GOOD EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO OUR
SUB COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
FINANCE. I'M CHAIR ASSEMBLY
MEMBER DAVID ALVAREZ. I WILL BE
JOINED BY OUR COLLEAGUES IN A
FEW MINUTES. UH, TODAY'S HEARING
. WE WILL BE COVERING SOME OF
THE BIGGEST NEW INVESTMENTS IN
PUBLIC SCHOOL OVER THE RECENT
YEARS THAT YOU ARE ALL QUITE
FAMILIAR WITH, UM THESE ARE IN
PROPOSITION 98, INCLUDING THE
UNIVERSAL MEALS PROGRAM, THE
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS EXTENDED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES. AND UH, COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS. WE WILL ALSO HEAR THREE
PROPOSALS IN THE JANUARY FROM
THE JANUARY BUDGET THAT, UH, ARE
SEEKING TO EXTEND PROGRAMS FROM
PRIOR YEARS. THE EXPANDED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITY PANEL IS AN
OVERSIGHT PANEL. ANY BUDGET
ITEMS RELATED TO THE LEARNING
RECOVERY WILL BE HEARD TOGETHER
ON THE APRIL 30TH HEARING HERE
IN A FEW WEEKS. LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING ABOUT THE PROCESS. THE
PROGRESS EXCUSE ME ON THE
INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE SO
FAR, WHICH HAVE BEEN
TRANSFORMATIVE IN MANY WAYS,
MEANING STUDENT BASIC NEEDS AND
LEARNING HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO
IMPROVE THESE INVESTMENTS AND
AGAIN CONTINUE OUR ROLE OF
OVERSIGHT ON THESE EXPENDITURES.
SO UM, WITH THAT WE WILL GET
STARTED WITH OUR FIRST ITEM
ISSUE NUMBER ONE IS THE
UNIVERSAL SCHOOLS, MEALS,
OVERSIGHT AND PROPOSALS. AGAIN
THE PANEL WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE
ON THE RECENT BUDGET ACT
INVESTMENTS FROM THE PAST. FEW
YEARS, OFFERING A UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM AT ALL
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND THE JANUARY
BUDGET PROPOSAL, WHICH, UH, IS
TO INCREASE THE PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS WE HAVE THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. SCHOOL
DISTRICT REPRESENTATION
GREENFIELD UNION SCHOOL
DISTRICT. CALIFORNIA FOOD BANK
IS HERE AND THE UC NUTRITION
POLICY INSTITUTE. SO WITH THAT
WE WILL GET STARTED WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REPORT.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
AND REBECCA LEE WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I WILL BE
PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL MEALS PROPOSALS. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INCLUDES A ONE
TIME BACKFILL OF 65 MILLION
PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND IN
THE CURRENT YEAR TO COVER AND
ANTICIPATED SHORTFALL BASED ON
PROJECTIONS AND ACTUAL MEAL
COUNTS THROUGH AUGUST, 2023.
PART OF THE SHORTFALL IS
ATTRIBUTED TO CURRENT YEAR
FUNDING BEING USED TO COVER PAST
YOUR MEAL REIMBURSEMENT. THE
SHORTFALL IN THE PAST YEAR WAS
DUE TO THE 2223 ACTUALS COMING
IN APPROXIMATELY 17.7 MILLION
MILES HIGHER THAN MAY. REVISION
ESTIMATES. REPRESENTING A ABOUT
A 1.4 HIGHER LUNCH, MEAL COUNTS
AND 3.6 HIGHER BREAKFAST MEAL
COUNTS THAN ORIGINALLY
PROJECTED. FOR BUDGET YEAR. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES
AN INCREASE OF 122.2 MILLION
PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND TO
FULLY FUND THE ANTICIPATED
GROWTH IN UNIVERSAL MEALS IN
2425. BASED ON SERVING A
PROJECTED 848 MILLION MEALS. AND
INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED INCREASE
IN FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT RATES,
WHICH RESULTS IN CHANGES TO THE
STATE PORTION OF THE REDUCED
PRICE AND PAID MEAL CATEGORIES.
THIS ESTIMATE ASSUMES 1%
INCREASE IN LUNCH MEAL COUNTS
AND 3% INCREASE IN BREAKFAST
MEAL COUNTS FOR AN INCREASE OF
17 MILLION ADDITIONAL MEALS OR
OVERALL 2% INCREASE TO THE
UNIVERSAL MEALS PROGRAM. WE
ASSUME THERE WILL BE A CONTINUED
GROWTH IN THE SHORT TERM BEFORE
LEVELING OFF. WHEN ANTICIPATED
GROWTH DRIVERS, INCLUDING THE
CONTINUED RAMP UP OF THE
BREAKFAST PROGRAMS. INCREASING
AWARENESS OF UNIVERSAL MEALS AND
INCREASING QUALITY AND VARIETY
OF MEAL OFFERINGS DUE TO RECENT
INVESTMENTS IN BOTH KITCHEN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND FRESHLY
PREPARED MEALS. THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES AN INCREASE
OF 13.447 MILLION PROPOSITION 98
GENERAL FUND TO REFLECT THIS
0.76% COLA. BRINGING THE STATE
REIMBURSEMENT RATE FROM 0.96 86
CENTS TO A 0.97 60 CENTS. THIS
WOULD BRING THE TOTAL INCREASE
FOR THE NUTRITION PROGRAM. OF
100 35.66 MILLION FOR BOTH
GROWTH AND COLA IN THE BUDGET
YEAR. THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS
AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. THANK YOU APPRECIATE THAT.
MOVE ON TO THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST OFFICE. GOOD MORNING,
SARAH CORTEZ WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE. UM
SO GIVEN THE BUDGET, UM
CONDITION THAT HAS BEEN
DISCUSSED IN GREAT DETAIL IN
PREVIOUS HEARINGS AND THE COST
PRESSURES IN SCHOOL NEUTRAL IN
THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM,
OUR SCHOOL NUTRITION ANALYSIS
PROVIDES OPTIONS TO CONTAIN
FUTURE COST GROWTH. AND I WANT
TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS A MENU
OF OPTIONS THAT THE LEGISLATURE
CAN CHOOSE FROM. IF IT DECIDES
THAT THIS IS AN AREA THAT COSTS
NEED TO BE CONTAINED, BASED ON
PROJECTED COST GROWTH IN THE
SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM AND
AVAILABLE FUNDING. NONE OF THE
OPTIONS WE PROVIDE IN OUR
ANALYSIS WOULD CHANGE THE
REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TO OFFER FREE MEALS TO ALL
STUDENTS MAINTAINING UNIVERSAL
MILLS, SO WE PROVIDE THREE
OPTIONS. THE FIRST OPTION WE
PROVIDE IS TO SET THE NUTRITION
RATE LOWER. THE FIGURE ON PAGE
FIVE OF YOUR AGENDA SHOWS HOW
RATES WORK UNDER UNIVERSAL MILLS
. ALL THE BARS ARE THE SAME
HEIGHT SO THAT SO A SCHOOL
RECEIVES THIS SAME AMOUNT PER
MEAL. REGARDLESS IF IT'S SERVED,
IT'S SERVED TO A STUDENT
ELIGIBLE FOR FREE, REDUCE OR
PAID. UM YOU CAN SEE THAT, THE
THAT A FREE MEAL. THE BULK OF
THE FUNDS THAT MAKE UP THE RATE
A SCHOOL RECEIVES ARE FEDERAL
FUNDS WITH A SMALL SHARE OF
STATE FUNDS, OR AS THE PAIN MILL
IS FLIPPED. THE BULK OF THE
FUNDS PROVIDED FOR THE MILL IS
STATE FUNDS WITH A SMALL SHARE
OF FEDERAL FUNDS. SO THERE'S TWO
WAYS TO REDUCE THEM TO REDUCE
THE RATE, THE FIRST WOULD BE IN
ACROSS THE BOARD RATE REDUCTION.
THIS KEEPS ALL THE BARS THE SAME
HEIGHT OR THE OTHER OPTION IS A
TARGETED APPROACH, SUCH AS
REDUCING THE PAID CONTRIBUTION.
THE OPTION HERE WOULD HAVE THE
PAID BAR LOWER THAN THE FREE AND
REDUCED BAR. THE SECOND OPTION
WE LAY OUT IS TO REVISIT THE
APPROACH TO COLA CONTINUING TO
LOOK AT THIS FIGURE ON PAGE FIVE
OF YOUR AGENDA. LET'S JUST LOOK
AT THE FREE BAR FOR A SECOND.
THE DARK PIECE OF THE BAR IS
GROWN ANNUALLY BY THE STATE. Kò
12 COLA GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
ASSUMES A 0.76% INCREASE AND THE
TEAL BAR IS GROWN BY THE FEDERAL
COLA. AND THAT WILL BE, UM AND
THAT WILL BE PROVIDED WITH
FEDERAL FUNDS. THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET ASSUMES A 5.5% INCREASE
UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
THIS COMBINED STATE AND FEDERAL
CONTRIBUTION GROWS FOUR POINT
PERCENT, WHICH IS A MUCH HIGHER
GROWTH THAN THE 0.76% IN THE
REST OF THE STATE Kò 12
PROGRAMS. THE GROWTH IN THE
FEDERAL COLA IN, UM RESULTS IN
STATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PAID
RATE BEYOND THE 0.76% STATE COLA
AS WELL, UM, THE STATE SHARE OF
THE PAID RATE IS ASSUMED TO GROW
6.6% UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE FEDERAL
RATE INCREASES AND HOW OUR
REIMBURSEMENT SYSTEM WORKS IN
THE NUTRITION PROGRAM. THE STATE
COULD APPROACH THE COLA FOR
NUTRITION FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION
DIFFERENTLY. THE FIRST APPROACH,
UM IN OUR OPTIONS, OR IN OUR IN
OUR MENU IS TO NÓ LONGER PROVIDE
A FEDERAL COLA TO THE PAID RATE,
AND THIS WOULD MEAN THE COMBINED
AND FREE OF THE COMBINED FREE
AND PAID RATE. UM, WOULD NÓ
LONGER GROW AT THE SAME PACE.
THE SECOND APPROACH IS TO
SUSPEND THE AUTOMATIC COLA AND
JUST DECIDE ON AN INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENT ANNUALLY. THE THIRD
OPTION WITHIN THIS MENU IS TO
SUSPEND THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AUGMENTATION AUTHORITY IN 2223.
THE BUDGET INCLUDED PROVISIONAL
LANGUAGE THAT REQUIRES THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO AUGMENT
THE APPROPRIATION OF SCHOOL
NUTRITION IF EXPENDITURES ARE
PROJECTED TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT
AVAILABLE. IF THE LEGIS
LEGISLATURE SUSPENDED THIS
LANGUAGE, IT WOULD RETURN SCHOOL
NUTRITION NUTRITION FUNDING TO
HOW IT WORKED PRIOR TO 2220
THREE WHERE IF THERE WASN'T
ENOUGH FUNDING FOR SCHOOL
NUTRITION PROVIDED IN THE ANNUAL
BUDGET, THE LEGISLATURE COULD
EITHER PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL
AUGMENTATION. OR PRORATE. THE
STATE MILL RATE. SUSPENDING THE
LANGUAGE ALLOWS A LEGISLATURE TO
CONSIDER INCREASES IN SCHOOL
NUTRITION WITH OTHER PRIORITIES
WITHIN Kò 12 EDUCATION. AND THE
LAST THING I'LL DISCUSS IS
ACTUALLY OUR ONLY RECOMMENDATION
THAT WE HAVE IN OUR ANALYSIS. UM
SO THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE
MENU OF OPTIONS, AND THIS IS
REALLY ALIGNED TOWARDS AN EYE ON
LONG TERM PROGRAM STRUCTURE, AND
WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO
REMOVE THE MANDATORY
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT FOR
NEWLY ELIGIBLE èC EP SCHOOLS.
NOW THIS IS A SMALL SUBSET OF,
UM OF THE SCHOOLS THAT THIS
MANDATORY PARTICIPATION
REQUIREMENT APPLIES TO SO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOWERED THE
THRESHOLD FOR èC EP ELIGIBILITY
SO MORE SCHOOLS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
STARTING IN 2425, AND THE STATE
REQUIRES AS PART OF UNIVERSAL
MILLS THAT IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE
FOR èC EP, YOU MUST OPT INTO
WHAT WE REFER TO IN OUR REPORT
AS ALTERNATIVE REIMBURSEMENT
OPTION BUT IS MORE COMMONLY
KNOWN AS THE PROVISIONS. THE
FIGURE ON PAGE THREE OF YOUR
AGENDA PROVIDES A SIDE BY SIDE
OF HOW SCHOOL NUTRITION
REIMBURSEMENT TRADITIONALLY
WORKS AND HOW IT WORKS UNDER èC
EP. WE CHOSE TO HIGHLIGHT èC EP
BECAUSE THAT'S THE MOST COMMONLY
USED ONE OF THE KEY REASONS FOR
THE STATE. MANDATORY
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT IS TO
MAXIMIZE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS.
AND BASED ON OUR MODELING èC EP
PARTICIPATION FOR NEWLY ELIGIBLE
SCHOOLS DOESN'T ALWAYS MAXIMIZE
FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT. AN
EXAMPLE WE HIGHLIGHT IN A REPORT
IS A SCHOOL THAT RECEIVED A FREE
AND REDUCED PRICE RATE FOR TWO
THIRDS OF ITS LUNCHES IN 2220
THREE, BUT IT HAD AN I S¼ AN A
RELATIVELY LOWER I S¼ P OF 29%
WHICH MEANS THAT PART THAT IF IT
HAD PARTICIPATED IN èC EP IN
2223, IT WASN'T ELIGIBLE AT THE
TIME BECAUSE OF THE NEW FEDERAL
RULE CHANGE. BUT IF IT HAD ONLY
40% 46% OF ITS LUNCHES WOULD
HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED AT THE FREE
RATE AND 54% OF ITS LUNCHES
WOULD BE REIMBURSED AT THE PAID
RATE SO REQUIRING THE SCHOOL TO
PARTICIPATE WOULD HAVE RESULTED
IN INCREASED STATE COSTS. AND
THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS, BUT
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS AT
THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU.
UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND HAPPY
NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH, KI¾M
FRANZEL ON BEHALF OF STATE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION TONY THURMAN. LIKE
TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES, ACCESS TO UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL. MEALS FOR ALL STUDENTS
IS ESSENTIAL COMPONENT TO THE
WHOLE CHILD APPROACH QUALITY
EDUCATION, TRANSFORMING OUR
CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS AND CREATING
HEALTHIER HABITS FOR OUR 5.8
MILLION PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSAL MEALS IS A
SOUND EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC
HEALTH POLICY. AND THAT'S
BECAUSE FAR TOO MANY STUDENTS DO
NOT HAVE CONSISTENT ACCESS TO
ADEQUATE NUTRITION AND BASIC
FOOD NEEDS. UNIVERSAL MALES
SUPPORT STUDENT HEALTH AND
APPROVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND
BASED ON A THIRD PARTY ANALYSIS
SPONSORED BY THE NÓ KID HUNGRY
ON AVERAGE STUDENTS WHO EAT
SCHOOL BREAKFAST ACHIEVED 17.5%
HIGHER SCORES ON STANDARDIZED
MATH TEST AND ATTENDED 1.5 MORE
DAYS OF SCHOOL PER YEAR. SO THIS
NOT ONLY BENEFITED OUR STUDENTS
BUT ALSO INCREASED A SCHOOL'S
DAILY AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE.
A FULLY FUNDED UNIVERSAL MILLS
PROGRAM IS FOUNDATIONAL. SO THAT
ALL STUDENTS HAVE GREATER ACCESS
TO A SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND SCHOOL
LUNCH REGARDLESS OF THEIR INCOME
, AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY
CRITICAL IN CALIFORNIA BECAUSE
OF OUR HIGH COST OF LIVING
COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE
NATION. THE FEDERAL INCOME
THRESHOLD TO QUALIFY A CHILD FOR
A FREE, REDUCED OR PAID MEAL FOR
THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH SCHOOL
BREAKFAST PROGRAM IS BASED ON
THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. THE
INCOME LEVELS ARE THE SAME
ACROSS 48 STATES AND TERRITORIES
. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ALASKA
AND HAWAII. THERE IS NÓ OTHER
REGIONAL INDEXING FOR HIGH COST
STATES OR REGIONS LIKE
CALIFORNIA. TO ILLUSTRATE THIS,
UH WITH THE NEW FEDERAL INCOME
THRESHOLDS IF A FAMILY OF THREE
MAKES OVER $47,767 ANNUALLY,
THAT'S JUST $919 WEEKLY. THE
REGARDLESS IF THEY LIVE IN IOWA
OR CALIFORNIA, THEY WOULD NOT BE
INCOME ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE OR
REDUCED PRICE MEAL, AND THEY
WOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE PAID
CATEGORY FOR THE FEDERAL MILL
PROGRAMS AND WOULD NEED TO PAY
FOR THEIR STUDENTS MEALS. 44% OF
OUR OF OUR, UM INSECURE FAMILIES
IN CALIFORNIA HAVE INCOMES ABOVE
THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL THAT
QUALIFY THEIR CHILDREN AT THE
REDUCED RATE, FOOD INSECURITY
CROSSES ALL CATEGORIES UNDER THE
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH, THE PAID
THE REDUCED AND THE FREE OUR
FAMILIES DEPEND ON CALIFORNIA
UNIVERSAL MEALS AS PART OF THEIR
CHILD'S EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE,
AND THERE ARE PARTICIPATION
NUMBERS SHOW AND REFLECT THE
GREAT NEED PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC
IN 20. 18 OUR SCHOOLS SERVED 822
MILLION SCHOOL MEALS, BREAKFAST
AND LUNCH IN 2022, THE FIRST
YEAR OF UNIVERSAL MILLS,
CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS SERVE MORE
THAN 845 MILLION. BREAKFAST AND
LUNCH. AND FOR THE 20 THREE 24
FISCAL YEAR WE ARE PROJECTING
894 MILLION SCHOOL MEALS WILL BE
SERVED. AND YOU HEARD FROM, UM
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AROUND THE
GROWTH TRENDS CENTRAL TO BEING
ABLE TO THESE MUCH NEEDED MEALS
IS THIS AND THE SUCCESS OF
UNIVERSAL MILLS IS PREDICTABLE,
RELIABLE AND FULL STATE MILL
REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUR SCHOOLS,
NOT PRORATED, UM AND NÓ
ADMINISTRATIVE AUGMENTATION
AUTHORITY THAT NEEDS TO THAT
NEEDS TO REMAIN INTACT. THEY
NEED TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT
THEY CAN SERVE MEALS BECAUSE A
MEAL WHETHER IT'S AT THE FREE
THE PAGE OR THE REDUCE IS THE
SAME MEAL FOR ALL CHILDREN, AND
IT'S REALLY AN EQUITY ISSUE. THE
INTENT OF THE STATE MILL
REIMBURSEMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT
OUR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES
ARE FINANCIALLY ABLE TO SERVE
HEALTHY, MORE FRESHLY PREPARED
CULTURALLY RELEVANT MEALS FOR
ALL STUDENTS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY,
OUR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES HAVE
ALWAYS RUN ON EXTREMELY TIGHT
BUDGETS, AND THAT HAS BEEN
PERSISTENT. WITH INFLATION, UH,
FOOD CHAIN SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES,
STAFFING ISSUES AND JUST RISING
COST. UM JUST REALLY IS QUITE
DETRIMENTAL TO MANY OF THE, UM,
THEIR OPERATIONS. A RECENT
NATIONAL SURVEY BY THE SCHOOL
ASSOCIATION REPORTED SERIOUS TO
MODERATE CONCERNS REGARDING THE
FINANCIAL STABILITY OF SCHOOL
NUTRITION PROGRAMS, AND THE
LARGEST CONCERNS WERE IN THE
WESTERN STATES. AND WE KNOW THIS
IS TRUE FOR CALIFORNIA BECAUSE
28% OF OUR L A 42% OF OUR
CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT ARE
OPERATING THE NATIONAL SCHOOL
LUNCH AND SCHOOL BREAKFAST
PROGRAM ARE ENCROACHING ON THEIR
GENERAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THEIR
MALE OPERATIONS. SO IT NOT ONLY
IMPACTS UH, THE MEALS BEING
SERVED, BUT ALSO EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO
BE PROBLEMATIC, ESPECIALLY AS
MANY OF THE WONDERFUL ONE TIME
ONLY GRANT FUNDS BEGAN TO SUNSET
, SUSTAINING CALIFORNIA.
UNIVERSAL MEALS AND STATE
REIMBURSEMENT IS CRITICAL IN
CLOSING AS A FIRST STATE IN THE
NATION TO UNIVERSAL MEALS. WE
HAVE TAKEN BOLD STEPS TO
ESTABLISH GREATER EQUITY IN OUR
SCHOOL MILL PROGRAMS TO BENEFIT
ALL STUDENTS. WE ARE INVESTING
IN THE WHOLE CHILD, SO NÓ
STUDENT IS LEFT BEHIND AND ALL
HAVE ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO
REACH THEIR FULL ACADEMIC
POTENTIAL THROUGH CONSISTENT
NUTRITIOUS MEALS EACH AND EVERY
SCHOOL DAY THAT CONCLUDES MY
TESTIMONY, AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIMES. THANK YOU. WE
HAVE THE GREENFIELD UNION SCHOOL
DISTRICT HERE. GOOD MORNING.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS.
SO BEAR WITH ME. WELCOME GOOD
MORNING. THANK YOU FOR TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR LETTING ME BE A
PART OF THIS ESTEEM PANEL AND
WELCOME TO MY COLLEAGUES IN THE
AUDIENCE. MY NAME IS JOSHUA
ROGERS. I'M THE UM PUBLIC POLICY
AND LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
CO-CHAIR FOR THE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION. WE
REPRESENT 2500 AND 60 SCHOOL,
NUTRITION STAFF AND INDUSTRY
MEMBERS OF THE HARDEST WORKING
DEPARTMENT ON A SCHOOL CAMPUS. I
COME TO YOU WITH 18 YEARS OF
SCHOOL, NUTRITION EXPERIENCE AND
20 YEARS OF FOOD SERVICE
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE. I'M
CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF G OF
NUTRITION SERVICES FOR THE
GREENFIELD UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
IN BAKERSFIELD. IF YOU KNOW, A
FOOD SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE
DIRECTOR. WE ARE SOME OF THE
MOST PASSIONATE PEOPLE YOU'LL
EVER MEET. WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT
THE STUDENTS. WE SERVE EVERY DAY
AND WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY
HAVE PROPER NUTRITION TO SUCCEED
IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. WE ARE THE
ONLY DEPARTMENT ON THE SCHOOL
CAMPUS THAT SEES THE MAJORITY OF
THE STUDENTS TWICE A DAY. I KNOW
FOR A FACT THAT THE MEALS WE
SERVE ACROSS THE STATE ARE SOME
OF THE ONLY MEALS SOME OF OUR
STUDENTS RECEIVE. MY DISTRICT
HAS BEEN PROVIDING UNIVERSAL
MEALS SINCE 2008 UNDER THE
COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION
CURRENTLY, 99 POINT THREE 8% OF
OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE FREE MEALS.
UM WHEN WE STARTED èC P, WE SAW
AN INCREASE IN BREAKFAST AND
LUNCH PARTICIPATION. WITH
UNIVERSAL MEALS. WE HAVE
ELIMINATED THE STIGMA THAT USED
TO BE TO USED TO EXIST FOR
STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE FREE AND
REDUCED MEALS BECAUSE EVERYONE
EATS AND EVERYONE EATS THE SAME
THING. THIS IS WHAT STUDENTS
ACROSS THE STATE HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO EXPERIENCE OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS. THANK YOU. NUTRITION
DEPARTMENTS CONSTANTLY ARE
CONSTANTLY EVOLVING AND CHANGING
TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SERVING
BETTER. FOOD FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE STRIVE TO ENHANCE OUR
PROGRAMS BY, UM I STRIPED IN, UM
, ENHANCE MY PROGRAM BY DOING A
COOKING TRAINING OVER THE SUMMER
WHERE YOU BRING IN STAFF. WE
WORK ON KITCHEN SKILLS AND DO
PRACTICE NEW SCRATCH RECIPES.
