various Actions Relating to Teacher Misconduct Reviews. The 2016‑17 budget package provided CTC with $7.8 million in Teacher Credential Fee revenue to address higher ongoing workload and costs for the Office of the Attorney General (AG) to review serious teacher misconduct cases. The AG was unable to hire all anticipated additional staff in 2016‑17, resulting in $4.5 million carried forward to 2017‑18. The 2017‑18 budget package also requires the AG to report quarterly on the status of its backlog of teacher misconduct reviews.

Career Technical Education

Funds Third and Final Year of Career Technical Education (CTE) Incentive Grant Program. The 2015‑16 budget package created a three‑year competitive grant program to promote CTE at secondary schools. As designed, state funding for the program decreases over the three‑year period, as local match requirements increase. In 2015‑16 and 2016‑17, the state provided $400 million and $300 million, respectively, for the program. Consistent with the authorizing legislation, the 2017‑18 budget provides $200 million for the third and final year of the program. (Of this amount, $197 million is Proposition 98 reversion funds and $3 million is from a settle‑up payment.) In 2017‑18, grant recipients are required to provide a total of $400 million in local matching funds.

Provides Funding for CTE Pathway Program Directly to CDE. The budget provides CDE with $15.4 million ongoing Proposition 98 funding to support efforts linking secondary and postsecondary CTE. The funding formerly was provided to the California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor’s Office, which in turn passed through the funds to CDE. The basic rules of the program remain unchanged. In the past, the department has used the funds for California Partnership Academies ($9.3 million) and various other activities (a combined $6.1 million), including funding CTE student organizations and virtual CTE counselors.

Earmarks Funding for Southern California Regional Occupational Center (SCROC). The budget provides a total of $10 million over four years to SCROC—$4 million in 2017‑18, $3 million in 2018‑19, $2 million in 2019‑20, and $1 million in 2020‑21. The state funds are intended to support SCROC’s general operations.

Other Changes

Specifies Use of Remaining Proposition 39 Funds and Extends Energy‑Efficiency Programs Indefinitely. The budget provides $423 million Proposition 98 funding for energy‑efficiency projects at schools and community colleges. This reflects the fifth and final year of Proposition 39 (2012) funding. Trailer legislation (Chapter 55), however, extends the date for schools to use this funding by one year, to June 30, 2019, and sets rules for how any remaining uncommitted funds are to be used. The first $75 million in remaining funds is earmarked for school districts and COEs to replace or retrofit school buses. The next $100 million is earmarked for a competitive grant program to provide K‑12 LEAs with low‑ and no‑interest loans for energy projects. Any funding still remaining is to be distributed as grants to K‑12 LEAs according to Proposition 39 rules.

Augments After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program. Proposition 49, passed by the voters in 2002, requires the state to provide $550 million in Proposition 98 funds annually for the ASES program. The budget increases ASES funding by $50 million (9 percent)—bringing total funding to $600 million.

Increases Funding for Tobacco Use Prevention Education. As required by Proposition 56 (2016), the budget provides $32 million in new cigarette tax revenue to support tobacco use prevention education in California schools. The funds are to be allocated in accordance with the existing Tobacco Use Prevention Education program administered by CDE.

Makes Various Adjustments to K‑12 Mandates Block Grant. The 2017‑18 budget package adds two new mandates to the K‑12 mandates block grant. The first mandate requires schools to provide trainings on the detection and reporting of child abuse. For this mandate, the budget adds $8.5 million ongoing Proposition 98 funding to the block grant. The second mandate requires schools to administer the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress computer‑based exam. Though this mandate is added to the block grant, the budget does not include additional block grant funding for it.

Applies Cost‑of‑Living Adjustment (COLA) to Certain Programs. In addition to these changes, the budget provides a 1.56 percent COLA for both the K‑12 and community college mandates block grants and establishes a statutory COLA for them moving forward. These block grants have not received a COLA since they were originally created in 2012‑13. The cost of providing the COLA in 2017‑18 is $3.5 million and $503,000 for the K‑12 and community colleges block grants, respectively. The budget also applies a 1.56 percent COLA to several other state categorical programs—special education, Child Nutrition, the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, the American Indian Early Childhood Education program, and American Indian Education Centers. The total cost of providing a COLA for these five programs is $61 million.