ALSO GOING AND DOING STUDENT
TASTE TESTINGS. WE CURRENTLY
PREPARE ABOUT 30% OF OUR SCRATCH
, UM, OF SCRATCH, COOKING IN ALL
OF 12 OF OUR KITCHENS. UM IT'S
TAKEN A LONG TIME TO GET STAFF
TRAINED TO DO SCRATCH COOKING. I
USE THE ANALOGY THAT WERE A LIKE
A CRUISE SHIP. WE MAKE SLOW
TURNS. WE DON'T TURN ON A 90
DEGREE ANGLE. UM AND SCHOOL
STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO
COMPUTERS, BOOKS, PAPER PENCIL,
EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BE ABLE
TO COMPLETE THEIR EDUCATION. AND
NOW THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THEM
WITH UNIVERSAL MEALS AND THE
EXTRA MONEY THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED FOR THE KITCHEN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRAINING
FUNDS KNOWN AS KIT. THIS HAS
BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL TO MYSELF
AND MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE
STATE TO HELP IMPROVE OUR
PROGRAMS IN MY DISTRICT. WE HAVE
JUST PURCHASED A MOBILE KITCHEN
THAT WILL BE ABLE TO USE TO
ENHANCE OUR SUMMER FEEDING
PROGRAMS. WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE
IT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND
SERVE AT PARKS AND DIFFERENT
AREAS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS
BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY NEED IT
DURING THE SUMMER. UM OTHER
DISTRICTS HAVE DONE A LOT OF
WORK OVER THE LAST YEARS WITH
CUP UM COUPLE YEARS WITH KID
FUNDS, BUT THEY ARE STILL A LOT
OF OPPORTUNITIES IMPROVEMENTS IN
SCHOOL AREAS IN THE STATE. THE
NUTRITION STAFF, ATTEND MEETINGS
OR TRAININGS. THEY HEAR THAT
OTHER DISTRICTS ARE DOING WHAT
THEIR OTHER DISTRICTS ARE DOING
AND THEIR STUDENTS FOR THEIR
STUDENTS, AND THEN THEY COME
BACK TO THEIR DISTRICTS AND TRY
AND IMPLEMENT THAT IN THEIR
PROGRAM. NUTRITION STAFF ARE
TYPICALLY THE LOWEST PAID STAFF
ON A CAMPUS. BUT I HAVE MANAGED
TO PROVIDE A RAISE TO MY STAFF
OUTSIDE OF THEIR NORMAL STEP
RAISES EACH YEAR. BY DOING THIS,
I'VE SEEN A BETTER RETENTION
RATE OF STAFF. BUT THIS HAS BEEN
A STRUGGLE TO GET WHERE I AM AT
THE MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOL
NUTRITION STAFF ARE WORKING
PARENTS WHO HAVE STRUGGLED, WHO
ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS
MEET, ESPECIALLY DURING HARD
ECONOMIC TIMES. DISTRICTS ACROSS
THE STATE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE
IN PARTICIPATION, AND THIS
CREATES MORE JOBS IN SCHOOLS
BECAUSE WHEN WE SERVE MORE
STUDENTS, WE NEED MORE STAFF TO
DO THAT. SOME STAFF HAVE EVEN
BEEN ABLE TO GET BENEFITS
THROUGH THE DISTRICT AND THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. THE
ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN
PROPOSED ARE NOT FOR CREATING A
NEW PROGRAM, BUT THEY ARE TO
COVER THE MEALS THAT WE HAVE
SERVED THIS YEAR. I REMEMBER
PRIOR TO UNIVERSAL MEALS WHEN
THE STATE WOULD RUN OUT OF
MONEY, THE DISTRICTS WOULD HAVE
TO WAIT MONTHS OR YEARS TO GET
REIMBURSED. NOW THE STATE TAKING
MORE OF THE REIMBURSEMENT. IN
FUNDING. IF FUNDING RUNS OUT.
NUTRITION PROGRAMS WILL HAVE A
TOUGH FINANCIAL TIME, UM, TO GET
THROUGH THAT. OUR SCHOOL
INITIATIVE PROGRAMS AFFECT A LOT
OF DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE
ECONOMY. WE BUY AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS AND OTHER SUPPLIES FOR
OUR MEAL PROGRAMS. THEY PROCESS
AND PACKAGE THOSE PRODUCTS THEY
DELIVER TO OUR SCHOOLS. SOME
MANUFACTURERS HAVE SEEN
INCREASES IN, UM PURCHASING AND
THEY'VE NEEDED TO EXPAND THEIR
FACILITIES. IN CLOSING. WE
REQUEST THAT UNIVERSAL MEALS BE
FULLY FUNDED, SO ALL STUDENTS IN
THE STATE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE
ABILITY TO LEARN AT HIGH LEVELS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT STUDENTS CAN'T
LEARN IF THEY ARE HUNGRY. THANK
YOU. AND I WILL ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS IS APPROPRIATE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. MOVE ON TO OUR
NEXT PANELIST. THE FOOD
CALIFORNIA FOOD BANK. HØI GOOD
MORNING, UH, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS ITS
GUTIERREZ, SENIOR POLICY
ADVOCATE AT THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS. AT
THE ASSOCIATION. WE HAVE A
NETWORK OF 41 FOOD BANKS,
LEADING THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO
END HUNGER IN CALIFORNIA, AND WE
ARE A PROUD ORIGINAL CO SPONSOR
OF SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL. NÓ
CHILD SHOULD GO HUNGRY. YET
CALIFORNIA'S HIGH COST OF LIVING
LEADS MANY FAMILIES TO STRUGGLE
TO MAKE ENDS MEET. CURRENT DATA
SHOWS THAT OVER ONE IN FOUR
HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN IN
CALIFORNIA ARE FOOD INSECURE
WITH DEEP DISPARITIES FOR LATIN
AND BLACK HOUSEHOLDS. TO BE
ELIGIBLE FOR SCHOOL MEALS. AS WE
HEARD A FAMILY OF FOUR MUST EARN
$39,000 OR LESS AND 57,720 TO BE
ELIGIBLE, UH, FOR REDUCED PRICE
MEALS AMONG CALIFORNIA'S
FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY.
NEARLY HALF THE INCOMES AS WE
HEARD ARE TOO HIGH TO MEET THE
FEDERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
FOR FREE OR REDUCED PRICE SCHOOL
MEALS. AND AS WE SAW IN THE
CALIFORNIA BUDGET AND POLICY
CENTER REPORTED LAST WEEK. WE
CAN ALL AGREE. 57,000 IS IT'S
HARD TO LIVE ON FOR A FAMILY OF
FOUR IN CALIFORNIA. NOW MORE
THAN EVER HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS
FOR ALL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
POLICY CHANGE TO EDUCATION
POLICY IN DECADES, ENSURING ALL
STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO
NUTRITIOUS MEALS AT SCHOOL TO
SUPPORT THEIR HEALTH AND
LEARNING. SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS,
EDUCATORS, TEACHERS, PARENTS,
STUDENTS AND FARMERS ALL SUPPORT
. UM HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL, AND IT MAKES THIS COALITION
ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST
DIVERSE TO EVER COME TOGETHER TO
SUPPORT THIS POLICY POLICY
INITIATIVE. AS WE HEARD,
CALIFORNIA BECAME THE FIRST
STATE TO OFFER SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL AT NÓ CHARGE, BUILDING UPON
THE SUCCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THIS
PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN,
PROVIDING A MEAL TO EVERY CHILD
SINCE 2022 20 THREE SCHOOL YEAR,
THIS POLICY HAD BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE. CALIFORNIA'S
LEADERSHIP, UM OR LET ME JUST
STOP THERE? UH, ONE OTHER THING
I WANTED TO ADD ABOUT. THE
BIPARTISAN ISSUE IS THAT WE NEED
TO ALSO REAL, YOU KNOW, REALIZE
THAT HUNGER DOESN'T CHOOSE
SIDES. IT DOESN'T CHOOSE TO BE
GEOGRAPHIES. IT OFTEN HIDES EVEN
IN COMMUNITIES OF WEALTH.
CALIFORNIA'S LEADERSHIP IN
SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL HAS
INSPIRED A NATIONAL MOVEMENT AS
WE HEARD, RESULTING IN EIGHT
STATES ADOPTING AND AN
ADDITIONAL 25 STATES, PROPOSING
LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEAL POLICIES.
NATIONALLY RECENT POLL RESULTS
SHOW THAT SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL
HAVE GARNERED WIDESPREAD SUPPORT
, AND IT HAS EVEN BEEN ADOPTED
AS A PRIORITY IN THE BIDEN
HARRIS ADMINISTRATION'S NATIONAL
STRATEGY ON HUNGER, NUTRITION
AND HEALTH, RELEASED IN
SEPTEMBER, 2022. SCHOOL MEALS
FOR ALL MANDATES HIGH POVERTY
SCHOOLS TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY
ELIGIBILITY, FOSTERING EQUITY BY
GUARANTEEING ACCESS TO HEALTHY
MEALS FOR ALL ENROLLED STUDENTS
WITHOUT NECESSARY, NECESSITATING
INDIVIDUAL MEAL APPLICATIONS.
THE RESPONSE TO SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY
POSITIVE, AND THERE HAVE BEEN
NUMEROUS SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES AS
WE HEARD ACCESS TO SCHOOL MEALS
IMPROVES THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN.
AS SCHOOL MEALS ARE OFTEN THE
HEALTHIEST MEALS. CHILDREN EAT
THROUGHOUT THE DAY. SCHOOL MEALS
FOR ALL FACILITATES
SOCIALIZATION AND IMPROVE MENTAL
HEALTH THROUGH MEALS WITH PEERS.
IMPROVED ACCESS TO SCHOOL LUNCH
HAS LED TO FEWER DISCIPLINARY
PROBLEMS AND LOWER SUSPENSION
RATES IN SCHOOLS OFFERING SCHOOL
MEALS HAS DIMINISHED THE STIGMA
AROUND FREE MEALS, THEREBY
FOSTERING A DECLINE IN SOCIETAL
PERCEPTIONS AND INCREASE
PARTICIPATION AMONG STUDENTS.
OFFERING FREE SCHOOL MEALS TO
ALL STUDENTS HAS BEEN FOUND TO
IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RATES. PARENTS
GUARDIANS AND CAREGIVERS REPORT
THAT SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL SAVES
TIME AND MONEY AND REDUCES
FAMILY STRESS. IN CALIFORNIA AND
OTHER STATES, IMPLEMENTING
HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL
PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL
SCHOOL AND SCHOOL BREAKFAST
PROGRAMS HAS INCREASED, ENSURING
ACCESS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF CHILDREN. FOR ALL OF THESE
REASONS, THIS IS WHY MORE THAN
100 ORGANIZATIONS ARE ASKING THE
COMMITTEE AND THE LEGISLATOR TO
SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL
AND THESE POLICIES FULL
IMPLEMENTATION. CALIFORNIA
SHOULD CONTINUE TO PROTECT
SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL TO ENSURE
CHILDREN ARE READY TO LEARN AND
THRIVE. AS WE HEARD HUNGRY
CHILDREN CAN'T LEARN. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK,
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. WE HAVE
THE NUTRITION POLICY INSTITUTE.
HØI. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
CHRISTINA HECHT AND I'M SENIOR
POLICY ADVISOR AT THE NUTRITION
POLICY INSTITUTE, WHICH IS IN
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA'S
DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE AND
NATURAL RESOURCES. N P. I WAS
SELECTED BY THE STATE TO
EVALUATE THE SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL PROGRAM AND I AM PART OF N
B'S EVALUATION TEAM. THANK YOU
FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. AS YOU
KNOW, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS TWO
MEALS DAILY AT NÓ CHARGE TO ALL
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
FAMILY'S FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
, OUR OUR EVALUATION SHOWS
OVERWHELMING APPRECIATION AND
SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL PROGRAM. FOR EXAMPLE, ACROSS
ALL INCOME CATEGORIES, ALL
INCOME CATEGORIES OF PARENTS AND
IMPRESSIVE 80% SAY THEY ARE IN
SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM. THE
CALIFORNIA PROGRAM IS ONLY IN
ITS SECOND YEAR, BUT BOTH OUR
EVALUATION AND FINDINGS FROM
NUMEROUS STUDIES AROUND THE
COUNTRY ARE CONSISTENT AND CLEAR
. SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL
ACCOMPLISHES ITS PRIMARY GOAL.
INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN
SCHOOL MEALS SO THAT EVERY
STUDENT IS NOURISHED AND READY
TO LEARN, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS
FROM LOWER INCOME FAMILIES. AND
I JUST WANNA ADD THAT IN THE
TESTIMONY I SUBMITTED TO ERIN, I
PROVIDE THE RESEARCH CITATIONS
FOR MY STATEMENTS. ALLOWING ALL
STUDENTS TO EAT SCHOOL MEALS AT
NÓ CHARGE, EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSES
TWO MAJOR BARRIERS TO SCHOOL
MEAL PARTICIPATION. THE FIRST
RELATES TO THE FEDERAL INCOME
CUTOFFS FOR FREE AND REDUCED
PRICE MEALS THAT CALIFORNIA HAS
ELIMINATED BY MAKING SCHOOL
MEALS AVAILABLE FOR ALL AS
YOU'VE HEARD, THIS IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE THE FEDERAL PO POVERTY
LEVEL ALREADY CONSIDERED VERY
LOW BY MANY EXPERTS DOESN'T TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT THE HIGH COST OF
LIVING IN OUR STATE. A HIGHER
COST OF LIVING IS ASSOCIATED
WITH INCREASED FOOD INSECURITY.
AS YOU'VE HEARD NEARLY HALF OF
CALIFORNIA'S FOOD INSECURE
FAMILIES MADE TO QUALIFY FOR
FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS. OUR
RESEARCH FOUND THAT THE GREATEST
INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION WHEN
MEALS ARE AT NÓ CHARGE TO ALL
STUDENTS COMES FROM THOSE WHO
ARE NEAR ELIGIBLE FOR REDUCED
PRICE MEALS. THOSE FAMILIES YOU
JUST HEARD ABOUT THIS INDICATES
THAT UNIVERSAL MEALS ARE AN
EQUITABLE WAY TO ADDRESS FOOD
INSECURITY AMONG CHILDREN. THE
SECOND BARRIER IS A SENSE OF
STIGMA THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH
MEANS TESTED SCHOOL MEALS, WHICH
PREVENTED QUALIFIED CHILDREN
FROM PARTICIPATING. DURING THE
FIRST YEAR OF THE STATE PROGRAM
46% OF DISTRICT FOOD SERVICE
DIRECTORS REPORTED A DECREASE IN
STIGMA FOR STUDENTS FROM LOW
INCOME FAMILIES. FROM SURVEYS
WITH CALIFORNIA PARENTS IN THE
SECOND YEAR OF THE PROGRAM. WE
FOUND THAT ACROSS ALL INCOME
LEVELS, 65% BELIEVE THE PROGRAM
REV REDUCES STIGMA FOR THEIR
CHILD ABOUT EATING A SCHOOL
MEAL. IN OTHER WORDS, ALTHOUGH
INITIALLY IT MAY SEEM
COUNTERINTUITIVE, THE LOW INCOME
STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO
PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL MEALS ONCE
THE HIGHER INCOME STUDENTS CAN
AND DO, AND IT NÓ LONGER CAN BE
SEEN AS A LOW INCOME PERSONS
PROGRAM. OUR EVALUATION FINDS
THAT STUDENTS ALSO FEEL THE
PROGRAM REDUCES STIGMA AND
EMBARRASSMENT ABOUT TAKING A
SCHOOL MEAL. WHEN WE HAVE ROBUST
PARTICIPATION, IT BENEFITS ALL
STUDENTS MOST IMPORTANT WHEN
MORE STUDENTS EAT MORE KIDS ARE
EATING MORE NUTRITIOUS MEALS.
I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THE
EPIDEMIC OF DIET RELATED CHRONIC
DISEASE AND ITS TOLL ON OUR
STATE'S HEALTH CARE COSTS. POOR
DIET IS NOW THE LEADING CAUSE OF
ILLNESS IN OUR COUNTRY. SCHOOL
MEALS PROVIDE GOOD NUTRITION FOR
ALL STUDENTS. THIS IS BECAUSE U
S¼ Dð A STRINGENT NUTRITION
STANDARDS STEMMING FROM
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HEALTHY,
HUNGER FREE KIDS ACT IN 2012
HAVE NOW MADE SCHOOLS THE SINGLE
OVERALL HEALTHIEST SOURCE OF
FOOD IN THE U S¼ NEW STANDARDS
DUE OUT NEXT MONTH WILL MAKE
THIS MORE SO. A PROGRAM THAT
GROWS PARTICIPATION BY LOWER
INCOME STUDENTS CAN HELP REDUCE
A VARIETY OF DISPARITIES,
INCLUDING IN NUTRITION, HEALTH
AND ATTENDANCE. BUT OFFERING NÓ
CHARGE MEALS TO ALL STUDENTS IS
ALSO GOOD FOR ALL STUDENTS.
RESEARCH SHOWS IMPROVEMENT FOR
ALL STUDENTS IN BEHAVIOR OVERALL
, WELL BEING, AND SCHOOL CLIMATE
ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE, DIET QUALITY AND
LOWER BODY MASS INDEX. OUR
EVALUATION FINDS THAT OVER THREE
QUARTERS OF CALIFORNIA PARENTS
FEEL THAT OFFERING MEALS AT NÓ
CHARGE TO ALL STUDENTS CAN
IMPROVE STUDENT ACADEMICS AND
THE BEHAVIOR OF ALL WHILE
STUDENTS SAY THE PROGRAM
SUPPORTS FOOD SECURITY INCREASES
, MEAL PARTICIPATION MAKES
SCHOOL MEALS FEEL MORE INCLUSIVE
AND REDUCES HASSLE. AND YES,
THERE ARE ALSO EAGER TO SEE MORE
OF THOSE FRESH LOCAL INGREDIENTS
, WHICH HELP OUR LOCAL FARMERS
AND LOCAL ECONOMIES. I'M HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, FOR
BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY APPRECIATE THAT. I
THINK, I. I WANTED TO START OFF
BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF, UH OF UNIVERSAL
MEALS. UH, WHEN I WAS A STUDENT
IN SCHOOL, I WAS A RECIPIENT OF,
UH, A FREE MEALS PROGRAM AND
DEFINITELY, UH, IMPORTANT TO MY
NUTRITION. UM I ALSO HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A SUMMER
BEING A, UH WORKING IN THE
SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM AND BEING,
UH UH, NOT AN AUDITOR. BUT ONE
OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT GOES TO
THE SITES AND VISITS AND DOES
THE COUNTING IN THE TALLYING. IF
YOU'VE DONE THE PROGRAM, YOU'RE
FAMILIAR WITH IT. WHERE YOU, UH,
MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE
STUDENTS YOU CAN'T THERE'S A
CHILDREN. EXCUSE ME THAT ARE
PRESENT AND YOU COUNT THE MEALS
THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, RECEIVED THE
MEALS THAT ARE CONSUMED THE
MEALS THAT ARE LEFT, UM SO
FAMILIAR WITH, UM, WITH THAT
ASPECT OF IT, AND ALSO A
RECIPIENT OF THE SUMMER LUNCH
PROGRAM AT MY LOCAL COMMUNITY.
UH, NONPROFIT DOWN THE STREET
WHEN I WAS IN WHEN I YOUNG SO,
UM, II, I I'M ACTUALLY NOT GONNA
FOCUS MY TIME ON OR QUESTIONS ON
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT. I THINK
THAT'S THERE'S PLENTY OF
EVIDENCE THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED
AS TO AS TO THAT. UM, WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO SPEND MY TIME ON
AND HOPEFULLY ASK, CERTAINLY OF
THE PANEL WHEN I ASKED THE
QUESTIONS, AND THEN, UH, MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC WHO SPEAK, UH, AT
THE END OF THE AGENDA TODAY. IS
TO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN
CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH
THIS PROGRAM, BUT ALSO, UM
UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IN A, UH
TOUGH BUDGET YEAR. WE NEED TO BE
, UH, CREATIVE, IF POSSIBLE. WE
NEED TO BE, UM, JUDICIOUS. WE
NEED TO BE DOING ALL THE THINGS
WE CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT THE
PROGRAM, UM NOT ONLY IS
SUCCESSFUL IN THAT THE MEALS ARE
PROVIDED, BUT THAT WE, UM, ARE
DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO, UH,
MAKE SURE THAT FUNDING ONE
PROGRAM DOESN'T SACRIFICE OTHER
VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAMS. THE ONE
GOOD THING ABOUT ALL OF YOU HERE
TODAY AS WELL IS THAT YOU WILL
HEAR FROM OTHER VERY IMPORTANT
PROGRAMS, AND EVERYBODY WILL SAY
YOU KNOW THAT THEIR PROGRAMS ARE
VERY IMPORTANT AND THEY ARE, UM,
BUT IN OUR ROLE WE NOW MAKE MUST
MAKE DECISIONS IN THE YEAR LIKE
THIS AS TO HOW DO WE ALLOCATE
THE FUNDING? WE HAVE TO ALL
THESE IMPORTANT PROGRAMS SO YOUR
ROLE IS TO HELP US DO THAT
BETTER. SO THAT'S WHAT MY
QUESTIONS ARE GONNA BE FOCUSED
ON UM AND I'M APPRECIATIVE THAT
THERE'S YOU KNOW, PRACTITIONERS,
PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE GROUND
ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THESE
PROGRAMS BECAUSE THAT HELPS US
UNDERSTAND BETTER. UM, BUT, AS
NOTED ON THE AGENDA, THIS
PROGRAM COSTS HAVE BEEN
INCREASING. WE ARE BEING ASKED
FOR AN ADDITIONAL AN
AUGMENTATION FOR THE CURRENT
YEAR. UM A LARGER, UH, BUDGET
SET ASIDE FOR NEXT YEAR, AND
THAT'S AS A RESULT OF THE PAID
MEAL. UH PROGRAM GROWING IN THE
FREE AND REDUCED, UH, PROGRAM
DROPPING. AND UM, I WANNA REALLY
DIVE DEEP INTO WHY THAT'S
HAPPENING BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE
GOT SOME WORK TO DO THERE
COLLECTIVELY, TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. UM SO MAYBE
TO SET THE STAGE FOR THAT
CONVERSATION FOR THOSE QUESTIONS
. UM I KNOW THE L A Ó TALKED
ABOUT IN REFERENCE. A, UH FIGURE
IN THE REPORT THAT'S AVAILABLE.
AND THE IMBALANCE. I'LL JUST
CALL IT OF THE FREE REDUCED AND
THE PAID PROGRAM. UM, AND HOW
MUCH THE STATE IS NOW
CONTRIBUTING, CONTRIBUTING. UM
IN THAT REGARD, I GUESS THE
QUESTION UM TO THE L, A Ó S¼
OFFICE WOULD BE IF THERE WAS A,
UH MORE BALANCED APPROACH OF,
UH, THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. WHAT? WHAT WOULD
THAT IS THAT IS THAT A, UM WOULD
THAT KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING AT
THE SAME RATE, PROVIDING THE
SAME NUMBER OF MEALS? AND ALSO
GIVE SOME RELIEF TO THE STATES
BUDGET, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I AM
ASSUMING FROM YOUR, UM YOUR
COMMENTS THAT THAT'S THAT IF WE
HAD MORE FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
A STATE'S CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD BE
LESS, BUT I DO NOT WANT TO
SIMPLIFY IT. I WANT TO GIVE YOU
AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT
THAT. SURE THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THAT. SO
I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO
FIGURE 13 IN OUR REPORT THAT
SHOWS THAT THERE'S THIS PIE
CHART. WHERE WHERE THE PAID, UM
THE FUNDS GOING TOWARDS THE PAID
MILLS. THEY'RE JUST THERE'S JUST
A LOT MORE FUNDS GOING TOWARDS
THOSE THAN THE FREE MEAL, AND
THAT'S REALLY A PRODUCT OF JUST
HOW OUR REIMBURSEMENT SYSTEM
WORKS AND ITS FIGURE 11 IN OUR
REPORT, BUT I'LL ACTUALLY GO TO
YOUR AGENDA. YOUR UH, PAGE FIVE,
THE FIGURE WHERE THE STATE
CONTRIBUTION FOR THE PAID MILLS
IS JUST SO MUCH MORE COMPARED TO
THE STATE CONTRIBUTION FOR THE
FREE MILLS. MY COMMENTS ABOUT
THE FEDERAL COLA AND THE GROWTH
OF, UM THE GROWTH OF THE FEDERAL
COLA ACTUALLY, IS THAT, UM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS, UM DOES
DOES DO AN AUTOMATIC
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT FOR
MILLS, BUT THAT WHEN SO WHEN
THEY INCREASE THAT, UM, THAT
ACTUALLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY I
REIMBURSE SYSTEM WORKS. THE PAID
CONTRIBUTION. THE STATE
CONTRIBUTION FOR PAID ALSO
INCREASES WITH THAT, BECAUSE
WE'RE ALIGNING THESE THREE RATES
. THE FREE WHAT THE WHAT A
COMBINED FREE RATE IS GETTING A
COMBINED REDUCED RATE WILL ALSO
GET AND THE COMBINED PAID RATE
WILL GET SO THE SO THE FREE RATE
GROWING BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL
GOAL. FEDERAL COLA RESULTS IN
THE PAID RATE, UM, GROWING AS
WELL, AND THE STATE HAVING TO
PUT IN THOSE DOLLARS AT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT SO IF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WERE TO
INCREASE RATES, JUST PROVIDING
LIKE LET'S JUST SAY MAKE ME WE
WAVED OUR MAGIC WAND AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUT MORE
DOLLARS INTO, UM, INCREASING THE
FREE RATE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY
RESULT IN THE STATE ACTUALLY
HAVING TO PUT MORE STATE DOLLARS
TO MATCH THE PAID RATE. UM SO
HOPE THAT THAT HELPS THEM AS YOU
CONSIDER ACTIONS ON THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT REALLY DIRECTLY, UM,
RESULTING IN STATE ACTION OR
STATE. UM THE IMPACT ON THE ON
THE STATE PROGRAM, SO THANK YOU.
I UNDERSTAND THAT NOW, BUT I
GUESS MY QUESTION THEN WOULD BE
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE. WHAT
WOULD WHAT WOULD THEN? LEAD TO
WHAT I'D SUGGESTING. YOU'RE
HOPING THAT THESE LEADS TO WHICH
IS, UM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAKING
A LARGER CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS
THIS PROGRAM THAN WHAT THE STATE
IS CONTRIBUTING. YES SO THE WAY
THE WAY OUR SYSTEM WORKS NOW, IF
THE IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WERE TO PROVIDE MORE DOLLARS
THAT WOULD OFFSET STATE DOLLARS,
IT WOULD BE TOWARDS THAT PAY
THAT PAID RATE. UM, PIECE OK? UM
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE
IDENTIFIED, AND I, UH MAYBE TO
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MAYBE
èC Dð IF YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS
AS WELL. UM OR ANYBODY ELSE? UM
THERE'S A NOTE THAT THE BECAUSE
OF L èC FF. WE ARE NÓ LONGER
COLLECTING, PERHAPS, UM MORE
DATA OR MORE, A MORE ACCURATE
DATA ON WHO SHOULD BE, UM
RECIPIENTS OR COULD QUALIFY AS
RECIPIENTS FOR THE MEAL PROGRAM.
UM IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, UH
EITHER THE DISTRICT YOURSELF OR
THE èC Dð IS UM, NOTICING IS
HAPPENING IS THAT TRUE. YES IT
IS, UM, WITH L èC FF COMING OUT
MY DISTRICT WE COLLECT, UM,
INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES OR
IN OR ALTERNATIVE INCOME FORMS.
UM ON THOSE FORMS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE
OUR STATE FORM. SO IF A FAMILY
THAT QUALIFIES FOR A FREE
REDUCED PAID MEALS DOESN'T FILL
OUT THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE OR
FEDERAL FORM, THEN THEY DON'T
QUALIFY. UM FOR A DISTRICT ON A
PROVISION èC P OR PROVISION TO
THOSE ALL HAVE TO DO THE
ALTERNATE INCOME FORM, BUT A
DISTRICT THAT IS NOT ON A
PROVISION THEY WOULD STILL HAVE
TO COLLECT THE ALTERNATE OR THE
FEDERAL MEAL APPLICATION TO BE
ABLE TO QUALIFY STUDENTS FOR
FREE, REDUCED AND PAID TALKING
WITH DIRECTORS AROUND THE STATE.
THEY THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH
GETTING FAMILIES TO COMPLETE THE
APPLICATIONS BECAUSE THERE'S NÓ
INCENTIVE TO FOR THEM TO FILL
THAT OUT. NOW IT'S YOU KNOW,
FAMILIES GO WELL, YOU'RE ME FREE
MEALS ANYWAYS, SO THAT'S A
STRUGGLE THAT WE HAVE SEEN. I
WAS TALKING TO A DIRECTOR IN THE
ORANGE COUNTY AREA, AND SHE SAID
THAT WITH SUMMER EB Tð COMING
OUT, THEY SEND A, UM INFORMATION
OUT TO FAMILIES, LETTING THEM
KNOW IF THEY DON'T FILL OUT AN
APPLICATION THAT THEY AREN'T
GOING TO BE QUALIFIED FOR.
SUMMARY B Tð SHE COLLECTED
ANOTHER 200 APPLICATIONS. SO
THOSE ARE THE STRUGGLES THAT
WE'RE HAVING OUT IN THE FIELD IS
THAT THERE'S NÓ REAL INCENTIVE.
IF YOU WE CAN'T FORCE FAMILIES
TO FILL OUT THE FORMS. UM IF WE
IF WE COULD FORCE THEM THEN THAT
WOULD HELP THE PROGRAM. THAT
WOULD HELP THE PROGRAM IN TERMS
OF, UM ABLE TO RECEIVE MORE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MORE FREE AND
REDUCED INCOME FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, RIGHT? TO HAVE SOME
COMMENTS. I'M KI¾M FRISELL
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND I'LL
ADD WITH, UM, COMMUNITY
ELIGIBILITY AND WITH UNIVERSAL
MEALS IN CALIFORNIA AND THE
MANDATE THAT THAT, UM HIGH
POVERTY SCHOOLS APPLY TO BE ON A
PROVISION. WE HAVE SEEN A PRETTY
BIG BUMP IN THOSE SCHOOLS THAT
ARE APPLYING TO BE ON èC EP WE
HAVE OVER 6300 SCHOOL SITES ON,
UM, COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY AND
ANOTHER 908 SCHOOL SITES ON
PROVISION. TWO I MENTIONED THIS
BECAUSE, UM, WITH WITH, UM CEP.
THE REDUCED PRICE CATEGORY GOES
AWAY, SO IT'S REALLY JUST THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PAID AND
THE FEDERAL AND UNDER THE
FEDERAL LAW. UM THE MEAL
APPLICATION CAN ONLY BE USED FOR
PURPOSES OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL
LUNCH SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM,
SO THE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FORM
IS THEN COLLECTED. IF A SCHOOL
IS, UM ON èC EP AND THOSE NON
BASE SHARES, AND SO JOSH WAS
ADDRESSING. YOU KNOW SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES AND THERE ARE A LOT
OF BEST PRACTICES OUT THERE TO
HELP SCHOOL. COLLECT UH MORE OF
THE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FORM OF
WHICH I WILL SAY I THINK, UM ONE
BENEFIT WE WILL START TO SEE IS
THE NEW THE NEWEST FEDERAL CHILD
NUTRITION PROGRAM SUMMER EB Tð
AND THAT ELIGIBILITY SO I THINK
THAT COULD ACTUALLY, UM, HELP
OUR COLLECTION OF THE DATA THAT
WE NEED FOR UNIVERSAL MEALS. I'M
NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS NEW
PROGRAM. SO IT'S A NEW, UH EB Tð
PROGRAM FOR SOME FOR ACCESS TO
FOOD. YES IT'S 100 AND 20. YEAH,
100 AND $20 IN BENEFITS. AND
PEOPLE WILL NOW HAVE TO, UH,
APPLY AS, UH, WAS MENTIONED JUST
NOW. INCOME BASED DURING
PANDEMIC. UM EB Tð. IT WAS KIND
OF AUTOMATIC AND EVEN SEE èC
COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY SCHOOLS.
ALL STUDENTS, UM, WERE ELIGIBLE,
BUT NOW IT IS BASED ON
INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS. SO IT WILL
IT WILL HELP SCHOOLS, I THINK
ALSO JUST HAVE MORE MORE
APPLICATIONS. MORE DATA TO
REALLY, UM, HELP WITH THAT DAY
THAT DATA IS GOING TO BE
COLLECTED, I ASSUME RIGHT BEFORE
THE SUMMER AND THE END OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO
APPLY THAT DATA FOR THE NEXT
YEAR FOR THE NEXT IT CAN BE. AND
WE'RE WORKING WITH U S¼ Dð ON
FLEXIBILITIES AND WAIVERS. UM,
THERE THERE IS A INTERIM FINAL
RULE AND PROVIDING COMMENTS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS TIME
DOES THE INTERIM FINAL RULE
INCLUDE THIS FLEXIBILITY THAT
WOULD ALLOW YOU TO COLLECT THE
DATA THE YEAR BEFORE? GIVES TIME
FRAME SO WHEN IT CAN BE
COLLECTED, SO YEAH, IT WILL BE
SOMEWHAT HELPFUL. SO I THINK
THAT THAT WILL HELP. UM SCHOOLS
AS WELL AS, UM, I MEAN, YOU
KNOW, WE STARTED. WE STARTED
THIS AMAZING PROGRAM JUST RIGHT
ON THE TAIL OF THE PANDEMIC,
WHERE WE HAD A FEW YEARS OF FREE
MEALS FOR EVERYBODY, AND SO IT'S
TAKEN A LOT OF EDUCATION AND,
UM, WITH FAMILIES TO HELP THEM
UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF
COLLECTING EITHER THE
ALTERNATIVE INCOME FORM OR, UM,
THE MAIL APPLICATIONS AND MAKING
THE CONNECTION TO THE ENTIRE
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND OTHER
BENEFITS THAT THAT THEIR FAMILY
CAN, UM RECEIVE FROM THIS,
WHETHER IT'S INTERNET OR TESTING
SCORES OR DIFFERENT SERVICES
AVAILABLE, SO WE'VE DONE A LOT
OF MESSAGING AND TRYING TO HELP
SCHOOLS INCREASE THEIR THEIR
RATE. WELL II. I THINK THIS IS
THIS IS THE, UM THIS IS THE
PATHWAY WE MUST TAKE IN ORDER TO
CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN THIS PROGRAM
GIVEN WHAT YOU KNOW ARE ARE ARE
CHALLENGES. UM, FROM A BUDGET
STANDPOINT AND OUR COMPETING, UM
AND IMPORTANT OTHER, UH SCHOOL
PROGRAMS. AND SO II I I'D ASK
AGAIN TO UH, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH
MORE CAN THE DEPARTMENT DO? UM
HOW MUCH MORE CAN LOCALS DO TO
ENSURE THAT THAT COLLECTION OF
DATA, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S
PROBABLY THE SIMPLEST THING TO
ACCOMPLISH. I KNOW IT'S
DIFFICULT TO DO. I'VE I FELL OUT
THOSE FORMS EVERY YEAR AT THE
BEGINNING, AND THERE'S YOU KNOW,
PARENTS SAYING THEY GET FATIGUE
OVER THAT, BUT, UM IT. YOU YOU
WHAT IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO DO
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE AN IDEA
OF HOW TO BETTER INCREASE
CALIFORNIA'S SHARE? UM TO THE
ADMINISTRATION, LOOKING AT ANY
OTHER ALTERNATIVE ON HOW TO
REDUCE THE BUDGETARY IMPACT FROM
THE STATE BUDGET AND MAXIMIZE
FEDERAL BENEFITS? REBECCA
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. UM YOU
KNOW, I WOULD JUST SAY, YOU
KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION REMAINS
FULLY COMMITTED, UH, TO FULLY
FUNDING UNIVERSAL MEALS, UM, AT
THIS TIME IS NOT PROPOSING ANY
CHANGES OR REDUCTIONS, BUT WITH
THAT WE ARE, UM, HAPPY TO
CONTINUE ENGAGING IN A
CONVERSATIONS INTO THE SPRING.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GET INTO
THE REVISION, WE WILL PROVIDE AN
UPDATE AS WELL. WE ALREADY HEARD
SOME NEW NUMBERS ALREADY FROM
THE DEPARTMENT. SO UH, WE ARE
HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE
IN THESE, UH, CONVERSATIONS. I'D
ASK YOU, UM, AT THE MAY REVISION
WHEN YOU DO COME WITH WITH
CHANGES OR SUGGESTIONS THAT WE
MUST INCORPORATE A PATHWAY
FORWARD TO ACCOMPLISH MORE
REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THAT THAT HAS TO BE
PART OF OUR BUDGET SOLUTION IN
MAY, SO I'D ASK YOU TO COME
BACK. PREPARED TO DISCUSS WHY,
UM, THE REVISE INCLUDES THAT OR
OR DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT I THINK
THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR
US TO KNOW. IS THERE ANYTHING
ELSE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL YOU'D
LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT HOW WE CAN
BETTER DO THIS. I I DON'T KNOW
IF IT WOULD BE LIKE A STATE
MESSAGE OF, YOU KNOW THE NEED
FOR FILLING OUT A MEAL
APPLICATION. YOU KNOW SOMEBODY
FROM A HIGHER LEVEL, SAYING THIS
IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR UNIVERSAL
MEALS TO BE SUSTAINABLE.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT MIGHT BE
BENEFICIAL IF COMMERCIALS OR
BILLBOARDS OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT, UM, BECAUSE HEARING IT
FROM EXCUSE ME. HEARING IT FROM
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MIGHT NOT
ALWAYS BE THE BEST. WAY IF
THERE'S YOU KNOW, COMMERCIALS OR
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE,
THAT'S NOT ALWAYS IN OUR FUNDING
ABILITIES FOR SCHOOLS. YEAH.
SURE. KI¾M PRINCE ALL DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION? YEAH. MESSAGING IS
SO IMPORTANT. UM, AS WELL AS THE
DEPARTMENT IS IMPLEMENTING AN
IMPROVED DIRECT CERTIFICATION
PROCESS SO TO DIRECTLY CERTIFY
THOSE CHILDREN FOR THE MEAL
PROGRAMS AND THAT WILL BE FULLY
IMPLEMENTED IN THE COMING SCHOOL
YEAR. SO WE WILL GET BETTER
DIRECT CERT MATCH SO IDENTIFYING
THOSE CHILDREN THAT ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR FREE MEALS, SO DRAWING DOWN
MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS, SO THERE'S
ONE SOLUTION. SORRY. HOW HOW ARE
YOU DOING THAT? I'M NOT
UNDERSTANDING. DIRECT
CERTIFICATION IS A FEDERAL
MANDATE. WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME
OF THE CATEGORICAL, UM,
ELIGIBILITY PROGRAMS SUCH AS
SNAP, UM, COW WORKS. IF A CHILD
IS HOMELESS, UM, HEAD START AND
THEY IF THEY ARE DIRECTLY
CERTIFIED FOR THE MEAL PROGRAMS
WITHOUT HAVING TO COMPLETE AN
APPLICATION, SO WE HAVE SOME
OPPORTUNITIES TO DO BETTER.
WE'RE DOING BETTER MATCHING, UM,
WITH THE FUZZY MATCH. IT'S
CALLED AND DOING THAT, SO THAT
WILL THAT WILL FULLY BE
IMPLEMENTED IN THE COMING SCHOOL
YEAR, SO THAT WILL HELP US
IDENTIFY MORE CHILDREN AT THE
FREE RATE AGAIN, DRAWING DOWN
MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS AT THAT
FREE, UM, MEAL REIMBURSEMENT
RATE, AND, UM, I, I THINK ALSO,
UM WE THE FEDS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ONLY REQUIRES THAT
THE DIRECT CERTIFICATION FOR THE
MILL PROGRAMS BE CONDUCTED THREE
TIMES A YEAR. AND WE ENCOURAGE
SCHOOLS TO DO IT MONTHLY SO THAT
WE CAN GET AS YOU KNOW AS MUCH
IDENTIFY AS MANY STUDENTS AS
POSSIBLE, SO I THINK WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY THERE AS A STATE TO
LOOK AT THAT AS WELL. OK, ARE
THERE OTHER SUGGESTIONS? YOU
SEE? POLICY INSTITUTE OR
CHRISTINA, HE YOU SEE NUTRITION
POLICY INSTITUTE NÓ. THIS IS NOT
REALLY IN OUR RESEARCH AREA. DO
YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? I JUST
WANT TO LIFT UP WHAT JOSH SAID.
YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY THE
MESSAGING COMING AND HAVING THAT
SUPPORT FROM, UH, THE COMMUNITY
THAT ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE
FAMILIES. UH, FOOD BANKS. UH,
CBOS. ALL OF US WHO ARE ON THE
GROUND WITH FAMILIES CAN ALSO,
UM HELP LIFT UP AND IF WE CAN
GET THAT SUPPORT AS WELL, TO GET
THE MESSAGING OUT AND WITH ALONG
WITH THE STATE, I THINK WE COULD
HAVE A GREAT WAY TO UM, MAXIMIZE
THAT AND DRAW DOWN THOSE FEDERAL
FUNDS. OK, CHRISTINA HECTOR. OH,
YOU CHANGED HER MIND ON THE
TOPIC OF MESSAGING AS WE SURVEY
CALIFORNIA'S FOOD SERVICE
DIRECTORS. THIS IS MESSAGING IN
GENERAL IS ONE OF THEIR TOP
NEEDS. MESSAGING THAT THE MEALS
ARE AVAILABLE OR MESSAGING.
MESSAGING COLLECTING THIS DATA
EVERYTHING PARENTS NEED TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE
NUTRITION STANDARDS THEY NEED TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT GOES INTO MAKING
THE SCHOOL MEALS. THEY NEED TO
UNDERSTAND, UH, ABOUT THE, UM,
INCOME ELIGIBILITY FORMS AND I
MEAN, I THINK MESSAGING IN
GENERAL, CAN DO YOU HAVE MORE TO
SAY ON THAT. I'M GONNA TURN IT
OVER NOW TO, UM MY COLLEAGUE, MR
MEUCCI. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR
CHAIR AND I. I APPRECIATE YOUR
OPENING REMARKS BECAUSE, I
COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU THAT,
UH YOU KNOW, I I'M PROUD TO BE A
CALIFORNIAN FIRST IN THE NATION
IN ROLLING OUT UNIVERSAL MEALS,
UM AND, YOU KNOW, II. I THINK WE
DON'T HAVE TO DISCUSS ANY
FURTHER. UH, YOU KNOW THE
ABSOLUTE IMPORTANCE ABSOLUTE
PRIORITY THAT NÓ CHILD. NÓ
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT
. UH UH, I SHOULD SHOULD SHOULD
GO. HUNGRY UH, YOU CAN'T LEARN
IF YOU'RE HUNGRY THAT THAT'S
ESTABLISHED. UH, THE QUESTION IS
YOU KNOW, UH I MEAN, WE'RE
STARTING TO HEAR, UH, OF
DISTRICTS. YOU KNOW, WE JUST
PASSED THE MARCH 15TH LAYOFF
NOTICE DEADLINE. SAN DIEGO
UNIFIED ISSUED LAYOFF NOTICES
DISTRICTS IN MY IN IN IN IN MY
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT HAVE ISSUED
LAYOFF NOTICES. AND SO WE NEED
TO WE NEED TO GET SMARTER IN
TERMS OF HOW WE ADMINISTER THESE
PROGRAMS, MAKING SURE THAT EVERY
CHILD THAT NEEDS A FREE MEAL
GETS IT AND RECOGNIZING FULLY
RECOGNIZING THAT WE NEED TO
ELIMINATE THE STIGMA OF, YOU
KNOW THAT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED
WITH THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH
SO THAT THAT'S ALL ESTABLISHED
AS FAR AS, UH, AS AS AS FAR AS I
BELIEVE WE, WE ARE CONCERNED, UM
WE'RE LOOKING AT REAL DOLLARS
HERE. I MEAN, ACCORDING TO THE
STATE OR OR THE STAFF ANALYSIS.
THE UH THE 2324 BUDGET INCLUDED
1.6 BILLION PROPOSITION 98
GENERAL FUND DOLLARS GOING
TOWARD THE UNIVERSE OF MEAL
PROGRAM. I MEAN, THAT'S REAL
MONEY THERE, AND, UH AND THAT'S
MONEY THAT COULD BE SPENT. YOU
KNOW FOR TO AVOID THOSE LAYOFFS
TO, YOU KNOW, PAY TEACHERS MORE
SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE
TEACHER WORKFORCE SHORTAGE TO
HIRE MORE LITERACY COACHES. I
MEAN, ALL THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS
THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DISCUSSING
TODAY, AND SO MY MAIN POINT OF
MY YOU KNOW, WHICH HAVE RAISED
IN A PREVIOUS HEARING IS, UH WHY
ARE WE PROVIDING FREE MEALS TO
KIDS THAT DON'T NEED IT? WHY ARE
WE PROVIDING FREE MEALS FOR KIDS
AND BEVERLY HILLS OR PALO ALTO
WHO DON'T NEED IT? I UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE MAY BE LOW INCOME
KIDS IN BEVERLY HILLS AND PALO
ALTO. BUT YOU KNOW, AND SO MY
FIRST QUESTION IS TO THE, UH,
THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TRYING
TO IDENTIFY BETTER WAYS OF DOING
THIS, UM SCORES DIRECTLY CERTIFY
STUDENTS UNDER THE IDENTIFIED
STUDENT PERCENTAGE PROGRAM. AND,
UH UH UM FROM THE, UH èC Dð, UM
AS FEL YOU. YOU YOU SAID THAT
YOU CHECK WITH THE èC FRESH AND
OTHER RECORDS IT SO, UH, DOES
DOES A IT IT DOES THAT HAPPEN AT
A SCHOOL SITE LEVEL OR A SCHOOL
DISTRICT LEVEL IN TERMS OF, YOU
KNOW, CHECKING THE IDEA. DO YOU
CHECK IF A STUDENT UH, FAMILY IS
ENROLLED IN CAL FRESH, FOR
EXAMPLE. SO THANK YOU. KI¾M FELL
. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. IT'S
A LITTLE BIT OF ALL OF THAT. SO
DIRECT CERTIFICATION ACTUALLY
HAPPENS AT THE STATE LEVEL. SO
WHEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT UPLOADS
THE STUDENTS INFORMATION INTO
OUR COW PADS DATA, THERE'S THAT
DIRECT CERTIFICATION THAT
HAPPENS. DIRECT CERTIFICATION.
UM A SCHOOL DISTRICT COULD ALSO
HAVE A AN AGREEMENT WITH OUR
LOCAL. UM UH UM, HEALTH
DEPARTMENT WELFARE DEPARTMENT
WHERE THEY THEY ARE GETTING THAT
THAT DATA AND SO THEY'RE DOING A
LOCAL MATCH AS WELL. AND THEN
THERE'S CERTAINLY THE
APPLICATION, SO IT'S DONE, UM,
ELECTRONICALLY FOR THE DIRECT
CERTIFICATION STATEWIDE, AND
THEN SOME SCHOOLS DO ALSO DO IT
AT A LOCAL LEVEL AS WELL. BUT IS
THAT IS THAT ELECTRONIC DATA
SHARING IS THAT DONE AT A
STUDENT BY STUDENT LEVEL, OR IS
IT DONE? UH, ON A, YOU KNOW,
LIKE TO DETERMINE A PERCENTAGE
OF, UH, YOU KNOW, A SCHOOL SITE
THAT THAT'S RECEIVING CAL FRESH.
IT'S IN, YOU CAN GO. IT'S
INDIVIDUAL, BUT THERE'S LIKE A
TRIPLE BLIND. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
AGREEMENTS WITH DEPARTMENT
SOCIAL SERVICES. UM, HEALTH CARE
SERVICES, SO WE DON'T SEE THAT
INDIVIDUAL DATA, BUT IT IS. UM
DESEGREGATED. SO JOSH ROGERS
GREENFIELD. SO HOW IT WORKS AT A
SITE LEVEL IS THE PARENTS COME
IN? THEY ENROLL. THEY DO ALL
THEIR INFORMATION STAFF PUT THAT
INTO OUR STUDENT INFORMATION
SYSTEM THAT THEN GETS UPLOADED
TO CAL PADS, AND THAT'S WHERE
THE DATA MATCH DOES. AND SO IT
CHECKS ALL THE DATABASE FOR, UM
WHEREVER, WHICHEVER DEPARTMENT
THAT COMES FROM SO THEN WE GET A
REPORT BACK AND THAT'S WHERE IT
WOULD BE. IT'S BENEFICIAL TO DO
IT ON A MONTHLY BASIS BECAUSE
YOUR ENROLLMENT ALWAYS CHANGES
IF THAT STAFF PUTTING THAT
INFORMATION IN MIKEY SOMETHING
THEY DON'T MATCH THEN WHEN THEY
COME BACK AND FIX IT, THEN THE
NEXT MONTH THEY WOULD MATCH SO
THERE ARE SOME HUMAN ERROR THERE
AT THE BEGINNING, BUT ONCE
THEY'RE ON THE PROGRAM, THEY'RE
THEY'RE THERE. OK SO IF WE'RE
GOING TO THAT LEVEL OF CHECKING
WHETHER STUDENTS ARE YOU KNOW,
NEED THE FREE MEALS. UH, THEN
WHY CAN'T WE IF WE WANT TO
ELIMINATE THE STIGMA THAT WHY
CAN'T WE REVERSE ENGINEER THIS
AND REQUIRED FAMILIES THAT CAN
AFFORD TO PAY FOR MEALS? PAY FOR
THE MEAL LIKE YOU KNOW, CAN CAN
SCHOOL DISTRICTS YOU KNOW, SEND
LIKE, GIVE THE SAME MEAL CARD
III. I JUST STEPPED OUTSIDE AND
CHECKED WITH MY WIFE. UH THEY
THEY MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW.
YES MY DAUGHTER IS RECEIVING
FREE MEALS. SHE DOESN'T NEED A
FREE MEAL, YOU KNOW, BUT BUT,
YEAH, OF COURSE, EVERYONE'S
GONNA HAPPY BECAUSE YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE BECAUSE IT'S A FREE MEAL
, EVERY E EVERYTHING. EVERYONE
LOVES FREE THINGS. UM BUT GIVEN
THAT WE'RE TALKING, YOU KNOW
ABOUT BUDGET CUTS AND LAYOFFS.
YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, WHY
CAN'T WE DEVELOP A SYSTEM LIKE
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW EVERY
EVERY EVERY STUDENT GETS A MEAL
CARD, BUT YOU KNOW YOU, YOU
CHECK TO SEE YOU KNOW THOSE THAT
THAT CAN'T AFFORD, YOU KNOW,
SEND HIM A BILL. CAN CAN WE DO
THAT? UM KI¾M PRINCE ALL
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. UH
THERE WOULD NÓ LONGER BE A
SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL UNIVERSAL
MEALS PROGRAM SO WE WOULD ONLY
BE THE FIRST STATE TO IMPLEMENT.
BUT THEN THAT WOULD DECONSTRUCT
THE PROGRAM. BUT THERE IS ALSO
FEDERAL LAWS IN CALIFORNIA LAWS
AROUND, UM, PREVENTING OVERT
IDENTIFICATION OF A CHILD THAT'S
IN IN THEIR INCOME. UM CATEGORY,
SO A CARD WOULD NOT, YOU KNOW,
THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE
APPROPRIATE AND WE HEARD SO MUCH
ABOUT THE STIGMA AND THE
SHAMING. OF WHICH WE WE'VE
ESTABLISHED. WE'RE NOT ARGUING
ABOUT THE THING, BUT IT'S VERY
REAL. AND WE KNOW I AGREE. AND
KIDS ARE GOING HUNGRY AND WE'RE
NOT. WE'RE NOT DISPUTING. I'M
NOT DISPUTING THAT. I'M I'M
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE KIDS
THAT YOU KNOW THE WEALTHY KIDS
IN PALO ALTO OR WEALTHY FAMILIES
AND BEVERLY HILLS. YOU KNOW WHY?
WHY IS THE STATE PAYING FOR
THOSE MEALS. YOU KNOW? 1.6
BILLION PROP 98 GENERAL FUND, UH
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
INCREASING I WE, WE WE'RE WE'RE
TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT
SO THAT WE ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS
OF PROVIDING A MEAL TO EVERYONE
THAT NEEDS IT AND REDUCE, YOU
KNOW, AVOID THE STIGMA. SO JOSH
ROGERS GREENFIELD. SO I WILL SAY
THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED OFFS
UM, THOSE ARE USUALLY TEACHER
LAYOFFS, RIGHT? SO OUR OUR
PROGRAMS ARE IN OUR DISTRICT ARE
ONE OF THE ONLY PROGRAMS THAT WE
RUN AS A BUSINESS. I RUN IT AS A
BUSINESS. IT'S MY PERSONAL
BUSINESS. FUNDED BY FEDERAL
DOLLARS AND STATE DOLLARS. UM
YOU KNOW, I MAKE SURE THAT YOU
KNOW WE'RE NOT EXCEEDING. WE'RE
NOT ENCROACHING ON THE GENERAL
FUND PRIOR TO THE MOST SHAMING
STUDENT BILL, WE HAD $260,000 OF
BAD MEAL DEBT THAT THE DISTRICT
HAD TO PAY OUT OF THE GENERAL
FUND THAT WAS OVER YEARS THAT
THAT HAD BEEN COLLECTING, BUT
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT AND THEN
ONCE WE DID THE NÓ SHAMING
POLICY, THOSE THOSE BAD LUNCH
DEBTS KEPT INCREASING. THE FIRST
YEAR WAS 40,000, THE YEAR. IT
WAS 70,000. MY BOSS CAN BE. WHY
ARE WE NOT COLLECTING THIS
MONEY? I SAID, WELL, I DON'T
HAVE. I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT
IT NOW, SO THAT YOU KNOW IF WE
GO BACK TO THAT WE'RE STILL
GONNA HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THIS
IS NOW SWITCHING FROM OUR
PROGRAM TO THE GENERAL FUND. AND
THE SCHOOLS ARE GONNA HAVE TO
PROVIDE IT BECAUSE THERE'S
REGULATIONS IN OUR PROGRAM THAT
WE CANNOT, UM TAKE ON BAD LUNCH
DEBT. WE HAVE TO BE MADE WHOLE.
WHICH AGAIN YOU KNOW, II, I I'M
FULLY IN SUPPORT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MEAL PROGRAM AND
JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT. UM I I'M
LOOKING AT THE STAFF ANALYSIS.
SUMMARIZING THE L A Ó COMMENTS
L A Ó. UH POSITION IS THAT THE
PROPOSITION 98 FUNDING IS NOT
SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE STATE'S
CURRENT ONGOING SPENDING LEVEL.
UH, IS THAT, UH, THIS IS THIS IS
A REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET IS ADDING ADDITIONAL
ONGOING DOLLARS AND THEN THERE'S
UM, RECENT THE ESTIMATES THAT
INDICATE THAT THOSE THAT EVEN
THE ONE THE 122 MILLION IN THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ISN'T EVEN
ENOUGH TO, UM, COVER. UM, THE
EXISTING THE PROGRAM IN THE
EXISTING WAY, BASED ON
PROJECTIONS OF MILLS, AND THAT'S
INCORPORATING, UM, GROWTH IN THE
IN THE MILL PROJECTIONS. PLUS
UM, RATES, UH, THE INCREASE IN
THE COLA AND ALL OF THAT. OK?
UM, MAY I MAKE ONE COMMENT? KI¾M
PRINCE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
AND I JUST WANNA, UH, KIND OF
ANCHOR BACK TO THE, UH, JUST THE
END OF FEBRUARY, UM, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT RIGHT, RELEASED THEIR
INCOME AND THEIR FEDERAL POVERTY
LEVEL THRESHOLD. AND SO JUST
AGAIN, YOU KNOW WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT THE PAID CATEGORY. THERE'S
NÓ WAY TO, UM TO TEASE OUT RIGHT
THOSE THAT MAY BE VERY AFFLUENT
VERSUS THOSE THAT ARE MARGINALLY
THERE. AND SO THE EXAMPLE I GAVE
FOR THE FAMILY OF THREE WAS REAL
, RIGHT? UM, A FAMILY OF THREE
IF THEY MAKE $47,767 ANNUALLY,
THEY'RE IN THE PAID CATEGORY.
WHICH AGAIN I'M NOT WHERE THE
BASIC PRINCIPLE, WE'RE NOT
DISAGREEING ON ANYONE THAT NEEDS
THE FREE MEAL SHOULD GET A FREE
MEAL. THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE
? HOW DO WE MAKE OUR OUR
PROGRAM? BETTER SO THAT YOU KNOW
, WEALTHY FAMILIES ARE NOT
GETTING FREE MEALS. UM IT IT
JUST SEEMS LIKE YOU KNOW, RATHER
THAN PUTTING THE YOU KNOW
CLEARLY, LIKE THE, UM, I HAD
HEARD FROM MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
THAT, UH, THAT THEY'RE NOT
GETTING THE, UH, THE FEDERAL
APPLICATIONS BECAUSE THEY DON'T
NEED TO, RIGHT. I MEAN, THEY
THEY GET THE FREE MEAL. UH EVEN
IF THEY DON'T SUBMIT THE, UH,
THE APPLICATION AND SO OF COURSE
, YOU KNOW, UH, THE FEDERAL UH,
REIMBURSEMENT IS GONNA GO DOWN
AND THAT'S GONNA INCREASE THE
STATE OBLIGATION. UM SO IT JUST
SEEMS LIKE RATHER THAN PUTTING
THE BURDEN ON LOW INCOME
FAMILIES TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD THINK
ABOUT HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, GET
FAMILIES THAT CAN AFFORD IT. YOU
KNOW, TO PUT THE BURDEN ON THEM
ON WHY THEY SHOULD GET THE
MEALS. I DON'T HAVE I, YOU KNOW
IF ANYONE HAS ANY, UH, ANY, UH,
IDEAS YOU KNOW TOWARD THAT
EFFORT, EITHER IN THE SPEAKERS
IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD WOULD LOVE
TO HEAR IT. BUT I THANK YOU,
MISTER. CHAIR, I. I JUST WANTED
TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THIS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISTER
MARTUCCI. I THINK, UH, I HOPE
AGAIN. THE IT'S CLEAR, AT LEAST
FROM THE TWO OF US AT THIS
POINT, I THINK, UM DON'T WANT TO
SPEAK FOR MR MARTUCCI. BUT
LISTENING TO HIS QUESTIONS. IT'S
THIS IS ABOUT WHAT WE CALL COST
CONTAINMENT. HOW DO WE ENSURE
THAT THE COST DOESN'T CONTINUE
TO INCREASE ON THE BACKS OF UM
OTHER IMPORTANT PROGRAMS WHEN WE
KNOW THIS IS THE PART THAT I
THINK IS FRUSTRATING. WE KNOW
THAT WE CAN BE GETTING MORE
FUNDS. FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO HELP US PAY FOR
THIS PROGRAM. AND IT IS.
INCUMBENT UPON US IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO DO. AH,
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT
THAT HAPPENS THAT WE DO NOT
LEAVE $1 ON THE TABLE. AND SO,
UM THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF
ALL OF US TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
AND, UM WE'RE GONNA HOLD THIS
ISSUE OPEN TO FURTHER DISCUSS
AGAIN IN HOPES THAT IN THE
FEEDBACK YOU'VE RECEIVED IN OUR
QUESTIONS, AND HOPEFULLY IN THE
FEEDBACK THAT THE EXCUSE ME THAT
THE PUBLIC WILL BE PROVIDING. WE
CAN IDENTIFY WAYS TO DO THAT. WE
DO NOT WANT TO DO THE, UM THIS,
YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT CARROT AND
THE STICK APPROACH. YOU DON'T
WANNA BE THE STICK TO THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS. BUT WE TO THOSE WHO
ARE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WE
NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS.
WE UNDERSTAND IT'S EASIER NOT TO
COLLECT THE DATA. IT'S MUCH
SIMPLER TO DO THAT. BUT, UM YOU
MUST RECOGNIZE THAT THAT COMES
AT A COST AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT
MEANS THAT THE INCREASED COST IN
THIS PROGRAM THAT COULD BE
FUNDED. OTHER WAYS ISN'T GOING
TO OTHER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. SO
LET'S DO A WIN WIN FOR THE
STATE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING
THAT, UM THIS CONVERSATION LEADS
TO SO WITH THAT, I THINK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS
PANEL. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE, UH,
SECOND ISSUE. THE EXPANDED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES GRANT
PROGRAM. A PANEL WILL REVIEW THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXPANDED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM.
YELLOW OR ELOP, UH, STATE
UNIVERSAL AFTER SCHOOL AND
SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM. THE
JANUARY BUDGET PROPOSAL
ADDRESSES LEARNING RECOVERY IN
THE CONTEXT OF E LP WILL BE
HEARD AT A FUTURE HEARING. SO
UH, FOR THIS PANEL, WE'VE GOT
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. WE
HAVE ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT,
THE SAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM WE HAVE THE LAO AND WE HAVE
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
SO WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THAT,
UH, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
PLEASE. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
MR CHAIR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
MICHAEL FUNK REPRESENTING STATE
SUPERINTENDENT TONY THURMAN. AND
BEFORE I START, MY, UM TIME THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WORKING
IN EXPANDED LEARNING HAS BEEN 12
YEARS, BUT I'VE GIVEN THE LAST
32 YEARS OF MY CAREER, F FOCUSED
ON EXPANDED LEARNING. IN THE BAY
AREA. AND MAKING SURE THAT
EXPANDED LEARNING IS A
TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL. GIVE MY
WRITTEN TESTIMONY. THE EXPANDED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM.
L. IN HIS THIRD YEAR HAS
DRAMATICALLY INCREASED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CALIFORNIA
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. EARLIER
THIS YEAR. STAFF FROM THE
LEGISLATURE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. L Ó, èC Dð STATE
BOARD AND OTHER AGENCIES. THIS
IS THE FOLSOM CORDOVA UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT. BEFORE THIS
DISTRICT HAD NINE SCHOOL SITES
FUNDED THROUGH THE AFTER SCHOOL
EDUCATION SAFETY GRANTS. THEY
NOW HAVE A ROBUST EXPANDING
LEARNING PROGRAM AT 20 THREE
SCHOOL SITES. OFFERING HIGH
QUALITY ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR UP TO
1500 STUDENTS STARTING AT Tð Kò.
THIS EXPANSION CREATES EQUITY
AND ACCESS TO CALIFORNIA
FAMILIES. WE EITHER WOULD HAVE
HAD NÓ ACCESS PRIOR TO ELOP OR
WOULD HAVE HAD TO FIGURE OUT
TRANSPORTATION FOR THEIR CHILD.
A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE
CHILDREN IN THIS DISTRICT LIVE
IN SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS
WHERE THE PARENT IS MOST
COMMONLY UNABLE TO LEAVE WORK TO
ADDRESS SCHOOL DAY SCHEDULE.
LAST SUMMER, I VISITED THE
FRESNO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SUPERINTENDENT BOB NELSON. TOLD
ME A FEW WEEKS AGO AND I QUOTE
HIM DIRECTLY. I THINK SOME OF
THE CRITICAL THINGS WHY L Ó IS
SO IMPORTANT. ARE BEING ABLE TO
FUND THE BEST KID CENTRIC
NONPROFITS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
PROVIDED ECONOMIC VIABILITY FOR
OUR TOWN BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT.
THAT WE ARE PROVIDING SAFE.
COMFORTABLE. AND THE LOVING
PLACE FOR KIDS WHO THRIVE WHERE
THEIR PARENTS HAVE THE FREEDOM
TO STAY WORKING. WE ARE ALSO
CREATING A NATURAL PIPELINE. OF
NEW TEACHERS AND LEADERS FROM
THE CLASSIFIED STAFF AND
COMMUNITY EDUCATORS WHO ARE
SERVING IN THE EXPANDED LEARNING
PROGRAM. IN OUR CASE WHERE OUR
STUDENTS ARE NOT NATURALLY GIVEN
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE WHAT
PRIVILEGED KIDS WOULD HAVE IN
TERMS OF CAMPS OR DISTANCE
EXPERIENCES. WE CAN PROVIDE THIS
DIRECTLY USING EL Ó P FUNDING.
IT GIVES US THE COMBINATION OF
BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC
SUPPORT TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME
IN THE CLASSROOM AS WELL AS JUST
DOING AMAZING THINGS THAT KEEP
KIDS COMING BACK AND BUCK THE
TREND OF CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. IN
AN ENVIRONMENT OF DECLINING
ENROLLMENT AND CHRONIC
ABSENTEEISM. THIS PROGRAM
LARGELY IS PAYING FOR ITSELF. OF
COURSE, THAT'S AT THE LOCAL
DISTRICT LEVEL. IT DOES NOT MAKE
SENSE TO REDUCE OP FUNDING. WHEN
HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS ARE
INCREASING THE AVERAGE DAILY
ATTENDANCE FOR DISTRICTS AND I'M
REFLECTING ON THE L A Ó
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME
ADJUSTMENT THIS YEAR. WITH THE
PROPOSED EXPANSION OF OP TO
INCLUDE ATTENDANCE RECOVERY.
THIS PROGRAM WILL GENERATE
REVENUE FOR LE, A AND THE L IS
ONE OF OUR TRANSFORMING
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL INITIATIVE
PROGRAMS. THAT'S MAKING OUR
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
MORE RELEVANT AND ATTRACTIVE TO
OUR FAMILIES. THESE
TRANSFORMATIONS TO OUR SCHOOL
SYSTEM ARE CRITICAL AT A TIME OF
DECLINING ENROLLMENT. SO JUST A
COUPLE COMMENTS REGARDING THE I
Ó S¼ PROPOSAL TO RESTRUCTURE
SOMEHOW THE FUNDING FOR EL Ó P,
PERHAPS BASED ON ACTUAL
ATTENDANCE. IF THAT IS STILL THE
CASE. MANY UH THERE ARE A FEW,
UH, ISSUES WITH THIS
RECOMMENDATION. MANY ARE DOING
EXACTLY WHAT èC Dð. THE
ADMINISTRATION AND THE
LEGISLATURE HAVE RECOMMENDED.
THEY ARE BLENDING AND BRAIDING
OTHER FUNDING WITH YELLOW SUCH
AS ACES. AND 21ST CENTURY
COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS TO
CREATE ONE COMPREHENSIVE
PROGRAM. OTHER FUNDING SOURCES
ARE COMBINED WITH THE YELLOW FOR
TK KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS.
SORTING OUT ATTENDANCE FROM
THESE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES
WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE IN MANY
LOCATIONS. SECONDLY THE
LEGISLATURE DID NOT GIVE èC Dð
THE AUTHORITY TO COLLECT EL Ó P
ATTENDANCE BY DESIGN. èC Dð
WILL LIKELY COLLECT ATTENDANCE
IN THE FUTURE. BUT THAT DATA IS
NOT AVAILABLE NOW. FINALLY
FINDING OUT THE FINDING AT THE
LEVEL. OF THE CURRENT ATTENDANCE
DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY CAPACITY
FOR GROWTH. IN ATTENDANCE,
INCREASING ATTENDANCE WOULD BE
NECESSARY. FOR THE NEW
ATTENDANCE RECOVERY COMPONENT.
BE SUCCESSFUL. THAT CONCLUDES MY
TESTIMONY. I'M VERY, UM,
THANKFUL. THAT COLLEAGUES FROM
BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE PART OF THE
PANEL. BECAUSE WE WORK CLOSELY
TOGETHER. TO ENSURE
IMPLEMENTATION WITH FIDELITY TO
THE VISION. THANK YOU. UNIFIED.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SANDY
UNIFIED'S MODEL FOR ELAP
PROGRAMMING. UH, MY NAME IS
NICOLE DEWITT. I'M THE SENIOR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THRIVING
SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, WHICH
OVERSEES OUR EL Ó DEPARTMENT.
OUR MAIN FOCUS HAS BEEN IN TWO
AREAS, OUR SUMMER OFFERINGS AS
WELL AS AN EXPANSION OF OUR
EXTENDED DAY PROGRAMS DURING THE
SCHOOL YEAR. OUR SUMMER
PROGRAMMING IS MADE UP OF TWO
DISTINCT COMPONENTS, A MORNING
ACADEMIC PROGRAM THAT'S PROVIDED
BY OUR SAN DIEGO UNIFIED
EDUCATORS THAT FOCUSES ON
LITERACY, NUMERACY AND SOCIAL
EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES AND THEN
AN AFTERNOON ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
THAT'S PROVIDED BY OVER 80 LOCAL
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AREAS OF
STEAM MUSIC, PERFORMING ARTS,
SPORTS AND FITNESS, OUTDOOR
NATURE ACTIVITIES AND CAREER
EXPLORATION, LEVERAGING PARTNERS
SUCH AS THE SAN DIEGO ZOO.
LIVING COAST DISCOVERY AND THE
CHICANO FEDERATION. WE ALSO HAVE
UTILIZED THESE FUNDS TO EXPAND
OUR EXTENDED DAY PROGRAMMING
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, A
PROGRAM THAT WE REFERENCE AS
PRIME TIME WE'RE NOW ABLE TO
EXPAND TO ALL ELEMENTARY SITES
IN ORDER TO SERVE MORE UND
DUPLICATED PUPILS ACROSS OUR
DISTRICT. SO SINCE JUST THIS
PAST SUMMER OF 2020 THREE, SANDY
UNIFIED HAS SERVED OVER 24,500
UND DUPLICATED PUPILS. 15,000 OF
THOSE PUPILS PARTIC. IN ONE OR
MORE OF OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS AND
CLOSE TO 9500 ARE CURRENTLY
ENROLLED IN OUR EXTENDED DAY,
PRIME TIME PROGRAMMING. ACROSS
ALL GRADE LEVEL STUDENTS WHO
PARTICIPATED IN 80% OR MORE OF
THE SUMMER PROGRAM DEMONSTRATED
BIGGER GAINS THAN DID
NONPARTICIPANTS ON THE FALL
ADMINISTRATION OF THE FAST
READING AND MATH ASSESSMENTS,
WHICH ARE ASSESSMENTS THAT WE
GIVE SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR TO MONITOR PROGRESS
TOWARDS MASTER OF STANDARDS. WE
ALSO SAW GAINS IN SOCIAL
EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES THROUGH
THE USE OF OUR SUMMER LEADER IN
ME PROGRAM. HAS BEEN
TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR OUR
FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE
WITH THE GREATEST NEED, GIVING
STUDENTS ACCESS TO LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY COULD
PREVIOUSLY NOT AFFORD. HOWEVER
THE INSTABILITY IN THE PER PUPIL
FUNDING RATE WE RECEIVED FROM
YEAR TO YEAR HAS BEEN A HUGE
CHALLENGE. DISTRICTS RECEIVE
DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF PER PUPIL
FUNDING BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE
OF UNDATED PUPILS. THEY SERVE SO
DISTRICTS WITH MORE THAN 75% UND
DUPLICATED STUDENTS RECEIVE A
FIXED PER PUPIL RATE. EACH YEAR,
HOWEVER, DISTRICTS LIKE SAN
DIEGO UNIFIED, WHO HAVE LESS
THAN 75% AND DUPLICATED.
STUDENTS DO NOT RECEIVE A FIXED
RATE, AND INSTEAD THERE'S BACK
CALCULATION EACH YEAR BASED ON
HOW MUCH FUNDING IS LEFT OVER
AFTER RATE ONE DISTRICTS ARE
FUNDED BECAUSE OF THIS RATE,
TOO, IS UNSTABLE AND CAN VARY
FROM YEAR TO YEAR. WE ONLY LEARN
OUR PURE PUPIL FUNDING RATE
WEEKS BEFORE THE START OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR, PUTTING US IN THE
CHALLENGING POSITION OF HAVING
TO PLAN PROGRAMS MAKE STAFFING
DECISIONS COMMUNICATE WITH
FAMILIES. MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS
WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
WITHOUT KNOWING HOW MUCH FUNDING
WE WILL RECEIVE FROM THE STATE
TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS THIS
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR OF 2425 ARE
PER PUPIL FUNDING RATE DECREASED
BY $250 PER STUDENT, WHICH IS A
12% REDUCTION, RESULTING IN A
LOSS OF $7.2 MILLION FOR SAN
DIEGO UNIFIED THE DECREASE IN
RATE TWO THIS YEAR WAS
ATTRIBUTED TO A 3.27% INCREASE
IN STATE CLASSROOM BASED Tð Kò
THROUGH SIX AVERAGE DAILY
ATTENDANCE, INCLUDING NEARLY
30,000 NEW FOUR YEAR OLD
STUDENTS ADDED FROM THE
STATEWIDE EXPANSION OF UNIVERSAL
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN, SO AS
THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS INCREASES
THE AMOUNT OF PER PUPIL FUNDING
FOR RATE TWO DISTRICT SHRINKS.
THIS CUT HAS PUT A STRAIN ON OUR
PROGRAMS, AND WE'VE HAD TO
REDUCE THE NUMBER AND VARIETY OF
AN ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. SO WE
PLAN TO OFFER THIS SUMMER AS Tð
Kò EXPANSION CONTINUES ACROSS
THE STATE RATE TWO WILL CONTINUE
TO DROP AND WE WILL STRUGGLE TO
OFFER HIGH QUALITY NINE HOUR
PROGRAMS TO ALL OF OUR LIC
PUPILS, AS REQUIRED BY THE
EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
PROGRAM. OUR BREADTH OF
OFFERINGS WILL ALSO BE
DRASTICALLY REDUCED, REINFORCING
THE INEQUITIES THAT EXISTED FOR
OUR STUDENTS PRIOR TO L Ó AGAIN
. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THE SUBCOMITTEE MAY
HAVE ABOUT OUR EL Ó P
PROGRAMMING. THANK YOU. UM, WE
HAVE AND MO. HERE, UH OR
CABALLERO. YES. WELCOME. THANK
YOU. CHAIR ALVAREZ. AND MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS EDUARDO CABALLERO AND
I STAND FOR EQUITY, AUTHENTICITY
AND COURAGE FOR MYSELF AND ALL
OTHERS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE
IMPACT OF THE OF THE HISTORIC
EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
PROGRAM. WHILE OUR STATE IS IN A
BUDGET CRISIS, IT IS ESSENTIAL
THAT WE PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE
PROGRAMS FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE
CHILDREN. IN THE NEXT FEW
MINUTES. I WILL TALK ABOUT WHO
WE REPRESENT. THE DATA WE
CURRENTLY HAVE AND NEED. AND
TELL THE STORY. I'VE BEEN THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO
FOUNDER OF EDMO FOR 20 YEARS. WE
ARE A NONPROFIT THAT ENGAGES
ROUGHLY 10,000 STUDENTS
ANNUALLY. WE PARTNER WITH 17
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER
SCHOOLS ACROSS 13 COUNTIES IN
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA.
THAT IS UP FROM APPROXIMATELY
2000 KIDS THAT WE WORKED WITH
PRE PANDEMIC. THINGS THAT EP WE
BRING HIGH QUALITY SCIENCE, ART
TECH AND SOCIAL MOTIONAL
LEARNING TO STUDENTS THAT
WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS.
OUR CHILDREN INCLUDE LATINO KIDS
BORN TO FIELD WORKERS IN SALINAS
, BLACK AND ASIAN KIDS FROM
WORKING CLASS FAMILIES IN
OAKLAND AND RICHMOND. AND RURAL
WHITE KIDS FROM PARENTS
STRUGGLING TO FIND WORK IN LAKE
COUNTY. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
THESE CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES.