Expands Refugee Student Services. The budget provides $10 million one‑time Proposition 98 funding for the Department of Social Services (DSS) to provide grants to districts serving notable numbers of refugee students. Specifically, the program is limited to districts in counties that DSS labels as “refugee‑impacted.” Currently, DSS identifies ten such counties. The grant funds will be provided on a competitive basis to three cohorts over the next three years, with each cohort receiving a total of $3.3 million (supplementing an existing federal grant that has provided $1 million annually the past several years). Grants will fund extra services for refugee students, such as tutoring and counseling.

Funds Two Initiatives Relating to History/Social Science. The first initiative provides $10 million unspent prior‑year Proposition 98 funding for a COE or consortium of COEs to create an online repository of resources to help schools implement new history/social science and health curriculum frameworks. Funding would be available for three years and is intended to focus on particular components of history/social science (specifically the Armenian genocide; labor issues; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues; and civic education) and particular components of health (specifically sexual harassment and violence prevention). The second initiative provides $5 million one‑time Proposition 98 funding for the California Historical Society, in partnership with the California History/Social Science Project, to create a free online K‑12 curriculum for history/social science. The curriculum must include primary and secondary sources, lesson plans, and other instructional materials. In addition, the curriculum must use archival and digital resources of state and federal institutions. The curriculum must be made available to teachers by July 1, 2019.

Extends District of Choice Program by Six Years, Makes Several Changes. This program allows students to transfer to any school district that has deemed itself a District of Choice. If oversubscribed, these districts must use a lottery to select transfer students. Trailer legislation (Chapter 15) extends the program—which was set to expire July 1, 2017—to July 1, 2023, and modifies the program in several ways. Regarding the lottery, Districts of Choice are to give priority to low‑income students and children of military personnel. Compliance with lottery procedures are to be verified as part of districts’ annual audits. Regarding outreach, each District of Choice is to post application materials, deadlines, and lottery information on its website, in some cases posting the information in multiple languages. In addition, a District of Choice must provide each home (sending) district a preliminary list of approved transfer applications by February 15 and a final list by May 2. Regarding oversight, each District of Choice is to register with its county board of education and CDE beginning in 2018‑19. Districts that fail to register and submit required data will not receive funding for their transfer students. Chapter 15 also reduces funding for students transferring into basic aid districts from 70 percent to 25 percent of the funding those students would have generated in their home districts.

Makes Various Other Adjustments. The 2017‑18 budget package also makes various other changes to K‑12 programs, including:

• K‑12 High Speed Network (HSN). The budget replaces $8 million ongoing Proposition 98 funding for the K‑12 HSN with $8 million unspent funding from the Broadband Infrastructure Improvement Grant program.
• K‑12 HSN Infrastructure Upgrades. Chapter 15 requires the K‑12 HSN to develop a methodology for identifying and prioritizing Internet infrastructure upgrade projects exceeding $25,000. The K‑12 HSN must submit the newly developed method to CDE, the Legislature, and the Department of Finance by December 15, 2017, and begin using the methodology in 2017‑18.
• Augments Existing Environmental Education Program. The budget provides $4 million unspent prior‑year Proposition 98 funding for the California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC). The CREEC is a network of COE staff that helps schools integrate environmental literacy into the K‑12 curriculum.
• Online Educational Resources. The budget provides $3 million ongoing Proposition 98 funding for the State Librarian to make online educational resources publicly available. The budget provides the funding to Riverside COE to spend upon the direction of the State Librarian.
• Creates Equity and Improvement Teams. The budget provides $2.5 million one‑time Proposition 98 funding for two or more COEs to assist LEAs in closing achievement gaps in California’s public schools.
• Fresh School Meals. The budget provides $1.5 million one‑time funding to create the California‑Grown Fresh School Meals Grant Program. The program will provide grants to at least 13 LEAs. Trailer legislation (Chapter 250) specifies that CDE is to give grant priority to LEAs with high shares of low‑income students and English learners.
• Training Relating to New Science Standards and Assessments. The budget uses $502,000 in anticipated one‑time savings from the state’s testing contract to conduct statewide trainings for teachers related to new science standards and assessments. The trainings are to help teachers understand and teach the new science standards. The state plans to begin using the new science assessment in spring 2019.
• LCAP E‑Template and California School Dashboard. The budget provides $400,000 one‑time Proposition 98 funding to the San Joaquin COE to undertake two specified activities: (1) $350,000 to develop an electronic LCAP template that will streamline the process of creating, editing, reviewing, and publicly posting LCAPs; and (2) $50,000 to develop a mobile application to support the California School Dashboard. The Dashboard is a website that provides information on school and district performance based on the indicators included in the state’s new accountability system.
• Report on Full‑Day Kindergarten. Chapter 15 requires our office to submit a report by March 1, 2018 that includes options for incentivizing full‑day kindergarten and differentiated funding rates for full‑day and part‑day kindergarten.