AND THOSE ARE THE OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE CALIFORNIA AFTER SCHOOL
ADVOCACY ALLIANCE, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS èC, A THREE WE ARE A
STATEWIDE COALITION OF MORE THAN
35 AFTER SCHOOL. IN SOME
PROVIDERS, INTERMEDIARIES LE, A
S¼ AND OTHER SUPPORTERS FROM
ACROSS ACROSS THE STATE. NOW FOR
SOME DATA. STATISTICS ABOUT THE
IMPACT OF SUMMER AND AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE IRREFUTABLE.
SUMMER AND AFTER SCHOOL ARE THE
MOST INEQUITABLE TIME IN A
CHILD'S EDUCATION. WHILE ALL
KIDS GO TO SCHOOL 9 TO 3
CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME
FAMILIES EXPERIENCE 6000 HOURS
LESS OF LEARNING TIME THAN
AFFLUENT FAMILIES BY SIXTH
GRADE. THAT'S MOSTLY BECAUSE OF
INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO OUT OF
SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS. THIS
OPPORTUNITY GAP DIRECTLY IMPACTS
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ATTENDANCE
, GRADUATION RATES AND EVEN
INCARCERATION RATES AND MORE.
FUNDING CHANGES THAT NARRATIVE
FOR KIDS, FAMILIES AND STAFF. WE
HAVE COLLECTIVELY RAISED THE
QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF SCIENCE,
ART, TECH, DANCE, THEATER, MUSIC
AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT THAT KIDS
RECEIVE IN THESE PROGRAMS. OUR
ORGANIZATION IS IMPACTING FIVE
TIMES MORE KIDS SINCE 2021 AS
HAVE MOST CBOS INCREASED THEIR
IMPACT AS WELL. WE NÓ LONGER
CHARGE FAMILIES. FOR MOST OF OUR
PROGRAMS, OUR INDUSTRY HAS BEEN
ABLE TO RAISE WAGES FOR STAFF
WHO COME FROM THE SAME
COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. AND
WORK IN A SECTOR THAT HAS BEEN
HISTORICALLY UNDERPAID. HIGHER
WAGES MEANS HIGHER STAFF
RETENTION RATES MORE CONTINUITY
FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED THAT
CONTINUITY. THE MOST THE IMPACT
ON WORKING PARENTS IS PROFOUND.
THE COST OF CHILDCARE IS RISING,
WITH FAMILIES SPENDING CLOSE TO
30% OF THEIR INCOME ON
CHILDCARE, ACCORDING TO A 2023
STUDY. AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR
WHO SURVEYED OUR AFTER SCHOOL
EDMO FAMILIES FOUND THAT 99% OF
PARENTS AND GUARDIANS RELIED ON
EDMO SO THAT THEY COULD GO TO
WORK AND SCHOOL. WHEN PARENTS
WORK AND THEIR CHILDCARE IS FREE
. THEY HAVE MORE RESOURCES
RESOURCES FOR OTHER NECESSITIES
LIKE FOOD AND HOUSING. 81%
REPORTED THAT EDMO HELPED THEIR
CHILD GET THEIR HOMEWORK DONE ON
TIME. 80 3% REPORTED THAT EDMO
MADE THEIR CHILD MORE EXCITED TO
GO TO SCHOOL. EXCITED AND MORE
PREPARED. KIDS MEANS BETTER
ATTENDANCE RATES AS SHOWN BY
NUMEROUS STUDIES AND OUR
COLLEAGUES HERE. NOW, ONE THING
CALIFORNIA DOES NOT HAVE IS ANY
STATEWIDE DATA COLLECTION FOR
OP. THE STATE MUST COLLECT THAT
DATA ON OP FUNDS AND HOW THEY'RE
BEING SPENT BY DISTRICTS AND
WHICH STUDENTS ARE AND ARE NOT
ATTENDING PROGRAMS. ED MO. IN
OUR DISTRICT PARTNERS ALREADY
COLLECT A LOT OF THE DATA,
INCLUDING DEMOGRAPHICS,
ATTENDANCE AND MORE. SO THIS
DATE IS ALREADY IN PLACE AND
BEING COLLECTED. IT SHOULDN'T BE
A BIG LIFT FOR THE STATE TO DO
THIS STATEWIDE. WE NEED THIS AND
I URGE THE COMMITTEE TO HELP US
GET THIS DATA COLLECTION
STARTED. I'LL WRAP WITH A QUICK
STORY. LAST SUMMER. I WAS
SPEAKING WITH A SITE DIRECTOR IN
LAKE COUNTY. SHE TOLD ME THIS IS
THE HARDEST JOB I'VE EVER HAD.
SOME DAYS I WAKE UP AND I ASK
MYSELF, WHY DO I DO IT? AND THEN
I THINK ABOUT CODY AND SHE
POINTS TO THE 77 YEAR OLD BLANC
HAS SKIPPING INTO LINE. AND SHE
SAID HIS MOTHER CAME UP TO ME
ONE DAY WITH TEARS IN HER EYES.
UH, TO THANK ME. SHE TOLD ME
HE'D BEEN KICKED OUT OF THE ONLY
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM OFFERED IN
HER DISTRICT. SHE COULD NOT WORK
A REGULAR JOB BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS
HAD TO PICK HIM UP AFTER SCHOOL,
AND OFTEN TIMES HE WOULD GET
SENT HOME FOR SCHOOL BECAUSE OF
BEHAVIOR ISSUES. BUT EVER SINCE
EDMA OPENED UP A STEAM AND S¼ EL
PROGRAM UH, IN HER SCHOOL.
THANKS TO E Ó P. HE'S THRIVING.
SO MUCH SO THAT MOM GOT A GOOD
PAYING JOB WITH THE COUNTY. SHE
HAS HOUSING STABILITY FOR THE
FIRST TIME. SHE'S ACTUALLY
HAVING THIS MONEY TO SAVE FOR A
DOWN PAYMENT FOR HER OWN HOME
AND HER SON IS DOING BETTER THAN
EVER IN SCHOOL. THE EXPANDED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
ENACTED IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY
TO ADDRESS EDUCATIONAL
INEQUALITY AND OUT OF SCHOOL
TIME. I ASKED THIS COMMITTEE AS
THE GUARDIANS OF OUR STATE'S
MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN. PLEASE
PRESERVE FULL FUNDING FOR ELOP
AND HELP US MEASURE ITS IMPACT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL
HEAR FROM THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST OFFICE. JACKIE BURROS,
THE ALLEGED SL ANALYST OFFICE,
UM AS WAS MENTIONED IN THE
PREVIOUS PANEL. WE ARE
PROJECTING AN OVERALL DEFICIT
WITHIN PROP 98. AND I THINK WITH
THAT IN MIND IN OUR ANALYSIS, WE
DID LAY OUT VARIOUS OPTIONS THAT
THE LEGISLATURE COULD CONSIDER
TO BOTH GENERATE ADDITIONAL
SAVINGS, BUT THEN ALSO CONTAIN
COST ONE OF THOSE BEING, UM SOME
COMMENTS RELATED TO THE EXPANDED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM.
SPECIFICALLY UM, THE LEGISLATURE
COULD CONSIDER RESTRUCTURING.
UM, SOME OF THE PROGRAM. UH,
ASPECTS SUCH AS, UM, BE FUNDING
ON ATTENDANCE. UM ALSO, IT COULD
CONSIDER PURSUING A SINGLE RATE
STRUCTURE AGAIN. WE ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT WITH THESE PROGRAM CHANGES,
OF COURSE THERE MAY BE, UM,
WORKLOAD IMPLICATIONS FOR
DISTRICTS TO REALIGN THEIR
PROGRAMS TO ABSORB ANY OF THESE
CHANGES. UM, BUT WE DO THINK
THAT THEY'RE FEASIBLE AT THE
STATEWIDE LEVEL. UM SECONDLY, UM
AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE WOULD
ELEVATE FOR LEGISLATIVE
CONSIDERATION IS RECONS. DURING
THE CARRYOVER FUND POLICY AND
THE LAST TWO YEARS WE'VE ALLOWED
, UM THE FUNDS TO CARRY OVER FOR
A TIME LIMITED. UH UH, AMOUNT OF
TIME, A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME
BUT BEGINNING WITH THE 2324
ALLOCATION, UM, FUNDS WILL CARRY
OVER ON AN ONGOING BASIS. UM SO
AS OPPOSED TO JUST ALLOWING THEM
TO CONTINUOUSLY CARRY OVER TO
DISTRICTS THE LEGISLATURE COULD
CONSIDER. SHOULD WE, UM,
PROACTIVELY, UM, SCOOP ANY
PROJECTED UNSPENT FUNDS. THE 20
THREE 24 YEAR AS A WAY TO, UM
GENERATE ADDITIONAL FUND SAVING,
UH, ADDITIONAL FUND SAVINGS, BUT
MAINTAINING BASELINE. UM UH,
FUNDING LEVELS MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE HAVE ANY
COMMENTS. GOOD MORNING, MISTER
CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
SABRINA ADAMS AT THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. THE EXPANDED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
PROVIDES FUNDING FOR BEFORE
AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER SCHOOL
EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT
PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS IN
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
THROUGH THE SIXTH GRADE.
BEGINNING IN THE 2020 THREE 24
SCHOOL YEAR, LOCAL EDUCATIONAL
AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO OFFER
EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
PROGRAMS TO ALL LOW INCOME
STUDENTS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LEARNERS AND YOUTH IN FOSTER
CARE. LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES
WITH THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION
OF HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF
THESE STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO
OFFER EXPANDED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL ELEMENTARY
STUDENTS. THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
DOES NOT PROPOSE ANY CHANGES TO
THE EXPANDED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM FUNDING OR
ITS REQUIREMENTS AND SUSTAINS
THE ONGOING COMMITMENT OF 4
BILLION PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL
FUND FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. AND
THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS, AND I
CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU. LET
ME START BY ASKING ABOUT THE, UH
, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR THE
WORK THAT, UH THOSE OF YOU WHO
DO THE WORK, UH, ON THE GROUND.
APPRECIATE THAT. AND FOR SHARING
YOUR YOUR, UH, YOUR TESTIMONY.
LET ME START BY ASKING ABOUT THE
UNIVERSAL ASPECT OF THIS
PROGRAM. UM, DO WE? WE DO WE
OFFER OR DOES THE SCHOOL SITE
OFFER? UM ACCESS TO THESE AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO EVERY STUDENT
ON A SCHOOL SITE. NICOLE DE SAN
DIEGO UNIFIED, SO WE DO, UM,
FOCUS ON OUR UNDATED PUPILS
FIRST, UM SO WE DO ENROLLMENT
FOR DUPLICATED PUPILS FIRST, AND
THEN IF THERE ARE ANY SPOTS
REMAINING AFTER THAT, THEN WE
WILL OPEN IT UP TO, UH UH, NON
UNDATED PUPILS, BUT WE REALLY DO
A CONSORTED EFFORT FOR OUTREACH
TO MAKE SURE THAT AS MANY
UNDATED PUPILS AS POSSIBLE ARE
ENROLLED INTO THESE PROGRAMS
INITIALLY, AND DO YOU HAVE A
SENDING A UNIFIED AND I'LL ASK
TO èC Dð AS WELL. DO WE HAVE A
UH, STATISTICS ON HOW MANY UND
DUPLICATED PUPILS ARE
PARTICIPATING BY SCHOOL SITE OR
AT DISTRICT WIDE? SO WE DO KEEP
THAT, UM INFORMATION SO THAT
WE'RE MONITORING HOW MANY UND
DUPLICATED PUPILS PER SCHOOL
SITE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THESE
PROGRAMMINGS? UM, THEY ARE VERY
POPULAR, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT
WE'VE PARTNERED WITH OUR LOCAL
ORGANIZATIONS. A LOT OF THE
LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAD
IN THE SUMMER WE'VE CARRIED OVER
INTO OUR EXTENDED DAY
PROGRAMMING DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR, SO THEY ARE VERY POPULAR
AND THEY DO FILL UP. UM, RATHER
QUICKLY. OK? DO YOU, UH,
MAINTAIN DATA? WE'VE HEARD ABOUT
DATA COLLECTION, DO YOU? DOES
THIS DEPARTMENT MAINTAIN DATA ON
PARTICIPATION? AND BY, UH
UNDULATED PEOPLE. YEAH.
MICROPHONE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION. SO BY DESIGN THE
LEGISLATURE AS I MENTIONED IN MY
TESTIMONY DOES NOT GIVE US THE
AUTHORITY NOW TO COLLECT ANY
STUDENT LEVEL PARTICIPATION. WE
DON'T HAVE FIGURES. WE ARE JUST
THIS MONTH WE LAUNCHED A NEW
WORKING GROUP, THE RESEARCH AND
EVALUATION STRATEGY COMMITTEE
FOR EXPANDED LEARNING TO LOOK
SPECIFICALLY INTO WHAT TYPE OF
DATA DO WE NEED TO COLLECT IN
THE FUTURE BY DESIGN? IN THE
FIRST THREE YEARS OF THIS
PROGRAM, NONE OF THAT DATA WAS
COLLECTED AT THE STATE LEVEL. WE
HAVE GREAT EXAMPLES OF MOST. I
ARE COLLECTING THAT DATA. I
WOULD WANNA REMIND THE COMMITTEE
IN TERMS OF ACCESS. IF A
DISTRICT IS 75% AND DUPLICATED
OR ABOVE. THE LAW REQUIRES THE
PROGRAM BE OFFERED TO ALL TK
THROUGH Kò TK THROUGH SIXTH
GRADE CLASSROOM BASED STUDENTS.
HOWEVER THE LAW ALSO ALLOWS FOR
THAT LIE TO CHARGE FEES EXCEPT
TO THOSE UNDATED STUDENTS. SO
LIKE IN THE PREVIOUS ISSUE ON
THIS COMMITTEE. UH THOSE
STUDENTS, THOSE FAMILIES THAT
CAN'T AFFORD SOME TYPE OF FEE,
THE DISTRICT IS ALLOWED TO
CHARGE UM FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO
ARE DUPLICATED OR HOMELESS. THEY
ARE NOT ALLOWED A CHARGE FEE.
IT'S PROHIBITED. SO THAT'S
PROTECTED BELOW 75. AND
DUPLICATED STUDENTS. THE L A IS
REQUIRED TO OFFER TO ALL UNDATED
STUDENTS, NOT ALL STUDENTS. UH
AND THEN PROVIDE ACCESS. UM SO
WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST
IN OUR WORKING INTERNALLY AND
ALSO WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO
START TO WORK ON A PLAN TO
CAPTURE THE STUDENTS THAT ARE
UH, PROVIDED ACCESS TO THIS
PROGRAM OR ENROLLED. AND UH TO
THE TESTIMONY OF EDMO. WE DON'T
WE AGREE THAT STATEWIDE DATA IS
IMPORTANT FOR THIS LEVEL OF
INVESTMENT. SO III. I ASKED
THESE QUESTIONS, BECAUSE, UH,
EVEN IF THERE ISN'T
PARTICIPATION BY ALL STUDENTS,
THE FUNDING RECEIVED BY THE
DISTRICTS IS EQUAL TO THE NUMBER
OF STUDENTS. RIGHT? IT'S BASED
ON A FORMULA OF ATTENDANCE OF
UND DUPLICATED PUPILS. SO YOU'VE
GOT 1000 KIDS WHO ARE UND
DUPLICATED. UH, YOU GET IN THE
CASE OF A 75. HIGHER TIER 2750
PER PER PUPIL. SO YOU'VE GOT
1000 YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW $2.7
MILLION, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE
1000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING. YOU
MIGHT HAVE 500 STUDENTS
PARTICIPATING. BUT YOU'RE STILL
GETTING FUNDING FOR 1000
STUDENTS. RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT.
SO UH, I ASKED. THAT'S WHY I
ASKED THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE
THERE'S AN OVERSIGHT HEARING
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, UH, THE
FUNDING THAT WE PROVIDE. YOU ALL
HEARD THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATION.
WE'RE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE
PROVIDE AS MANY FULL AND
COMPLETE PROGRAMS TO THIS TO
STUDENTS IN A WAY THAT ENHANCES
THEIR, UH, THEIR OPPORTUNITIES.
AND, UM WHEN WE'VE GOT DIFFICULT
YEARS. UM, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED
ON SERVING THE STUDENTS WE
INTEND TO SERVE, AND SO, UM, I,
I DEFINITELY UM, WOULD EXPECT
THAT WE CONTINUE THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM FUNDING
THIS THE LEVEL OF FUNDING IN THE
AMOUNT OF PARTICIPATION. I THINK
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO
BE. THERE NEEDS TO BE, UH, SOME
ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND THAT. UM I
ALSO AM SYMPATHETIC TO THE
ARGUMENT OF THIS RATE. ONE
VERSUS RATE TWO I. I THINK. WE
CANNOT. THE INCONSISTENCY AND
THE LACK OF ABILITY TO PLAN IS
NOT FAIR. UM AND SO I THINK THIS
IS SOMETHING WE MUST ALSO
ADDRESS AND HOPEFUL THAT, UM, IN
THE MAIN REVISION, WE HEAR MORE
ABOUT THAT. AND WE HEAR MORE
ABOUT, UM THIS FUNDING AND
ALLOCATING FUNDING TO THE
STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOLS THAT
NEED IT. UM, I ALSO DEFINITELY
AM INTERESTED IN HAVING MORE
INFORMATION ON YOU KNOW THE
ATTENDANCE TO RECOVERY WAS
MENTIONED FREQUENTLY AS ONE OF
THE MEASURES THAT WE'VE SEEN,
UH, OF SUCCESS FOR THE PROGRAM.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD I I'M NOT
SURE IF IT WAS TENANT RECOVERY
SPECIFICALLY, BUT CERTAINLY, UH,
IMPROVEMENTS IN IN PERFORMANCE
FROM THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM AS
WELL. SO THERE THERE THERE ARE
MULTIPLE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL AND IN
REFERENCE TO THE OTHER PROGRAM.
UM ARE YOU ARE YOU COORDINATING
WITH THE BEFORE SCHOOL, WHICH IS
LIKE THE BREAKFAST PROGRAM? UM
AND ARE YOU COLLECTING DATA AS
YOU ENROLL STUDENTS? I THINK YOU
ARE BECAUSE YOU SOME OF YOUR
SOME OF YOU, UM HAVE TO SERVE.
OR CHARGE. UM THE END DUPLICATED
. SO HOW ARE YOU? WHAT DATA? ARE
YOU COLLECTING? AND HOW
DIFFERENT DO YOU IF YOU KNOW,
YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IS THAT FROM
THE DATA THAT NEEDS TO BE
COLLECTED FOR THE MEALS PROGRAM.
DOES THE DEPARTMENT KNOW THE
ANSWER TO THAT? OH, I'M SORRY.
UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU LOOK
MANY EL Ó P SITES DISTRICTS ARE
OPERATING BEFORE AND AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAMS HAS TO BEFORE
SCHOOL PROGRAMS. UH ARE A REAL
BENEFIT TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE
PARENTS TO START WORKING EARLY.
AND SO IN THAT CASE UM A
BREAKFAST IS REQUIRED AND BEFORE
SCHOOL PROGRAM I'M NOT AWARE OF
HOW LE A S¼. MAYBE YOU COULD
ADDRESS THAT FROM SAN DIEGO
UNIFIED. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
NICOLE SANDY UNIFIED. SO UM, OUR
PRIME TIME PROGRAM AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE THAT IS OUR 6
TO 6 PROGRAM, SO IT DOES
ENCOMPASS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER
SCHOOL, SO WE ACTUALLY DO USE A
COMBINATION OF FUNDING SOURCES
TO FUND THAT PROGRAM. WE DO USE
THE EXISTING, UM ACES AND ASSETS
. UM, PROGRAM THAT IS RELATED TO
THE BREAKFAST PROGRAM AS WELL
AND THE ENROLLMENT INTO THAT AS
WELL AS EL Ó P. UM SO IT IS A
COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT FUNDING
SOURCES. AND WE DO TRACK. UM,
ATTENDANCE FOR THE BEFORE
PROGRAM AND THE AFTER PROGRAM AS
WELL, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
FAMILIES ARE ATTENDING
CONSISTENTLY IF WE'RE SEEING
THAT THEIR STUDENTS THAT AREN'T
SHOWING UP WITH CONSISTENCY,
THERE IS OUTREACH TO FAMILIES,
UM, TO UNDERSTAND ANY BARRIERS
OR CHALLENGES. OK I'LL I'LL AT
THIS POINT, TURN IT OVER TO MY
COLLEAGUES SO THAT THEY CAN GET
A CHANCE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS,
MR MERIT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MISTER. CHAIR I FIRST
OF ALL I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE. UH
MR CABALLERO'S, UH, PASSION FOR
EL Ó P. YOU KNOW, I I'M ALSO A
AAA TRUE BELIEVER. A BIG
BELIEVER IN THE EL Ó P PROGRAM.
SO, UM YOU KNOW, COMING OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC. WE KNOW WE KNOW
THAT WE WE'RE CONTINUE TO
STRUGGLE WITH THE ONGOING
IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC, WHETHER
IT'S LEARNING LOSS, WHETHER IT'S
A SOCIAL EMOTIONAL IMPACTS,
WHETHER IT'S CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM
, AND SO THE EL Ó P PROGRAM IS
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO MAKING
SURE THAT WE HAVE THE AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAMS, THE SUMMER
SCHOOL PROGRAMS YOU KNOW TO
ADDRESS THOSE ONGOING UH YOU
KNOW, UH UH, IMPACTS ON OUR MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. UH, MR
CHAIR, I. I THIS PAST FALL I HAD
AN TO VISIT YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE
EL LP PROGRAMS THAT SAN DIEGO
UNIFIED AND, UH AND I WAS WITH.
I THINK I WROTE IN THE SUMMER,
ACTUALLY, BECAUSE THERE WERE
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THEY ARE
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE WHO
WERE, UM UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY
BEING TEACH AID FOR THE, UH Tð
Kò AND I. I THINK IT WAS Kò
THROUGH THREE. I JUST REMEMBER
THEY WERE. THEY WERE LITTLE KIDS
AND THEY WERE, THEY WERE
PARTNERING WITH THE INSTITUTE TO
TEACH THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY
EFFECTIVE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND
YOU KNOW IT. IT WAS JUST SUCH A
GREAT PROGRAM IN PROVIDING, UH,
YOU KNOW, UH, NOT NOT ONLY THE,
UH, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
KIDS, UH, TO HAVE THOSE KIND OF
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, YOU KNOW,
DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN WE
KNOW THAT THE LEARNING LOSS IS
MOST PRONOUNCED, UH, IN IN IN IN
LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, I MEAN,
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I. I WANNA
GIVE KUDOS TO SAN DIEGO UNIFIED
FOR, UH UH, YOU KNOW, JUST ONE
OF MANY, I HOPE UH UH, DISTRICTS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT ARE
THAT ARE, UH, RUNNING THESE
THESE EXCELLENT. UH, EL Ó P
PROGRAMS. UM II. I DID WANNA
FOLLOW UP ON THE CHAIRS. UH, YOU
KNOW, FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE OF THE
RIGHT ONE VERSUS RIGHT. TWO
DISTRICTS. UM MISS SAN DIEGO
UNIFIED. THEY, UM THEY? UH UM
YOU KNOW THEY THEY DID THE RIGHT
THING. THEY THEY, THEY EXPANDED
THEIR THEIR EL LP PROGRAMS. UH
YOU KNOW, UH, RELYING ON THE, UM
THE RATE BUT THEN THE RATE TOO
DROPPED BY 12. FROM 2220 THREE
TO THE CURRENT YEAR. UM AND THAT
IS HOW MUCH OF A LOSS DO YOU
KNOW? UH, THERE'S UH HèA HAS
THAT CAUSE FOR SANDY UNIFIED AT
$7.2 MILLION 7.2 MILLION DOLLARS
LOST FOR SAN DIEGO. UNIFIED. UM
AND, UM AND WHEN WERE YOU
NOTIFIED? THE OF THE CHAIN THE
RATE THE RATE CHANGE. SO IT WAS
JUST A FEW WEEKS FOR FROM THE
START OF OUR NEXT FISCAL YEAR,
SO IT WAS WELL AFTER WE HAD
ALREADY STARTED NEGOTIATING NEW
CONTRACTS, UM, WITH OUR PARTNERS
AND DOING THE HIRING, UM, FOR
OUR SUMMER PROGRAMMING. SO YOU
HAD A READY, YOU KNOW, STAFFED
UP AND HIRED PEOPLE AND THEN YOU
WERE NOTIFIED OF THE $7 MILLION
LOSS IN IN THE RATE CHANGE, AND
SO THAT THAT JUST REALLY
HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF
HAVING THIS RATE STABILITY AND
SO UM, II. I WANTED TO TURN UM
TO, UH, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
UM THE STAFF ANALYSIS,
REFERENCES AND ESTIMATED $1.7
BILLION IN UNSPENT FUNDS FOR THE
EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
GRANT PROGRAM. IS IT? HAS THERE
BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION IN
REALLOCATING THE 1.7 BILLION IN
UNSPENT FUNDS TO HELP RESTORE
RATE TWO LEVELS TO THE 2022 23
LEVEL? BRITNEY THOM, THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AT THIS
TIME, THERE IS NÓ PROPOSAL TO
REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS IN THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. OK I WOULD
URGE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
TO CONSIDER. WE HAVE 1.7 AGAIN.
REAL MONEY RIGHT? ONE POINT WHEN
WE WHEN WE LOOK, WHEN WE SEE THE
BEES INSTEAD OF THE MS THEN
THAT'S THAT'S WHEN WE START
PAYING ATTENTION. UM UH TO
FINANCE ALSO, UM DO WE HAVE ANY
IDEA ON HOW MUCH, UH, IS
AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF UNSPENT
FUNDS? RITA ADAMS DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. I THINK THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION WOULD HAVE A BETTER
AN ANSWER FOR THAT. SO MICHAEL F
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THIS IS
A PARAGRAPH PROVIDED BY OUR
SCHOOL FISCAL SERVICES DIVISION,
WHICH HANDLES THE APPROPRIATION.
I'LL READ IT DIRECTLY. THE MOST
CURRENT EXPENDITURE IN
INFORMATION AVAILABLE IS THE
2022 20 THREE ANNUAL LE, A
FINANCIAL DATA COLLECTION
SUBMITTED TO èC Dð. THIS DATA
WOULD WOULD REPRESENT
INFORMATION AS OF JUNE 30 2020
THREE. èC Dð DOES NOT HAVE REAL
TIME EXPENDITURE DATA FOR LE, A
S¼. THE 2220 THREE ANNUAL FISCAL
DATA INCLUDES EL Ó P
EXPENDITURES FROM FUNDING
RECEIVED BY LE, A S¼ FROM BOTH
THE 2122 AND 2223 APPROPRIATIONS
, AS THE DATA COLLECTED BY èC
Dð DOES NOT DISTINGUISH BY
FISCAL YEAR. èC Dð E IS
COMPILING THIS INFORMATION AND
CAN PROVIDE THE LEGISLATURE THIS
INFORMATION BY THE END OF NEXT
WEEK. LET ME SAY THAT. AS THE
PROGRAM OFFICE FOR THIS WE ARE
DIRECTED BY EDUCATION CODE TO
COLLECT THE EXACT EXPENDITURES
FROM THE 2122 APPROPRIATION AND
THE 2223 APPROPRIATION AFTER
JUNE 30TH 2024 SO THIS YEAR
WE'VE ALREADY DEVELOPED THE
REPORTING. INSTRUMENT AND AS
SOON AS THE NEW FISCAL YEAR
STARTS, WE'LL BE SENDING THAT
INSTRUMENT OUT TO LIE WITH THE
DUE DATE OF SEPTEMBER. 30TH 2024
FOR EXACT AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURES
BY LE A. FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS
OF APPROPRIATION. OK SO IT
SOUNDS LIKE WE'LL GET THAT DATA
AFTER WE PASS OUR BUDGET. YEAH.
SO, UM AGAIN, I WOULD URGE THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO
CONSIDER TAKING YOU KNOW, II. I
WOULD RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH
THE L A Ó S¼ RECOMMENDATION TO,
UH, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, SWEEP THAT
THOSE FUNDS BUT RATHER TO, UH,
CONSIDER, UH, USING UNSPENT
FUNDS TO ADDRESS THIS RATE
STABILIZATION, SO THAT WE CAN
YOU KNOW, UH NOT PUNISH
DISTRICTS LIKE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED
, UH, FOR, UH, YOU KNOW,
PROVIDING THESE THESE WONDERFUL
EL Ó P PROGRAMS, UH AND LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, MR CHAIR, I. I
WOULD JUST ASK THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. IS THERE AN DOES THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE? UM HAVE
ANY PLAN TO PROVIDE SOME
STABILITY TO RATE TWO DISTRICTS?
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DOES NOT
PROPOSE ANY CHANGES TO EP RATES
AT THIS TIME. OK, I WOULD AGAIN
URGE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
TO UH, PROVIDE RECOGNIZE THE
CHALLENGES THAT DISTRICTS ARE
FACING WITH THIS 12% DROP YEAR
TO YEAR AFTER THEY HAD STAFFED
UP, UH SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT THESE GREAT PROGRAMS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU,
MR FANG. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH,
MR CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
A QUICK COMMENT. REALLY
APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS BY MY
COLLEAGUES HERE. I JUST WANNA
ELEVATE AND UPLIFT THE WORK, UH,
BE ON HERE ON THE EXPANDED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
AND TO OUR PRESENTERS AND SAN
DIEGO, EDMOND AND ALL THE
PRESENTERS. THANK YOU FOR
UPLIFTING, IMPORTANT WORK OF
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. SOME
PROGRAMS AND JUST WANNA UPLIFT
THE PROGRAMS IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA AS WELL AND HAD A
CHANCE TO VISIT. UH, WOODCRAFT
RANGERS IN MY DISTRICT RECENTLY,
THERE WAS 1000 STUDENTS OUT
THERE THAT DAY, AND IT WAS JUST
TREMENDOUS WORK BEING DONE AT
THE GARVEY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND, UH,
ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. I USED TO
SIT ON THE BOARD OF L, A S¼ BEST
ADVISORY BOARD AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMS AND WORK BEING DONE AT
L A UNIFIED AND ROSA, UH, UPLIFT
THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE HERE,
AND WE APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS
AND FOR A COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR. THANK YOU. UM YEAH,
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ABSOLUTELY
ARE IMPACTFUL IN WORK. UM HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT THE A
COLLEGE 1ST 1ST GENERATION
COLLEGE PROGRAM. UH UH, FOR KIDS
STARTING IN THIRD GRADE WHEN
BEFORE WE OFFERED, UH A LOT OF
ROBUST PROGRAMMING IT IN SAN
DIEGO ACTUALLY, AND THEY THEY
MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO UM,
OBVIOUSLY YOU WANNA CONTINUE TO
BE ABLE TO SERVE ESPECIALLY
THOSE STUDENTS THAT THEY IMPACT
THE MOST. UM AND SO WE WANNA SEE
HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT
ON A GOING FORWARD BASIS. UM AND
THAT'S GONNA REQUIRE THAT WE
HAVE REAL DATA. ON WHO WE'RE
SERVING BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING
TO JUST OFFER AN AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAM. IT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER TO
ACTUALLY TOUCH THE STUDENTS THAT
NEED UM, UM, LIKE THE STUDENT
THAT YOU WERE REFERENCING YOUR
TESTIMONY, MR CABALLERO THAT WE
KNOW, UH THERE ARE FAMILIES WHO
WHO REALLY NEED THIS PROGRAM. I
WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT. AND SO
THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW THAT IS BY
COLLECTING DATA. WE DON'T HAVE
DATA. WE DON'T KNOW WHO WE'RE
SERVING. AND UM, WE CANNOT, UH,
DO BUSINESS THAT WAY, ESPECIALLY
WHEN OUR EDUCATION DOLLARS ARE,
UM SO DESPERATELY NEEDED IN SO
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. AND SO, UM,
WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THIS ISSUE
OPEN TO LOOK, UH, TO WORK WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE L A Ó
AND SORT OF LOOKING TO
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM èC Dð
DEPARTMENT FROM DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO TRACK DATA AND COLLECT
DATA FOR STUDENTS, UM, AS AS
MINIMUM AS PROVIDING A CHECK
BOX, UM, IN CPA. WHERE WE
UNDERSTAND THAT STUDENT IS
PARTICIPATING. WE DON'T EVEN
HAVE THAT DATA. THAT'S THE
MINIMUM WE COULD EXPECT OF A
PROGRAM. THAT'S $4 BILLION A
YEAR. UM AND ALSO, UM, HOW WE'RE
ENSURING THAT PARENTS ARE BEING
NOTIFIED. I KNOW WHEN THE
PROGRAMS FIRST GOT ROLLED OUT AS
A PARENT OF A STUDENT AT A AT A
TITLE ONE SCHOOL, YOU KNOW THE
PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP FIRST FOR
THOSE WITH A LOT OF SOMETIMES
THESE PROGRAMS REQUIRE ONLINE S¼
SIGN UPS, SO GUESS WHO WAS
SIGNING UP? NOT THE PARENTS WHO
HAD THE BIGGEST NEEDS AND SO
WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE WORD
OUT TO UH, TO PARENTS MORE
EFFECTIVELY. UH, TO ENSURE THAT
THEY ARE THOSE THAT NEED THE
SUPPORT OF THESE PROGRAMS, UM,
ARE BEING ARE ARE BEING OFFERED.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE WORK THAT
CONTINUES FROM NOW UNTIL WE
ADOPT. UH, THIS BUDGET, SO HOLD
THIS ISSUE OPEN AND LOOKING TO
ALSO IN THE TIER ISSUE, RIGHT?
THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THIS
PANEL. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ZERO
EMISSION SCHOOL BUSES. WE WILL
HEAR THE JANUARY PROPOSAL TO
EXPAND THE EXISTING ZERO
EMISSIONS SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM.
FROM CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES
BOARD. WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. WE HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST OFFICE AND WE'VE GOT THE
AIR RESOURCES BOARD HERE. WE
WILL START WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. GOOD MORNING, UH,
KATIE LOGO MARINO WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. UH
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET MAKES
STATUTORY CHANGE. UH, STATUTORY
LANGUAGE UPDATES REGARDING ZERO
EMISSION SCHOOL BUSES FOR FISCAL
YEAR, 2425. AS YOU'LL RECALL THE
2220 THREE BUDGET, UH, PROPOSED
1.5 BILLION PROP 98 GENERAL FUND
TO REPLACE EXISTING SCHOOL BUSES
WITH ELECTRIC BUSES. A PROPOSAL
WHICH WAS REVISED TO INSTEAD
PROVIDE THOSE FUNDS EVENLY OVER
THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS. UH SO
500 MILLION IN 20 THREE 24 500
MILLION IN 2425 AND 500 MILLION
IN 2526. WE MAINTAIN THIS YEAR'S
500 MILLION INVESTMENT TO
SUPPORT GREENING SCHOOL BUS
FLEETS THROUGH PROGRAMS OPERATED
BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES
BOARD AND THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY
COMMISSION IN 2425. A STATED IN
STATUTE OF THAT 500,000,375
MILLION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE
AIR RESOURCES BOARD FOR THEIR
HYBRID AND ZERO EMISSION, TRUCK
AND VOUCHER INCENTIVE PROJECT
AND THE REMAINING 125 MILLION
WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE ENERGY
COMMISSION TO FUND ZERO
EMISSIONS SCHOOL BUS CHARGING OR
FUELING INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR
LANGUAGE, ADDS THE 500 MILLION
FOR THE 2425 FISCAL YEAR TO
SECTION 96 OF S¼, B, 100 AND 14.
ALONG WITH THE STANDARD
PROPOSITION 98 PARAGRAPH AT THE
END, ATTRIBUTING THE YEAR OF THE
FUNDS TO THE 2425 YEAR. THIS
CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. I'M HAPPY
TO TAKE QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU. WE
WILL GO ON TO THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST OFFICE. THANK YOU CHAIR
AND MEMBERS CAN CAP ON WITH THE
ANALYST'S OFFICE LAST MONTH. YOU
HEARD US SAY THAT WE THOUGHT
PROPOSITION 98 FUNDING WAS GOING
TO COME IN $7.7 BILLION BELOW
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ESTIMATE
ACROSS 20 THREE. 24 AND 2425.
BASED ON THE ECONOMIC AND
REVENUE DATA WE'VE SEEN SINCE
THEN. OUR ASSESSMENT IS
ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED. UH, THE
PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU IS TO
PROVIDE 500 MILLION FOR A SECOND
ROUND OF GRANTS UNDER THIS
PROGRAM, UH, THIS IS THIS IS THE
SECOND LARGEST PROPOSAL IN THE
GOVERNOR'S Kò 14 PACKAGE AFTER
THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
UH, WE DO RECOGNIZE THE STATE
PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED SOME INTENT
LANGUAGE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
FUNDING, BUT WE WOULD RECOMMEND
REJECTING THIS PROPOSAL, AS WELL
AS THE OTHER NEW SPENDING
INCREASES IN LIGHT OF THE VERY
LARGE BUDGET SHORTFALL. ONE
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION HERE IS
THAT EVEN WITHOUT THE STATE
GRANT THERE, SOME FUNDING DOES
REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR DISTRICTS
TO, UH, PURCHASE, UH, ZERO
EMISSION SCHOOL BUSES THAT
INCLUDES A VERY LARGE FEDERAL
PROGRAM DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY
BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ACHIEVING
SOME FUNDING THROUGH THAT
PROGRAM. THERE ARE ALSO A COUPLE
OF ADMINISTERED AT THE STATE
LEVEL FUNDING ADMINISTERED BY
LOCAL AIR QUALITY DISTRICTS, AND
BOTH OF THOSE THINGS ARE
AVAILABLE TO HELP DISTRICTS UH
PURCHASE BUSES, EVEN IF THERE
ISN'T A SECOND ROUND OF FUNDING
UNDER THIS PROGRAM, I CONCLUDES
MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. WE HAVE
A CARB. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
MICHELLE BUFFINGTON, AND I AM
THE CHIEF BUDGET POLICY OFFICER
AT THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES
BOARD. CALIFORNIA IS MAKING
STEADY PROGRESS, CLEANING UP THE
STATE'S SCHOOL BUS FLEET AND TO
IMPROVE AIR QUALITY FOR STUDENTS
AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THE
STATE HAS SUPPORTED ZERO MISSION
SCHOOL BUS DEPLOYMENTS WITH
INCENTIVES FOR MORE THAN A
DECADE NOW AND LEADS THE NATION
IN ZERO EMISSION SCHOOL BUS
DEPLOYMENTS. TO DATE, THE TOTAL
INVESTMENTS THE STATE HAS MADE
HAVE RESULTED IN OVER 1900 0
MISSION. SCHOOL BUSES FUNDED
OVER 600 0 MISSION SCHOOL BUSES
ON THE ROAD AND OVER 230,
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT
HAVE HERSCH AT LEAST 10 MISSION
SCHOOL BUS. ZERO EMISSION BUSES
CAN HELP IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND
PLAY AN ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
ROLE TO HELP PROTECT THE HEALTH
OF SENSITIVE POPULATIONS LIKE
OUR CHILDREN BY REDUCING THEIR
EXPOSURE TO TOXIC DIESEL
POLLUTION IN THE LONG TERM,
THESE ZERO EMISSION BUSES ALSO
WILL HELP ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
BY ADVANCING ZERO EMISSION
VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY AND GRID
RESILIENCY THROUGH VEHICLE TO
GRID TECHNOLOGY. RECOGNIZING THE
BENEFITS OF ZERO EMISSION SCHOOL
BUSES, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A
B 579 THAT WILL REQUIRE ALL
NEWLY PURCHASED SCHOOL BUSES TO
BE ZERO EMISSION STARTING IN
2035. THE STATE THROUGH YOUR
LEADERSHIP HAS COMMITTED TO
HELPING SCHOOL DISTRICTS PREPARE
FOR THE TRANSITION TO ZERO
EMISSION AND HAVE FUNDING
AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE
PURCHASE OF ZERO EMISSION SCHOOL
BUSES. THE 2020 THREE STATE
BUDGET INCLUDED $500 MILLION FOR
ZERO EMISSION, SCHOOL BUSES AND
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
INCLUDES 500 MILLION FOR THE
PROGRAM FOR 2024 25 FISCAL YEAR.
ADDITIONALLY LAST YEAR THE
LEGISLATURE COMMITTED TO
PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL 500
MILLION FOR SCHOOL BUSES IN THE
2025 2026 FISCAL YEAR. THE
CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD
AND THE AND THE CALIFORNIA
ENERGY COMMISSION ARE WORKING TO
CREATE A TOTAL PACKAGE FOR
SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS FLEETS THAT
INCLUDES HOLISTIC APPLICATIONS
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. CARB
NEEDS ON VEHICLE DEPLOYMENT,
WHILE CEC FOCUSES ON
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND
WORKFORCE TRAINING. WHILE NONE
OF THE 500 MILLION OF
PROPOSITION 98 FUNDING FROM
FISCAL YEAR 2324 HAS BEEN
COMMITTED TO LOCAL EDUCATION
AGENCIES YET CARB AND èC èC
HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS
TOWARDS LAUNCHING THIS PROGRAM
AND HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC
STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP PROGRAM
GUIDELINES. WE STARTED PREPARING
FOR THE NEW FUNDING LAST OCTOBER
, WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL
SERVICES AND CO ORDINATION WITH
CARB AND THE èC èC ESTABLISHED
STATEWIDE PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS
FOR ZERO EMISSION SCHOOL BUSES.
AND CARB AND èC EXPECT THAT THE
PROGRAM WILL OPEN FOR
APPLICATIONS IN MAY. IN LINE
WITH THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTION
THAT THE FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING
OPENED DURING THE 2023 224
FISCAL YEAR. THERE IS
SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR FUNDING TO
SUPPORT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE
STATE'S AGING SCHOOL BUS FLEET.
GENERALLY IN THE INDUSTRY.
STANDARD LIFESPAN FOR A SCHOOL
BUS IS 12 TO 15 YEARS. CURRENTLY
THE AVERAGE AGE OF A PUBLICLY
OWNED SCHOOL BUS IN CALIFORNIA
IS 14 YEARS OLD AND OVER A
QUARTER OF PUBLICLY OWNED SCHOOL
BUSES IN THE STATE ARE MORE THAN
20 YEARS OLD. THESE OLDER BUSES
ARE SUBJECT TO LESS STRINGENT
EMISSION STANDARDS AND EMIT
HIGHER LEVELS OF TOXIC DIESEL
POLLUTANT IN THE MORE MODERN
BUSES. ADDITIONALLY OLDER BUSES
HAVE FEWER MODEL SAFETY FEATURES
LIKE SEATBELTS. WITH SO MUCH OF
THE STATE'S COOL BUS FLEET
NEARING REPLACEMENT. WE WANT TO
ENCOURAGE DISTRICTS TO REPLACE
THEIR OLD BUSES WITH ZERO
EMISSION INSTEAD OF PURCHASING
ANOTHER DIESEL BUS THAT COULD BE
ON THE ROAD FOR ANOTHER 10 TO 20
YEARS. WHILE THERE IS FEDERAL
AND LOCAL FUNDING THAT CAN
SUPPLEMENT STATE INVESTMENTS,
CARB ESTIMATES THAT TO FULLY
TRANSITION CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC
SCHOOL BUS FLEET TO ZERO
EMISSION WILL COST JUST UNDER $6
BILLION AND CONSISTENTLY OFFER
IN SCHOOL BUSES. INCENTIVES IS
ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ARE READY TO MAKE THE
SWITCH TO ZERO EMISSION SCHOOL
BUSES BY THE 2035 0 MISSION
SCHOOL BUS PURCHASE REQUIREMENT
SET IN A B 579 THE TRANSITION TO
ZERO EMISSION SCHOOL BUSES FOR
CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS IS A
COLLECTIVE EFFORT AMONGST
AGENCIES IN THE LOCAL, STATE AND
FEDERAL LEVEL AND ACCOMPLISHING
THE GOALS OF A B 579 AND
GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S EXECUTIVE
ORDER N 79-20 REQUIRES
CONSISTENT AND CONTINUED
INVESTMENT IN ZERO EMISSION
SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAMS. UM WITH THAT THAT ENDS
MY REMARKS, BUT I HAVE MY
COLLEAGUE HERE FROM THE ENERGY
COMMISSION AS WELL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION. UM SO, UM IT'S A
$500 MILLION PROPOSAL FOR NEXT
YEAR. BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A,
UH, A $1 BILLION OPPOSITION 98
EXPENDITURE RETAKE LAST YEAR AND
THIS YEAR, UM UH, I LIKE YOUR
PHRASE, MISTER MITSUI. WE
TALKING ABOUT BS, NOT MS BS.
BILLIONS LIKE THAT CATCHES YOUR
YOUR ATTENTION, WHICH IS ONE OF
THE, UH, MAIN REASONS WHY WE
HAVE THIS AS A STAND ALONE ITEM.
UH, THE QUESTION OF STILL
REMAINS FOR ME AS TO, UM IT
SOUNDS LIKE CARB AND MAYBE èC
ARE WORKING ON THE PRO PROGRAM
GUIDELINES. BUT WHERE? WHERE ARE
WHEN IS THE WHEN IS GOING TO BE
THE DATE WHEN DISTRICTS WILL BE
ABLE TO APPLY AT YOUR CURRENT
PACE FOR THE FUNDING FOR THE
INITIAL ROUND OF FUNDING? UH,
GOOD MORNING, ELIZABETH JOHN
FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY
COMMISSION. WE UM, ANTICIPATE
THAT WE WILL OPEN FOR
APPLICATIONS IN MAY OF 2024. SO
THAT'S IN ABOUT A MONTH. SO YOU
FINALIZED YOUR GUIDELINES AND
WHAT ARE YOU DOING DURING THE
NEXT MONTH TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE
START TO APPLY? UM AS PART OF
OUR PROCESS, WE ARE, UM, TAKING
OUR THIRD PARTY IMPLEMENTER
BLOCK GRANT TO OUR èC E èC
BUSINESS MEETING IN FRONT OF OUR
COMMISSION, WHICH WILL BE
ADOPTED IN APRIL. AND UM, WE ARE
HOLDING A WORKSHOP. UM, IN APRIL
AS WELL. OK? UM THERE WERE 230
DISTRICTS WITH AT LEAST ONE
ELECT ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE
PURCHASE. UM BUT GIVEN THAT THE
$500 MILLION HAS NOT BEEN, UH,
THAT AWARD PROGRAM HASN'T BEEN
OPENED. THEY ALL UTILIZE
DIFFERENT FUNDING FOR THOSE THE
PURCHASE OF THOSE VEHICLES
CORRECT. UM, THAT IS CORRECT,
OK? UM WHAT IS EXACTLY THE
FEDERAL PROGRAM AND, UM,
WHOEVER'S ANALYZED THIS I ASSUME
SOME OF YOU WHO WHO DO THIS ON A
DAILY BASIS HAVE ANALYZED THE
POTENTIAL FOR THE FEDERAL
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL. UH AND
SPECIFICALLY, THE $5 BILLION
THAT WAS SET ASIDE AS PART OF
THAT, UM THAT FEDERAL
LEGISLATION FOR SCHOOL UM FOR
BUSES. WHAT? WHAT? WHAT? FOR
ELECTRIC BUSES IN PARTICULAR.
WHY DO YOU ANTICIPATE
CALIFORNIA'S PARTICIPATION TO BE
IN IN THAT PROGRAM? SURE SO, AS
YOU POINTED OUT, IT'S $5 BILLION
FROM THE U S¼. EPA'S CLEAN
SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM, UM, WHICH
WAS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE FEDERAL
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND
JOBS ACT. UM, THE IN THE FUNDING
WOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM 2022
THROUGH 2026 PART OF THE
REQUIREMENTS. IS THAT OR THE
RULES FRAMING THE FUNDING IS
THAT NÓ MORE THAN 10% OF THAT
FUNDING CAN BE AWARDED TO
PROJECTS IN EACH STATE. SO THE
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM THAT CALIFORNIA
CAN RECEIVE OUT OF THAT FUNDING
IS 500 MILLION TO THE TOTAL
FUNDING. GOT IT? OK AND THEY
STARTED IN Tð. THEY ALSO HAVEN'T
ROLL THAT OUT, THOUGH, RIGHT?
THEY HAVEN'T THEY HAVE, UM AND
THEY'VE STARTED AND THUS FAR,
WE'VE, UH, CALIFORNIA HAS
RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $170
MILLION. THEY'VE OFFERED 100 AND
$70 MILLION OF AWARDS TO
CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS. UM, AND
THAT'S ABOUT 9% OF THE FEDERAL
FUNDING THAT'S BEEN AWARDED TO
DATE. UM, I IF YOU CAN LOOK AT
OUR AGENDA ON FIGURE THREE. WE
IDENTIFIED THE DIFFERENT
PROGRAMS THAN THERE ARE QUITE A
BIT OF PROGRAMS THAT FUND ZERO
EMISSION VEHICLES IN THE STATE.
WHERE WOULD I FIND THE FEDERAL
FUNDING. UM, ALLOCATION. WHICH
COLUMN WOULD THAT BE? MR CHAIR
KEN, KAN WITH THE ANALYSTS
OFFICE. I THINK THIS IS THE
CHARTER OFFICE PUT TOGETHER.
THIS IS JUST THE STATE PROGRAMS
ON THIS CHART. SO THAT'S WHY
THERE'S NÓ FEDERAL A PROGRAM ON
HERE. THERE'S REALLY ONLY ONE
SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL PROGRAM FOR
BUSES. THERE'S A VERY SMALL, UH
EPA ADMINISTERED PROGRAM FOCUSED
ON REDUCING DIESEL EMISSIONS.