State Operations

Funds Instructional Quality Commission Activities. The budget includes $948,000 one‑time non‑Proposition 98 General Fund to support the activities of the Instructional Quality Commission. Specifically, the funding is for the commission to create a model curriculum for ethnic studies, update standards in world languages and visual and performing arts, create computer science content standards, complete the health curriculum framework, and adopt instructional materials for history/social science and science. These activities are required due to recently adopted legislation.

Reduces Funding for Bus Driver Training Program. The CDE’s Bus Driver Training program is funded with State Penalty Fund monies and fee revenue. The budget reduces total funding for the program from $1.7 million in 2016‑17 to $1.4 million in 2017‑18 (an 18 percent reduction). State Penalty Fund revenue for the program decreases from $1.6 million in 2016‑17 to $838,000 in 2017‑18 (a 48 percent decrease). In response to the drop in special fund revenue, Chapter 15 expands CDE’s authority to charge course fees. Whereas CDE formerly could charge course fees only to transit bus drivers, moving forward it also may charge course fees to school bus drivers, pupil activity bus drivers, and farm labor bus drivers. Due to some combination of raising fees and expanding the group of program participants assessed fees, the budget assumes fee revenue will increase from $117,000 in 2016‑17 to $275,000 in 2017‑18 (a 135 percent increase). The budget also assumes that CDE will use $276,000 of existing program reserves in 2017‑18—leaving a reserve of about $325,000 at year end.

School Facilities

Provides First Installment of Proposition 51 Bond Funding for School Facilities. Passed by the voters in November 2016, Proposition 51 authorizes the state to sell $9 billion in general obligation bonds—$7 billion for schools and $2 billion for community colleges. The state plans to issue $593 million of these bonds for K‑12 facility projects in 2017‑18. This would fully fund the state’s list of $368 million in already approved facility projects, as well as $225 million in additional projects. The budget also reappropriates the remaining balance of $1.7 million General Fund provided in the 2016‑17 Budget Act to construct a middle school activity center at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont.

Establishes New Audit Rules. Chapter 15 shifts audit responsibilities for state‑funded school facility projects from the Office of Public School Construction to local independent auditors. Moving forward, the local auditors are to review facility expenditures to ensure that they comply with the rules of the state’s School Facilities Program. The State Allocation Board has enacted a regulatory change requiring districts to sign grant agreements prior to receiving state funding that specify allowable project expenditures.

Increases Maximum Grant for Charter School Facility Grant Program. Under this program, the state provides certain charter schools with grants to help defray the cost of renting and leasing school facilities. Previously, the state provided applicants with grants equal to either $750 per student or 75 percent of their annual facilities costs, whichever was lower. Trailer legislation (Chapter 23) updates the $750 per‑student amount to $1,117 and applies a COLA moving forward. The 2017‑18 increase is the first increase in the per‑student amount since the program was created in 2001.

California Community Colleges

$8.6 Billion Proposition 98 Funding for CCC in 2017‑18. The budgeted 2017‑18 level is $324 million (3.9 percent) more than the revised 2016‑17 funding level and $270 million (3.3 percent) more than the 2016‑17 Budget Act level. The budget increases funding per full‑time equivalent (FTE) student by $363 (5.2 percent) over the 2016‑17 Budget Act level, bringing Proposition 98 funding per FTE student up to $7,416.

Package Includes Mix of Ongoing and One‑Time Spending. As Figure 4 shows (see next page), the budget includes $584 million in community college augmentations, partly offset by $260 million in reductions largely due to the removal of prior‑year, one‑time spending. Of the augmentations, $417 million are ongoing increases and $167 million are one‑time initiatives. In addition to these changes, the budget includes $123 million in one‑time initiatives funded from other sources ($86 million from a settle‑up payment and $37 million from 2015‑16 Proposition 98 dollars). The budget also authorizes $17 million from Proposition 51 general obligation bond proceeds for community college facilities. We describe major CCC spending and programmatic changes below.