BUT THAT'S A VERY SMALL PROGRAM.
REALLY THE ONE TO KNOW ABOUT. IS
THIS $5 BILLION.01 THAT CREATED
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND, UM,
SO DID WE RECEIVE THAT IN LIKE
20. THREE 24 OR WHEN DID WE
RECEIVE THAT GRANT? THE SMALL
100 NÓ THE 107 YOU SAID 100 AND
70. IT'S DISTRIBUTED IN IN
TRENCHES OVER THE YEARS, SO
THERE'LL BE ANOTHER WE'VE
ALREADY RECEIVED AS AS THE
AGENCY SAID 100 AND 70 MILLION
THAT'S FOR GRANTS FOR VARIOUS
SCHOOL ENTITIES IN CALIFORNIA. I
THINK THE NEXT, UH TRANCHE NEXT
RELEASE WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR
APRIL OF 2024. BUT THAT'S ON THE
EPA'S TIMELINE. THEY'RE DOING
IT. IT'S AN ANNUAL PROCESS. AND
DO WE KNOW WHETHER THE SCHOOLS
HAVE ALREADY MADE THE PURCHASES
WITH THAT MONEY OR WHAT HAVE
THEY DONE WITH THAT MONEY? THE
DISTRICTS. I ASSUME IT'S GOING
TO DISTRICTS WHO'S RECEIVING THE
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR THE
FEDERAL FUNDING ARE EITHER
SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR SCHOOL
TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS. SO THE
STATE IN AND OF ITSELF CAN'T
APPLY FOR THE FUNDING, BUT WE
HAVE BEEN PROVIDING LETTERS OF
SUPPORT TO DISTRICTS. UM I
BELIEVE THAT THE FUNDING I LET
ME JUST DOUBLE CHECK QUICKLY, MY
NOTES, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE
FUNDING IS, UM UH, THEY HAVE NOT
PURCHASED THE BUSES YET. THEY
WILL. THEY ARE GOING TO PURCHASE
THE BUSES WITH THE FUNDING.
THERE IS ALSO A TAX CREDIT THAT
IS AVAILABLE AFTER THE FACT. BUT
THAT IS, UM, SEPARATE FROM THE
$5 BILLION POT OF FUNDING THAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. ARE THEY
ALLOWED TO USE THIS? Dð G S¼
PROCUREMENT. PROCESS THAT YOU
REFERRED TO THAT'S BEEN CREATED
FOR THE, UH, PROCUREMENT OF
THESE BUSES. THE PROGRAMS NÓ ARE
NOT CURRENTLY ALIGNED TO DO
THAT. THE, UM AGAIN BECAUSE THE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE APPLYING
DIRECTLY FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING
THEY ARE AND THEY'VE ALREADY
BEEN PURCHASING. THEY'VE BEEN
THEY'VE BEEN ACCESSING A
DIFFERENT ME A DIFFERENT WAY TO
GET TO THE SCHOOL BUSES, SCHOOL
BUSES. BUT THEY HAVEN'T I
THOUGHT YOU SAID THEY'VE BEEN
PURCHASING, BUT I THOUGHT YOU
SAID THAT THEY HAVEN'T PURCHASED
THEM YET. THEY ARE MAKING
COMMITMENTS TO PURCHASE NOW,
RIGHT SO THAT THAT PROGRAM WITH
THE, UM DGS. THE DEPARTMENT OF
GENERAL SERVICES IS NOT
CURRENTLY OPEN YET. THAT WILL
OPEN WHENEVER WE OPEN OUR, UM,
APPLICATIONS IN MAY AND SO
CURRENTLY, WHILE THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ARE LOOKING FOR BUSES,
THEY ARE CONTACTING THE
MANUFACTURERS THEMSELVES. OK? UM
I DO BELIEVE, THOUGH MOVING
FORWARD ONCE THE DGS PROGRAM IS
SET UP, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
ACCESS THE DGS PROGRAM TO
PURCHASE THE SCHOOL BUSES
REGARDLESS OF WHICH PROGRAM THEY
GO THROUGH, EVEN INCLUDING THE
FEDERAL FUNDING, CORRECT. GOT
IT. UP TO MR FONG DO HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM OR UH,
JUST A QUICK QUESTION. UH, THANK
YOU SO MUCH, MR CHAIR. JUST
FOLLOW UP ON THE LINE OF
QUESTIONING AND THE THANK YOU
FOR THE INFORMATION ON THE
AMOUNT OF FUNDING ALLOCATIONS.
WHY IS THE ADMINISTRATION
PROPOSING AN INCREASE FOR
FUNDING FOR SCHOOL BUSES OF THE
PRIOR ALLOCATIONS HAVE NOT YET
GONE OUT. AND WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE CHALLENGES IN GETTING THE
MONEY OUT? UM KATIE LOGO MARINO
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
UH THIS IS REALLY THE, UH, THE
ADMINISTRATION MAINTAINING WHAT
WAS AGREED UPON THE 1.5 BILLION.
UM ORIGINALLY, UH, 1 BILLION WAS
DELAYED TO THE FURTHER FURTHER
YEARS. UM SO WE'RE WE REMAIN
COMMITTED TO THE AGREEMENT OF
1.5 BILLION OK, THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MISTER CHAIR. MR ME. THANK
YOU FOR THE, UH ENERGY
COMMISSION. WHAT IS THE AVERAGE
COST OF A ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE
BUS? OH ACTUALLY, I'D BE HAPPY
TO. I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT
QUESTION. UM THE AVERAGE COST
FOR A ZERO EMISSION BUS IS ABOUT
$400,000. OK AND, UM HèA HAS
THERE. BEEN ANY, UM UM YOU KNOW,
UPTICK OR OR YOU KNOW WE WHAT IS
THE RATE OF, UH, ADOPTION OF
THESE ZERO EMISSION BUSES
STATEWIDE AMONG THE LE, A SORRY.
CAN YOU ARE LE A IS TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THESE DOLLARS ARE
ARE THERE? UH, IT IT CAN CAN YOU
COMMENT ON? YOU KNOW THE RATE OF
, UH, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATION IN
THESE ZERO THE ZEV. UH, BUS. UH
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
GREAT THANK YOU. OF COURSE. UM
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL ITERATIONS OF
ZERO EMISSION SCHOOL BUS
PROGRAMS OVER THE YEARS. UM
WE'VE HAD FUNDING AVAILABLE
THROUGH OUR HÌ FT PROGRAM.
CONSISTENTLY. IT IT IT, UM THAT
THERE WAS FUN. THE FUNDS ARE
EXHAUSTED BECAUSE OF HIGH
DEMAND. WE ALSO HAD THE RURAL
SCHOOL BUS PILOT PROJECT, WHICH
WAS KIND OF THE PRE PRE EXISTING
PROGRAM BEFORE WE WERE MOVING
INTO THIS NEW ONE THAT ALSO HAD
WAS OVERSUBSCRIBED TO EVERY YEAR
THAT WE HAD ALLOCATIONS TO PUT
TOWARDS THAT PROGRAM. UM WE HAVE
THE VOLKSWAGEN MITIGATION TRUST
FUNDING TRUST FUND, BUT THAT
WAS, UM THE MONEY THAT WAS SET
ASIDE FOR SCHOOL BUSES IS ALSO
EXHAUSTED. AND SO WE'VE SEEN
VERY HIGH DEMAND FOR ZERO
EMISSION SCHOOL BUSES WHEN WE'RE
ABLE TO OFFER THE FUNDING ON A
CONSISTENT BASIS. SO, UH, UN
UNDER THE, UM SO THE 500,000,001
TIME A PROP 98 FUNDS, UH, THAT
ARE ALLOCATED FOR ZERO EMISSION
SCHOOL BUS GRANTS. IS, IS IT
FIRST COME FIRST SERVE. UH, NÓ.
IT'S A IT'S A COMPETITIVE GRANT
PROCESS THAT LOOKS AT FACTORS
LIKE THE AGE OF THE BUSES. HOW
MANY UND DUPLICATED PUPILS YOU
HAVE, UM THERE'S A SET OF, UM
FOUR OR FIVE CRITERIA THAT I
LOOKED AT TO DETERMINE THE
ELIGIBILITY. OK? UH AND, UM THE
GRANT IS A FOR THE FULL AMOUNT
OR OR DISTRICTS. UH, UH,
REQUIRED TO, UH, TO HAVE SOME
KIND OF MATCHING FUNDS. IT'S
INTENDED TO BE THE FULL AMOUNT
SO YOU CAN IF YOU'RE AGAIN AS
THE AS YOU HEARD FROM THE
AGENCY. THE COST OF A FULL SIZE
OR EMISSION BATTERY ELECTRIC BUS
IS ABOUT 400,000 DISTRICTS CAN
GET THROUGH THIS PROGRAM 400,000
FOR THE BUS, ANOTHER POTENTIALLY
50,000 FOR THE CHARGING
INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THEN THERE'S
ANOTHER 50,000 ALLOWANCE ON TOP
OF THAT, UH, POTENTIALLY FOR
OTHER TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES
THAT MAY RELATE TO, UM
IMPLEMENTING TRAINING FOR
DRIVERS SORT OF IN EACH OTHER
TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE OF THE
DISTRICT HAS OK UM, FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. UM I
MEAN, I. I I'VE I'VE I'VE MADE
THIS COMMENT BEFORE, BUT, UH YOU
KNOW, I'M I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF
ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES, BIG
SUPPORTER OF ZERO MISSING BUSES
FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. BUT I
CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AMOUNT OF
ALLOCATION GIVEN THAT SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ARE LAYING OFF
TEACHERS AND CLASSIFIED STAFF,
OR AT LEAST ISSUING LAYOFF
NOTICES. FOR A, UH DO YOU HAVE
ANY ANY COMMENT IN TERMS OF YOU
KNOW WHAT SHOULD BE THE
PRIORITY? UH UH. YOU KNOW,
AVOIDING LAYOFFS? UH VERSUS, UH
YOU KNOW, HAVING THIS LARGE
EVENT ALLOCATION FOR ZERO
EMISSION SCHOOL BUSES. LENA
GRANT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN
, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION REMAINS
COMMITTED TO THE AS MY COLLEAGUE
HAD MENTIONED TO THE AGREEMENT
THAT THE LEGISLATURE AGREED TO
IN THE PREVIOUS BUDGET. UH, OF
THAT, YOU KNOW, THREE YEAR
COMMITMENT IN THIS REFLECTS JUST
OUR MAINTAINING AN EXISTING
COMMITMENT. UM, WE THINK WITH,
YOU KNOW, THE BILLS LIKE MY
COLLEAGUE MENTIONED A B 579
BEING SIGNED. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS, UH,
GREENING OUR SCHOOL BUS FLEETS
AND, UM YOU KNOW, WE FIND THIS,
UH, A PRIORITY OF THE
ADMINISTRATION. OK? II. I WOULD
JUST URGE THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE TO UH, PRIORITIZE, UH,
MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE
PROTECTING CLASSROOM FUNDING.
PROTECTING SUPPORTING OUR
TEACHERS AND CLASSIFIED STAFF.
UM GIVEN THE BUDGET CHALLENGES
WE'RE FACING. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. A QUESTION ON A B 579.
EXCUSE ME. UM DO WE? ARE WE ALSO
REQUIRING, UH OTHER BUSES LIKE
THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND, UM,
PUBLIC, UH, TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS TO HAVE ZERO EMISSION.
UH FLEET BY 2035 OR DO THEY HAVE
A DIFFERENT UH, REQUIREMENT? UH,
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT A B 579
IS FOCUSED ON LE A AND THAT UM
AND NOT ON PUBLIC TRANSIT. THERE
ARE OTHER I BELIEVE, UM, TARGETS
IN PLACE FOR TRANSIT THROUGH
OTHER MECHANISMS. OK? UM IF WE
MATCH THE TIMELINE OF 2035 TO
THE TIMELINE OF THE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, WHICH I
BELIEVE IS 2020 40, BUT
CERTAINLY COULD WOULD APPRECIATE
BEING CORRECTED ON THAT. IF
THAT'S NOT THE CASE, I WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN WHAT THE
COMMITMENT WOULD HAVE TO BE ON A
ANNUAL BASIS BECAUSE YOU
MENTIONED $6 BILLION IN ORDER TO
ESSENTIALLY, UM CONVERT ALL THE
FLEET THAT EXISTS. UM IT WOULD
BE NEEDED BY 2035. WHICH
DEFINITELY YOU KNOW IS A SHORT
TIME PERIOD TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
UM I'D BE INTERESTED IN THE
ADDITIONAL YEARS WHAT THAT WOULD
MEAN FOR FUTURE CONVERSION. I
ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK ABOUT
CURRENTLY SCHOOL DISTRICTS PAY
FOR NEW BUSES OUT OF A SPECIFIC
FUND. DO WE FUND THE FORECAST OF
A SCHOOL BUS TODAY? SO
HISTORICALLY DISTRICTS THERE
WERE THERE WEREN'T ANY SPECIFIC
STATE GRANTS AVAILABLE, EXCEPT
FOR A VERY SMALL PROGRAM,
FORMALLY ADMINISTERED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR A
SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. UH THE
PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, REALLY THE
PAST 10 OR 12? THERE'S BEEN A
LOT OF FUNDING FOR SCHOOL BUSES.
UH, I THINK WE'RE UP TO ABOUT 2
BILLION ACROSS ALL STATE
PROGRAMS. SO THAT'S BEEN
SOMETHING THAT, UM HAS REALLY
EMERGED ONTO THE SCENE OVER THE
PAST 10 OR 12 YEARS OR SO, UH,
FOR DISTRICTS THAT FOR MANY OF
THESE PROGRAMS, THEY WILL PAY
FOR THE FULL COST OF REPLACING A
DIESEL BUS WITH A ZERO EMISSION
BUS. THAT'S THE CASE FOR THE
PROGRAM. THAT'S BEFORE YOU IN
THIS PANEL, UM, AS WELL AS THE
FEDERAL PROGRAM PAYS FOR MOST OF
THE COSTS. A LOT OF THE OTHER
PROGRAMS DO THAT AS WELL. UM IF
DISTRICTS WANT TO EXPAND THEIR
FLEETS, THERE'S NOT. THERE'S
MUCH LESS FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR
THAT, UM, DISTRICT WOULD CAN DO
THAT, UH, VARIOUS IS, IN SOME
CASES. THERE'S LOCAL FUNDING
AVAILABLE, UM, TO DO THAT, UH,
MAYBE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
LOCAL TRANSIT AGENCY. UM,
DISTRICTS CAN ALSO PAY FOR THOSE
COSTS OUT OF THEIR GENERAL FUND.
SOMETIMES THEY'LL HAVE SOME KIND
OF, FOR EXAMPLE, A LEASE TO OWN
AGREEMENT WHERE THEY, UH,
ANNUALIZE THOSE COSTS OVER A
PERIOD OF YEARS TO EVENTUALLY
OWN AND PAY FOR THAT BUS. YEAH
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT, SO
AND I COME FROM, UM, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT WHEN WE PURCHASE
FLEET FOR OUR CITY SERVICES, AND
THAT WAS THOUSANDS OF FLEET. UH,
UH, DUMPSTER TRUCKS, YOU KNOW,
ALL SORTS OF LARGE FLEET AND
SMALL FLEET. UM IT WAS ALL
PURCHASED WITH GENERAL FUND
DOLLARS FROM OUR LOCAL, UH, IN
OUR CASE, OUR CITY AND SO I'M
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. SO ARE YOU
ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT FOR THE
LAST I THINK YOU SAID 10 TO 12
YEARS THE STATE HAS BEEN
ESSENTIALLY BEEN BEEN THE ONLY
SOURCE FOR VEHICLE REPLACEMENT
FOR FLEET REPLACEMENT FOR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS. THAT THAT SENSE
THAT'S Tð THE PERIOD WHERE WE
STARTED TO HAVE GRANTS THAT ARE
SPECIFIC TO THAT PURPOSE. PRIOR
TO THAT TIME DISTRICTS WOULD PAY
FOR IT OUT OF THEIR LOCAL
OPERATING BUDGETS, TYPICALLY, UM
AGAIN IF THEY COULD GET A LOCAL
GRANT OR, UH, WORK WITH, UH,
SOME OF THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
UM THEY WOULD THEY WOULD TRY TO
DO THAT. BUT YES TO THE EXTENT
THAT AGAIN THOSE PROGRAMS REALLY
BEEN FOCUSED ON THE BUS TRIP BUS
REPLACEMENTS AND SPECIFICALLY
REPLACING DIESEL WITH ZERO
EMISSION. IF A DISTRICT ISN'T
DOING THAT, THOUGH, THEN THERE'S
STILL GENERALLY LOOKING AT THEIR
LOCAL GENERAL PURPOSE DOLLARS.
SO IF A SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS TO
REPLACE THE FLEET, THEIR FLEET
OR BUS AND THEY DO NOT RECEIVE
THIS GRANT THEY WILL LIKELY BE
MAKING THE DECISION TO GO WITH A
LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION, WHICH
WOULD BE A DIESEL. BUS. IN THE
NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. UNTIL THEY
HAVE TO BY STATUTE CURRENTLY,
ANYWAY. 2035 YEAH. I MEAN, YOU
HEARD, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE
COST OF A ELECTRIC BUS IS ABOUT
400,000. A DIESEL BUS IS OF THE
SAME SIZE IS TYPICALLY ABOUT
HALF THAT COST. SO FOR DISTRICTS
THAT DON'T HAVE A GRANT, UM, ONE
OF THE REASONS FOR HAVING THE
GRANTS WAS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO
PURCHASE THE ELECTRIC BECAUSE
THEY HAVE SO MUCH SUCH HIGHER
UPFRONT COSTS, AND SO WILL THEY
STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE GRANTS
FOR THE DIESEL TRUCKS? IS THAT
THE HOME TO SCHOOL
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM OR WHAT?
WHAT? WHAT DOES A HOME TO SCHOOL
FIRST THAT QUESTION AND TELL ME
WHAT HOME TO SCHOOL ACTUALLY
FUNDS SO THE HOME
I'LL STOP THERE, SINCE I THINK
BOTH OF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS
ALREADY COVERED PRETTY WELL IN
YOUR STAFF AGENDA. THANK YOU. UM
THE POINT OF MY QUESTION IS TO
BE. WHY CAN'T WE JUST OFFER
ACCESS TO THE PARKS TO FOURTH
GRADERS? AND WHY DO WE NEED TO
BUDGET TO DO THIS? SO UM, FIRST
QUESTION BE IS HOW MANY HOW MANY
FOURTH GRADERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DO WE HAVE? UH, LENA GRANT WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I
DON'T HAVE THE EXACT FIGURE ON
FOURTH GRADE, BUT I KNOW, UM, ON
THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM OR THE ONE
THAT'S CURRENTLY THE VENTURE
PASS PROGRAM. THAT WAS THAT MY
COLLEAGUE FROM THE LAL
REFERENCED, UH, WE HAVE
PARTICIPATION RATES FOR THAT
PROGRAM FOR 1/4 GRADERS, BUT
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL SO YOU
HAVE PARTICIPATION IN THOSE WHO
PARTICIPATED THAT INCLUDED
PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOURTH GRADE AND
IS PARTICIPATION NUMBER,
INCLUDING FAMILIES, OR IS IT
INCLUDING JUST THE FOURTH
GRADER? IT'S PASSES PROVIDED AND
EACH PASS WOULD COVER ADMISSION
FOR A STUDENT AND THEIR FAMILY.
AND SO HOW MANY WERE THOSE? UM
APPROXIMATELY 20,000 A YEAR
20,000. HOW MANY OF THEM WERE
PUBLIC SCHOOL AND HOW MANY OF
THEM WERE PRIVATE SCHOOL? UH,
THIS IS THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS
THAT STUDENTS CAN SELF CERTIFY.
AND SO, UM, THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED
TO UH, THEY'RE NOT RECORDED
PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE OR WHETHER
THEY'RE LOW INCOME OR NOT. AH
AH! THEN HOW DID YOU REACH THE
POTENTIAL 2.1 MILLION ESTIMATE
FOR THE CURRENT YEAR IS, IS THAT
THE COST? FOR FOURTH GRADER AND
THEIR FAMILY. IF IT WAS 20,000
LAST YEAR, YOU I ASSUME YOU
THOUGHT SOME OF THOSE 20,000
SOME PERCENTAGE WERE PUBLIC
SCHOOL. YOU MADE A CALCULATION.
WORK YOUR WAY TOWARDS THAT
NUMBER. HOW DID YOU MAKE THAT
CALCULATION? UM YES. SO BASED ON
THE, UH, UPTAKE RATES OF THE
PAST TWO YEARS AGAIN 20,000 PER
YEAR, UM WE, UM UM YEAH, WE
ASSUMED THAT THIS, UM THIS. THE
UPTAKE MAY INCREASE AND, UM,
BASED ON THE ORIGINAL FUNDING
$5.6 MILLION SPREAD OUT OVER
THREE YEARS. UM THIS IS, UM. IT
WOULD ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE TO
OPERATE, UM, AT ITS CURRENT
LEVEL. SO YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU
BELIEVE YOUR PROPOSAL IS BASED
ON YOUR BELIEF THAT THERE WILL
BE 20,000 PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENTS, UM, THAT WILL UTILIZE
THIS PROGRAM. OR OR MORE, OR IS
THERE MORE OR IS THERE LESS?
LIKE I. I LIKE TO JUST ADD TO
WHAT MY COLLEAGUE WAS JUST
SAYING. SO UM, THAT 5.6 MILLION
OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS
EQUATES TO APPROXIMATELY 1.8 PER
YEAR AND THAT REFLECTS, YOU KNOW
17,000 APPROXIMATELY IN THE
FIRST YEAR 26,000 IN THE SECOND
YEAR WE HAVE LIMITED DATA ON 20
THREE BECAUSE IT WAS COLLECTED
IN NOVEMBER. SO IT WAS LIKE 5000
AT THAT POINT, UM, SINCE THEN,
THE THIS PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED
TO, UM THINK ORIGINALLY IT WAS
NINE ACCESS TO 19 STATE PARKS.
NOW, AS I THINK, 56 STATE PARKS
SO THE INCREASED IN THAT FROM
1.8 ANNUALLY, YOU KNOW TO 2.1
THAT WE'RE PROPOSING HERE
REFLECTS THAT INCREASED PARKS,
ACCESS AND ALSO THE RISING LEVEL
OF, UH, YOU KNOW, PROGRAM
INTEREST IN THE ADVENTURE PASS
PROGRAM THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS.
UM, I WOULD ALSO JUST NOTE THAT
THE WAY THAT THIS WOULD DIFFER,
AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE LOO
NOTED, IS THAT THE ADVENTURE
PASS PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ANY
FOURTH GRADER, AND THIS WOULD BE
LIMITED TO, UH, PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENTS SO THERE WOULD BE
MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THE TO THE
EXISTING PROGRAM, UM, THAT THE
SELF CERTIFICATION WOULD REQUIRE
TO SELF CERTIFY. UM, THAT YOU
THAT AT LEAST THAT'S KIND OF
WHAT WE'RE CONTEMPLATING AT THE
MOMENT IS TO MODIFY THAT TO BE
SPECIFIC TO PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENTS ONLY IF I MAY MAKE ONE
CLARIFICATION, THE MONEY THAT'S
PROPOSED TO THE PROGRAM FOR THE
2.1 MILLION ISN'T A DIRECT
DOLLAR DOLLAR DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR
REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE STATE
PARKS TO COMPENSATE THEM FOR
EACH PAST THAT THEY WOULD HAVE
OTHERWISE CHARGED FOR. IT'S
REALLY TO PAY FOR, UH ADDITIONAL
PROGRAMMING DIRECTED TOWARD
THOSE STUDENTS AND
TRANSPORTATION COSTS. MARKETING
THE PROGRAM ADMIN. UM SO THE IS
THE TRANSPORTATION COST OF THAT,
UM, MY SON WHO'S IN FOURTH GRADE
AND HIS, UH CLASSMATES CAN GO TO
A STATE PARK. IS IT THAT TYPE OF
TRANSPORTATION OR WHAT?
TRANSPORT? YES, THAT'S OUR
UNDERSTANDING. THERE'S SOME
GROUND. PART OF THAT. SO IT IS
TO SAY, IS THAT THE 2.1 MILLION
ISN'T DIRECTLY TIED TO THE
NUMBER OF STUDENTS USING THE
PROGRAM. IT'S MORE OF THESE
GENERAL COSTS OF PROVIDING
ACCESS. LOOK I LOVE THE IDEA OF
PROVIDING ACCESS TO STATE PARKS
TO STUDENTS. UM, AND MAYBE NOT
JUST FOURTH GRADERS, AND, UH UH,
I JUST DON'T SEE WHY WE NEED TO.