Apportionments

Funds 1 Percent Enrollment Growth. The budget provides $58 million for 1 percent enrollment growth systemwide. In addition, the budget adjusts for enrollment declines that districts experienced in 2016‑17 and anticipated enrollment restoration in 2017‑18. (If its enrollment declines in a given year, a district’s funding correspondingly declines the following year. Districts, however, generally have three years to restore enrollment up to earlier levels and earn back the associated funding.) After adjusting for declining enrollment (‑2.1 percent) and restoration (1.3 percent), the budget supports net enrollment growth of 0.2 percent, representing about 2,200 FTE.

Funds 1.56 Percent COLA. The budget includes $98 million to provide the statutory 1.56 percent COLA for apportionments. The budget also includes $5 million to provide a 1.56 percent COLA for five categorical programs: (1) Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, (2) Disabled Students Programs and Services, (3) CalWORKs Student Services, (4) the mandates block grant, and (5) Child Care Tax Bailout (which supports campus child care centers that serve as teaching labs for early childhood education students). Additionally, it includes $1 million to provide a partial COLA for financial aid administration.

Provides Additional Unrestricted Funds Beyond Growth and COLA. The budget includes a $184 million apportionment increase that districts may use for any educational or operational purpose. Trailer legislation (Chapter 23) rescinds existing Chancellor’s Office authority to allocate any higher‑than‑anticipated local property tax or fee revenues as unrestricted funds to colleges. This authority rarely has been used by the Chancellor’s Office because prior‑year excess revenues typically are reappropriated through the budget process.

Financial Aid

Augments Full‑Time Student Success Grant. The budget provides $25 million to increase the maximum annual Full‑Time Student Success Grant from $600 to $1,000 per award. The state created this grant in 2015‑16 to provide additional aid to CCC students who enroll in 12 or more credit units per term and qualify for Cal Grant B and Cal Grant C awards. In 2017‑18, Cal Grant B and Cal Grant C awards for CCC students are $1,672 and $1,094, respectively. The full‑time grant of $1,000 is an add‑on to these amounts.

Creates New CCC Completion Grant. The budget includes $25 million for a new Community College Completion Grant. As set forth in Chapter 23, the grant provides an additional $2,000 annually for Full‑Time Student Success Grant recipients who develop a comprehensive education plan and enroll in 15 or more credit units per term. The Chancellor’s Office is required to submit a report to the Legislature by April 1, 2019 that includes information about associated program enrollment and outcomes.

Increases Cal Grant C Awards for CCC Students. The budget includes $1.7 million to double the Cal Grant C book and supply award from $547 to $1,094 for CCC students. (Cal Grant C recipients who attend other institutions will continue to receive a book and supply award of $547.)

Other Ongoing Programmatic Increases

Funds Common Course Management System. The budget augments the CCC Online Education Initiative by $10 million, bringing ongoing annual funding to $20 million. The new funds primarily will pay for ongoing subscription costs for all colleges to use Canvas, the CCC’s common course management system.

Augments Part‑Time Faculty Office Hours. The budget adds $5 million, bringing total funding for this program to $12 million. The program reimburses districts that compensate part‑time faculty members for office hours related to their teaching assignments. Districts must provide a one‑to‑one match for state funds.

Directly Funds Umoja Program. The budget provides a new $2.5 million ongoing state appropriation for the Umoja program, which seeks to close achievement gaps by promoting awareness of African and African‑American culture. (The program already exists on 45 campuses but, to date, it has received only one‑time student equity funding.)

Guided Pathways

Funds Guided Pathways Initiative. The budget provides $150 million one time for an initiative focused on helping colleges (1) integrate myriad existing student success programs and services; (2) build their internal capacity for data analysis, leadership, planning, and program implementation; and (3) develop structured academic course sequences for all entering students.

Allocates 90 Percent of Funds Directly to Colleges, Reserves 10 Percent for Statewide Assistance. Of the $135 million designated for colleges, the Chancellor’s Office is to allocate 80 percent on a formula basis and the remaining 20 percent as a fixed base grant for each college. To qualify for funds, colleges must demonstrate their commitment to implementing guided pathways by attending a state workshop and submitting specified letters and work plans. Funding is to be allocated in stages, based on each college’s progress toward implementing guided pathways. Colleges may use the funds for one‑time purposes, such as faculty and staff release time, professional development, coordination and communication, and information system upgrades related to pathways implementation. The Chancellor’s Office has broad discretion in deciding how to use the remaining$15 million designated for statewide assistance.

Includes Accountability and Reporting Requirements. Chapter 23 requires the Chancellor’s Office to develop indicators to measure the success of the initiative. By July 1, 2018 and annually thereafter for four more years, the Chancellor’s Office must report on these indicators and provide information about participating colleges’ work plans, use of funds, and implementation progress.

Other One‑Time Initiatives

Funds Additional Innovation Awards. The budget provides $20 million one‑time funding for community college innovation awards. The state previously funded innovation awards in 2014‑15 (providing $50 million for all three public higher education segments) and 2016‑17 (providing $25 million solely for community colleges). Chapter 23 creates a similar award program for 2017‑18. Like the 2016‑17 awards, the 2017‑18 program is to prioritize innovations that both address specified groups of underrepresented students and use technology to improve instruction and support services. The new program is different, however, in that it eliminates the award committee appointed by the Governor and Legislature and tasks the Chancellor’s Office with making award decisions directly. The Chancellor’s Office is to submit interim and final reports on these awards by January 1, 2020 and 2022, respectively.

Provides Special Appropriation for Compton Community College District. Following the loss of its accreditation in 2006, Compton College has operated as a “center” under the supervision and accreditation of neighboring El Camino Community College District. In June 2017, Compton College regained initial accreditation as a college under El Camino’s governing authority. Over the coming year, the Compton Community College District will work to restore core oversight and operational functions as a prerequisite to seeking accreditation under its own authority. The district identified certain costs associated with these efforts, including purchasing a new information system, supporting associated personnel, conducting extra outreach, and re‑establishing a police department and personnel commission. Chapter 23 appropriates $11.3 million one‑time funding for these efforts. (The appropriation results from repurposing some 2015‑16 Proposition 98 funds.) Chapter 23, however, requires the district’s governing board to perform the duties of the personnel commission until July 1, 2029, at which time the district is to have paid off an emergency state General Fund loan dating back to 2006. Chapter 23 also protects the district’s budget from any drop in enrollment (compared to the 2017‑18 level) for four years following the college’s accreditation under the authority of its own governing board.

Funds Development of Statewide Integrated Library System (ILS). The budget provides $6 million (one time) for the CCC Technology Center to procure and operate an ILS. Typical functions of an ILS include acquiring and cataloging books and other materials, providing ways for library users to search catalogs and access materials, and tracking the circulation of these materials.

Several Other One‑Time Augmentations. Chapter 254 amended the budget act to provide $7 million for emergency financial aid to students who qualify for aid under the California Dream Act. In addition, Chapter 23 funds various other one‑time initiatives using repurposed 2015‑16 Proposition 98 funds. It provides $8 million for workforce grants to community college districts in distressed economic areas. It provides $7 million for veterans resource centers. Of this amount, $5 million is to establish or enhance centers that meet specified standards and $2 million is for Norco College to expand the capacity of its center as well as establish mechanisms for awarding course credit for prior military services. Chapter 23 also provides $4.5 million to support mental health services and training, $2.5 million to address student hunger at community colleges, $2.5 million to help colleges comply with state and federal requirements regarding preventing sexual harassment and violence, and $1 million for the CCC Academic Senate to support the course identification numbering system.

State Operations

Increases Chancellor’s Office Staffing. The budget provides six new positions and $1.1 million in additional resources to improve the Chancellor’s Office’s capacity to provide leadership and expertise to colleges. The augmentation is based on a review of central operations conducted by staff from the Department of Finance and Chancellor’s Office over the course of spring 2017. Of the total augmentation, $618,000 is General Fund. This amount is to support two additional information technology specialists, a new administrator to oversee guided pathways implementation, and a second deputy chancellor who will fill an existing vice chancellor position that has been vacant for some time. The remaining $454,000 is reimbursement authority for two research specialists and an attorney. Colleges and third parties (such as research organizations) will be able to use the services of these individuals on a fee‑for‑service basis.

Exempts Office From Competitive Bidding Under Certain Conditions. Specifically, Chapter 23 exempts the Chancellor’s Office from competitively bidding new district contracts of $20 million or less (Proposition 98 funding) and all renewal district contracts. The legislation sunsets this exemption on July 1, 2022.

Facilities

Provides Physical Plant and Instructional Support Funding. The budget package includes $70 million one‑time funding that districts may use for scheduled maintenance and certain other infrastructure‑related purposes, as well as replacement of instructional equipment and library materials. The funds are allocated to districts based on their FTE enrollment.

Funds Planning for 15 New Capital Outlay Projects. The budget allocates $17 million for the preliminary planning phase for 15 capital outlay projects. The funds are from Proposition 51.

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