S¼ SPEND MONEY. WE SHOULD JUST
TELL THEM THEY COULD GO AND LIKE
, ENCOURAGE THEM AND GET GIVE
THEM ACCESS. AND IT BECOMES
UNIVERSAL LIKE THE UNIVERSAL
MEALS AND NÓ ONE FEELS LIKE THE
WELL DO I PAY? DO I NOT PAY, SO
I'M A I HOPE WE CAN GET SOME
MORE INFORMATION IN MAY AND JUST
MAKE THE PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO
FOURTH GRADERS. UM AND MAKE IT
PART OF WHAT WE DO IN
CALIFORNIA. UM, MR MARTUCCI, YOU
HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. I UM I GUESS WE'RE Dð
. WE'RE UH, MOVING AWAY FROM OUR
RULE OF, UH UH, FOCUSING ON A
PROGRAM WITH AMS SET OF BEES
HERE, BUT, UH UM BUT IT BUT IT
SEEMS, UM YOU KNOW, $2.1 MILLION
IN PROP 98 FUNDING. I MEAN, IT
SEEMS LIKE II. I THINK IT'S
GREAT. FIRST OF ALL THAT THAT
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE. UH UH,
MAKING SURE THAT ALL KIDS YOU
KNOW, INCLUDING LOW INCOME KIDS
HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT.
VISIT OUR BEAUTIFUL UH, STATE
PARKS. BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS
SHOULD YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THERE
UM, UH, A GOOD NUMBER OF
PHILANTHROPISTS IN THE IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT COULD
EASILY CUT A CHECK FOR $2
MILLION TO SEND LOW INCOME KIDS
TO OUR OUR PARKS. AND SO I WOULD
URGE, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE TO, UH TO CONSIDER
WHETHER THIS IS, UH YOU KNOW,
IT'S AN M, NOT A B, BUT IT'S A
YOU KNOW, UH, IT IT PROBABLY
JUMPS OUT. UH, AS AS A PRIME
EXAMPLE THAT PERHAPS IT SHOULD
BE, UH, YOU KNOW, THROUGH PRI
PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY INSTEAD OF
PROPOSITION 98 FUNDS. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR. THANK YOU. I THINK
THAT'S IT ON THIS ISSUE. WE WILL
HOLD IT OPEN. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. WE WILL CONSIDER THIS AS A
, UH, WITH ALL THE PROPOSALS
WHEN YOU TO NEW ONE TIME FUNDING
IN THE MAY REVISION. CONTEXT. WE
WILL MOVE ON TO ISSUE SIX
COLLEGE AND CAREER GUIDANCE
INITIATIVE. ALSO KNOWN BY SOME
AS GI PANEL WILL REVIEW THE
JANUARY PROPOSAL. UH THE BUDGET
PROPOSAL FROM JANUARY TO FULLY
SCALE COLLEGE AND CAREER
GUIDANCE INITIATIVE WITH TRAILER
BILL AND AN INCREASE OF $5
MILLION EVERY YEAR. DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. WILL, UM PRESENT THE
INITIATIVE. WE HAVE COMMENTS
FROM THE L A Ó AND THEN UH, THE
COLLEGE AND CAREER GUIDANCE
INITIATIVE IS ALSO HERE.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. THANK
YOU. REBECCA LEE WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I WILL BE
PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. CALIFORNIA
COLLEGE GUIDANCE INITIATIVE
PROPOSALS. THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
INCLUDES AN INCREASE OF 5.084
MILLION PROPOSITION. 98. EXCUSE
ME, PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND.
FOR THE CALIFORNIA COLLEGE
GUIDANCE INITIATIVE TO CONTINUE
SCALING ITS SERVICES AS PART OF
ITS ROLE AS AN OPERATIONAL TOOL
OF THE CARO TO CAREER DATA
SYSTEM. THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING
WILL BE USED FOR INCREASED
PERSONNEL COST AND MEET RISING
INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS AS èC G, I
CONTINUES TO SCALE THE CðC G IS
ENTERING YEAR THREE OF A PLANNED
FIVE YEAR SCALING PROCESS IN
WHICH IT WILL EXPAND PROVISIONS
OF ITS TOOLS AND SERVICES TO ALL
LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES
SERVING STUDENTS IN ANY GRADES.
6 TO 12 AS AUTHORIZED BY
EDUCATION CODE SECTION 6090.5.
THIS REQUEST IS IN LINE WITH
PREVIOUS PROJECTIONS FOR SCALING
AND WILL ENSURE èC èC G. I HAS
THE RESOURCES TO CONTINUE ADDING
PARTNER DISTRICTS, INTEGRATING
WITH HIGHER EDUCATION
APPLICATIONS AND DEVELOPING
COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING,
TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY TO BETTER
SERVE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS.
THIS WILL BRING THE ONGOING UH,
APPROPRIATION TO 20 THREE 0.7
MILLION. BUT THIS INCREASE WE
BELIEVE CðC CGI IS AT ITS LIMIT
FOR COST OF SCALING BEARING
BORROWING INFLATION OR OTHER
UNFORESEEN FACTORS. UM, BUT WE
ARE NOT ANTICIPATE FUTURE MAJOR
FUNDING INCREASES. CERTAIN
INCREASES, LIKE VENDOR COSTS
COULD BE OFFSET BY IMPROVED
INTERNAL OPERATION EFFICIENCIES
WHEN AT SCALE. CðC G'S PURPOSE
AND FUNCTIONS ARE CODIFIED IN
EDUCATION CODE SECTION, 6090.5
AND THE BUDGET REQUEST IS ON
TRACK WITH EARLY PROJECTIONS FOR
THE COST OF FULLY SCALE THIS
WORK STATEWIDE. THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES TRAILER
BILL LANGUAGE RELATED TO THE
REQUIREMENT THAT èC G PROVIDE
TRANSCRIPT OF OUR EXCUSE ME
TRANSFER TRANSCRIPT INFORMED
ACCOUNTS TO ALL NINTH TO 12TH
GRADE STUDENTS BY JUNE 2026,
WHICH IS THE END OF PHASE ONE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRADLE TO
CAREER LEGISLATION. THE PURPOSE
OF A MAJORITY OF THE AMENDMENTS
IS TO HELP FACILITATE FACILITATE
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANSCRIPT
AND FOR A PARTNER ACCOUNTS FOR
NINE THROUGH 12 GRADE STUDENTS
AND HELPS ENSURE STUDENT RECORDS
ARE ACCURATELY RECORDED, AND
STUDENTS GET CREDIT FOR THE
COURSES THEY COMPLETE. UM, THIS
INCLUDES REQUIRING L A TO ENTER
INTO A DATA SHARING AGREEMENT
WITH CðC èC G BY JANUARY 1ST
2026 AND PROVIDE INITIAL DATA
FILES. UM WITH THAT THAT
INCLUDES MY REMARKS, AND I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT
THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU.
PERMANENT OR JACKIE BARROSO,
ELIO, UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE. WE DO
THINK THAT, UM, THOSE COMPONENTS
IN GENERAL MAY INCREASE DISTRICT
PARTICIPATION AS IT RELATES TO
THE FUNDING AUGMENTATION AGAIN.
GIVEN THE PROPOSITION 98 DEFICIT
. WE'RE JUST, UM, RECOMMENDING
THE LEGISLATURE REJECT ANY NEW
AUGMENTATIONS, UM, TO THE EXTENT
THAT REJECTING THIS FUNDING MAY
DELAY STATUTORILY REQUIRED
ACTIVITIES. THE LEGISLATURE
COULD ALSO, UM AMEND THOSE
DEADLINES AND PUSH THEM OUT. UM
ACCORDINGLY. UM SOMETHING ELSE
THAT WE WOULD FLAG AS WELL. IS
THAT, UM IN 2223? THERE WERE
SOME CARRYOVER FUNDS, UM, WITHIN
CGI. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT IN 20
THREE 24. WE'RE ON TRACK TO ALSO
, UM, SEE SOME CARRYOVER FUNDS
THE LEGISLATURE, UM, AS A WAY TO
ACHIEVE ADDITIONAL ONE TIME, UM,
PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND
SAVINGS. UH COULD, UH,
REAPPROPRIATE THOSE CARRYOVER
DOLLARS AND, UH, MAKE A
ACCORDING, UM ADJUSTMENTS TO
BASELINE FUNDING LEVELS IN 2425.
THANK YOU. I TESTED ROY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE GUIDANCE
INITIATIVE. THANK YOU, CHARL ROS
AND MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PRESENT THIS MORNING. I DID
JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT
OF A CHRONOLOGY OF CALIFORNIA
COLLEGES 25 YEARS AGO IN 1998.
THE EDUCATIONAL SEGMENTS IN
CALIFORNIA GOT TOGETHER AND
SUBMITTED AN INNER SEGMENTAL
BUDGET PROPOSAL. UM WITH THE
ORIGINAL BUDGET LANGUAGE, SAYING
THAT THE STATE NEEDED A QUOTE
UNQUOTE COMMON FRONT DOOR TO
HIGHER EDUCATION AS WELL AS AN
ELECTRONIC TRANSCRIPT PLATFORM,
SO THESE NEEDS HAVE BEEN
RECOGNIZED FOR A VERY, VERY LONG
TIME. UM WE TOOK OVER MANAGEMENT
OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGES IN 2013
AND ARE PRESENTLY SCALED TO BE,
UH, WE'RE SERVING 62% OF N
THROUGH 12TH GRADERS
APPROXIMATELY HALF THE DISTRICTS
IN THE STATE THAT GRADUATE HIGH
SCHOOL SENIORS. THE CHALLENGES
ARE, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE IN
SERVING SMALLER DISTRICTS. UM
ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THE
STRATEGY THAT WE'RE USING TO GET
TO SCALE IS THE ABILITY TO
ACTUALLY RELY ON THE PRIVATE
SECTOR VENDORS. TECHNOLOGY
VENDORS WHO SERVE THOSE
DISTRICTS TO ABSORB SOME OF THE
LIFT. UM PRECISELY DUE TO THE
KINDS OF TURNOVER THAT WE'RE
SEEING IN DISTRICTS AND THE
CHALLENGES THAT DISTRICTS FACE
IN IN PARTICIPATING IF THEY'RE
IN SMALLER, LESS RESOURCED
ENVIRONMENTS. UM AND I'D BE
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. YOU HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS, MR FONG. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, MR CHAIR. JUST A COUPLE
QUICK QUESTIONS. UM I NOTICED
THAT DIDN'T REPORT 240 OF THE
417 ELIGIBLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
HAVE PARTICIPATED IN. I KNOW
THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES WITH
SOME OF THE SMALLER DISTRICTS.
HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE AND HOW DO
WE GET THE PARTICIPATION WITH
THE OTHER 177 SCHOOL DISTRICTS
IN? YEAH, THE PRIMARY ISSUE THAT
WE'VE EXPERIENCED IS THAT, UM
THERE IS A BIT OF A LIFT IN
CREATION OF THE DATA FILES TO
PROVIDE STUDENT RECORDS TO OUR
SYSTEM. THOSE RECORDS ARE
ESSENTIAL TO, UM, STREAMLINING
PROCESSES FOR STUDENTS, SO THEY
INTEGRATE INTO THE èC, S¼ U AND
U èC APPLICATIONS. THEY ALLOW
US TO PROVIDE FUTURE STATE THE
CAL GRANT GPA TO èC S¼ A.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT
ONCE YOU THAT DATA INTO ONE
COMMON REPOSITORY. YOU CAN
LEVERAGE MULTIPLE TIMES OVER.
BUT THE BARRIER IS THAT A LOT OF
SMALLER DISTRICTS DON'T HAVE
DEDICATED STAFF WHO ACTUALLY
HAVE THE TECHNOLOGICAL AND DATA
CAPACITY TO UPLOAD THOSE FILES.
SO WE'VE DONE TWO THINGS. UM TO
TRY AND ADDRESS THAT ONE IS SORT
OF RELATED. UM, WE'VE CREATED
THE FIRST EVER CALIFORNIA HIGH
SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT STANDARD, SO A
SET OF RULES THAT EVERYTHING CAN
COMPLY WITH DISTRICTS. THE
TECHNOLOGY VENDORS THAT SERVE
THEM. THIS WILL HELP TO
STREAMLINE AND SYSTEMATIZE WHAT
HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY VERY MESSY
. UM, BECAUSE THERE WERE NÓ
RULES. THE SECOND THING IS THAT,
UM THAT THEN ENABLES US TO ASK
THE VENDORS. THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY
SIX TECHNOLOGY VENDORS THAT
PROVIDE STUDENT INFORMATION
SYSTEMS TO Kò 12. THOSE VENDORS
ALL TECHNOLOGY VENDORS. THEY
HAVE THE CAPACITY, UM, SO IF
THEY CAN SET UP THEIR SYSTEMS TO
COMPLY WITH THAT STANDARD AND TO
PROVIDE US DATA THROUGH WHAT'S
CALLED AN ADVANCED PROGRAMMING
INTERFACE, WHICH IS A REAL TIME
DATA EXCHANGE, IT ACTUALLY MAKES
IT HANDS OFF FOR DISTRICTS
ENTIRELY. ONCE THEY HAVE
APPROVED THE, UM PROVISION OF
PARTICULAR DATA ELEMENTS THAT
THAT THAT ARE NEEDED TO OPERATE
THE SYSTEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. ANYTHING
WE CAN DO TO CONTINUE TO
ENCOURAGE THE PROCESS HERE TO
REALLY UPLIFT A LOT OF THESE
SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A REALLY
GOOD OPPORTUNITY IN PROGRAM FOR
OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
MR CHAIR. THANK YOU. WE HAVE
SOME QUESTIONS. I KNOW WE'VE
POSED AND I THINK I'LL ASK THAT.
UM CERTAINLY GI, UH AND THE
ADMINISTRATION WORK WITH OUR
STAFF. UH, I'M I'M INTERESTED IN
UNDERSTANDING BETTER IF, UM THE
NEED EXISTS FROM SIXTH GRADE ALL
THE WAY TO 12TH GRADE FOR ALL OF
THE SERVICES THAT ARE PART OF
IT, WHICH, UM, THE FULL SCOPE
WHICH CERTAINLY ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY IN THE UPPER GRADES,
AND JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
THE, UM UH, THE NECESSITY IN IN
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES AND
WHETHER IT NEEDS TO BE THAT, UM
THAT INTENT THAT LEVEL OF
INTENSITY AND THEN DEFINITELY
WANT TO KNOW HOW THE $23.4
MILLION BEING REQUESTED IN THIS
BUDGET. UM, HOW IT WILL, UM WH
WHY WOULD BE REQUIRED BEYOND THE
ONBOARDING. WE USUALLY SEE WHEN
WE'RE STARTING NEW PROGRAMS.
THERE'S A LOT OF UPFRONT COST
WHICH MAKE TOTAL SENSE BECAUSE
YOU'RE STARTING AND YOU'RE
FIGURING IT ALL OUT AND UM, BUT
TO MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF
FUNDING IN THE OUT YEARS IS A
QUESTION FOR ME. AND I THINK I'D
ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS
PROPOSAL DOES GET APPROVED. UM,
MAYBE THE L A Ó CAN HELP US
FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT ARE WE
WHAT SYMMETRIC? WE'RE GOING TO
HIT. ARE WE GOING TO THEN SERVE
TO MR FONG'S POINT. THE
REMAINING DISTRICTS WHO IS GOING
TO BE BROUGHT IN? I WANT TO KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET FOR
THIS EXPENDITURE BECAUSE IT'S A
CRITICAL ONE. BUT WE WANNA MAKE
SURE THAT WE BRING IN AS MANY
FOLKS AS POSSIBLE. PARTICIPATE
SO THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WILL
REMAIN OPEN AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL
HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM
YOU WORKING WITH OUR STAFF FOR
OUR, UM UH, FUTURE CONVERSATION
DECISION ON THIS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ISSUE UH
, THE NEXT ISSUE COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS PROPOSAL WE WILL HEAR
ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE
ON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM AND THE
JANUARY BUDGET PROPOSAL.
IMPACTING COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. WE
WILL START WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, WHICH WILL GO
FIRST. THEN WE WILL GO TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND WE
WILL HAVE THE L Ó PROVIDE.
COMMENTS AS WELL. TURN IT OVER
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
THANK YOU. OK, GOOD MORNING. MR
CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
I'M PETE CALLS ON BEHALF OF
STATE SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION TONY THURMAN. THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IS THE
LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TRANSFORMATION
PROGRAM IN THE NATION. TODAY AT
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION HAS DISTRIBUTED 419
PLANNING GRANTS AND 204
IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS SUPPORTING
1028 SCHOOL SITES TOTALING ABOUT
APPROXIMATELY $1.4 BILLION. I
WANT TO PAUSE AND NOTE THAT THE
ROLL OUT OF THIS INITIATIVE HAS
FOLLOWED BOTH THE LETTER AND THE
SPIRIT OF THE STATUTE, WHICH
CLEARLY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY
DEFINED THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. AS
AN EQUITY PROGRAM, ENSURING THAT
SCHOOL SITES WITH THE HIGHEST
CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY WOULD
BE THE FIRST TO RECEIVE FUNDING
TO ADDRESS CONDITIONS FOR
TEACHING AND LEARNING FOLLOWING
THE PANDEMIC. THE èC èC S¼ VÆ
P HAS FUNDED IMPLEMENTATION
SCHOOL SITES WITH AN AVERAGE OF
80% UP èC FOR COHORT ONE AND
68% UP èC FOR COHORT TWO OVER
THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF PROGRAM
IMPLEMENTATION AND èC Dð
ANTICIPATES THIS TREND TO
CONTINUE IN ROUNDS THREE AND
FOUR OF THE IMPLEMENTATION
GRANTS. CITY ALSO WANTS TO BE
EXPLICIT. ABOUT WHAT èC èC S¼
PP IS AND ISN'T THIS IS NOT A
PROGRAM DESIGNED TO FIX FAMILIES
. WE HAVE SOMEHOW DETERMINED OR
BROKEN. IN CONTRAST, THE èC S¼
VÆ P INTENDS TO STRENGTHEN
ALREADY EXISTING ASSETS WITHIN
STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES. THAT IS
WHY èC S¼ VÆ P IMPLEMENTATION
GRANTEES HAVE USED FUNDING TO
BUILD WELLNESS CENTERS HIRE MORE
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS, BUT ALSO
TO SUPPORT SHARED DECISION
MAKING COUNCILS THAT ENGAGE
FAMILIES IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE
DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR
CHILD'S EDUCATION. IT IS ALSO
IMPORTANT TO NOTE WHERE WE ARE
IN THIS HISTORIC IMPLEMENTATION
PROCESS. WE HAVE COMPLETED THE
FIRST TWO ROUNDS OF
IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS. TWO
ROUNDS OF IMPLEMENTATION. GRANT
FUNDING HAVE ARRIVED AT SCHOOLS
CURRENTLY. WE ARE FINALIZING THE
SCORING OF THE THIRD ROUND WHERE
WE HAVE THE STRONGEST
SUBSCRIPTION TO DATE WITH 350
THREE APPLICATIONS SUPPORTING
1000 THREE 192 SCHOOLS. WE HAVE
ALWAYS ANTICIPATED ROUND THREE
WOULD HAVE THE STRONGEST
SUBSCRIPTION BECAUSE OF THE
NEXUS PLANNING, GRANTS MATURING
AND ESSER FUND FUNDS EXPIRING.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO AWARDING
BETWEEN 1.1 AND $1.2 BILLION IN
IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS THIS
SPRING. THE PROPOSED CUT TO THE
CCS VÆ P WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC.
IT WOULD DESTROY THE PROGRAMS
AND BREAK OUR PROMISE TO OUR
STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR
SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. THE
L A Ó S¼ PROPOSED CUT IS NOT
BASED ON èC èC S¼ VÆ P HAVING
UNUSED OR UNU UNDESIGNATED
FUNDS. ALL OF THE FUNDS. LET ME
REPEAT. ALL OF THE FUNDS ARE
DESIGNATED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO
SCHOOL SITES, AND PRECISELY THE
CADENCE SUGGESTED IN STATUTE AND
CODIFIED BY THE STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION. THE ONLY REASON èC
èC S¼ VÆ P HAS FUNDS IN ITS
ACCOUNTS IS BECAUSE THE èC èC
S¼ PP IS DESIGNED TO HAVE A
SEVEN YEAR ROLL OUT OF FUNDS
ROOTED IN A 1 TO 2 YEAR PLANNING
PROCESS FOR MOST LE, A S¼ AND
THEN A FIVE YEAR IMPLEMENTATION
TIMELINE THAT CONCLUDES MY
TESTIMONY. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
REBECCA LEE WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. UM HAS NOTICED IN
EXCUSE ME, AS NOTED IN THE
AGENDA, THE ADMINISTRATION IS
NOT PROPOSING ANY CHANGES TO THE
FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM. UM,
HOWEVER, WE ARE PROPOSING
TECHNICAL STATUTORY CHANGES TO
UPDATE THE TIMELINE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION, GRANT EXTENSIONS
AND OVERALL ENCUMBRANCE DEADLINE
TO 2032 SO THAT THEY ARE ALIGNED
WITH THE PROGRAM. TIMELINE UM,
WITH THAT, I'M UH, THAT'S THE
END OF MY REMARKS. I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. CHAIR AND MEMBERS
AGAIN. KEN, KAN WITH THE
ANALYST'S OFFICE COVERING FOR A
COLLEAGUE ON THIS ONE. WE DON'T
HAVE ANY CONCERNS WITH THE
TECHNICAL LANGUAGE CHANGES THAT
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE IS
PROPOSING, BUT WE DO RECOMMEND
LOOKING AT THIS PROGRAM AS ONE
POTENTIAL SOURCE OF SAVINGS TO
HELP ADDRESS THE BUDGET
SHORTFALL OVER THE PAST COUPLE
OF YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE IS
APPROPRIATED MORE THAN $4.1
BILLION FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
GRANTS UH, AFTER SETTING ASIDE
THE AMOUNTS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED
TO COVER THE FIRST TWO COHORTS
OF RECIPIENTS AS WELL AS THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES.
UH, WE ESTIMATE THAT NEARLY 2.6
BILLION OF THAT AMOUNT REMAINS
UNALLOCATED. SO AS A STARTING
POINT FOR ADDRESSING THE BUDGET
SHORTFALL. WE THINK YOU COULD
CONSIDER RESCINDING ABOUT A
BILLION DOLLARS OF THAT AMOUNT.
UH, WE THINK YOU COULD OBTAIN
THOSE SAVINGS IN TWO BASIC WAYS.
UH, ONE ACTION WOULD BE TO NOT
FUND EXTENSION GRANTS. SO THESE
ARE GRANTS, PROVIDING AN
ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS OF FUNDING
FOR A DISTRICT THAT HAVE ALREADY
RECEIVED A FIVE YEAR AWARD. THE
OTHER ACTION WOULD BE TO NOT
MAKE NEW AWARDS TO DISTRICTS
THAT DID NOT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVE
ANY FUNDING TO PLAN OR IMPLEMENT
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. AND I THINK
THOSE TWO ACTIONS TOGETHER COULD
PROVIDE SAVINGS ABOUT OF ABOUT A
BILLION DOLLARS AND WOULD
REPRESENT, UH, THE LEAST
DISRUPTIVE APPROACH TO OBTAINING
SAVINGS. IF YOU DID RESCIND A
LARGER AMOUNT, MORE THAN 1
BILLION, YOU COULD OBTAIN
ADDITIONAL SAVINGS AND THOSE
SAVINGS WOULD HELP AVOID CUTS TO
SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN OTHER WAYS,
UH, THE TRADE OFF THERE IS THAT
SOME DISTRICTS IF YOU DID MORE
THAN A BILLION, SOME OF THE
DISTRICTS THAT PREVIOUSLY
RECEIVED GRANTS TO PLAN
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WOULD THEN NOT
RECEIVE GRANTS TO IMPLEMENT
THOSE PLANS. UH, WE PUT THOSE
OPTIONS ON THE TABLE,
RECOGNIZING THAT THESE AREN'T
STEPS WE'D BE DISCUSSING IN A
MORE IN A BETTER ECONOMIC
ENVIRONMENT AND NOT SOMETHING WE
WOULD BE PUTTING ON THE TABLE IF
THE STATE HAD BETTER OPTIONS,
BUT WE SEE THEM AS A LESS
DISRUPTIVE APPROACH THAN
REDUCING L, èC FF OR OTHER
FUNDS THAT THE STATE HAS ALREADY
DISPERSED THE DISTRICTS. HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, UH,
PRESENTATION. UM I THINK I WANNA
MAKE. UM SOME QUICK GENERAL
COMMENTS. I'M I'M I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IN THAT, UH,
THIS IS A FIVE YEAR COMMITMENT
AND WE'RE ASKING SCHOOLS TO
UNDERGO EXTENSIVE AN IMPORTANT
CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR SCHOOL
COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO
IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM. AND THEN
WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO GIVE
YOU MONEY. WELL, AFTER, UH, THE
PLANNING WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU
MONEY FOR, UM THE NEXT SEVERAL
YEARS IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THAT
PROGRAM. BUT THEN AFTER THAT
THERE IS NÓ GUARANTEE THAT
YOU'RE GETTING ANY MORE MONEY.
AND, UM YOU KNOW, WE HEAR A LOT
ABOUT INITIATIVE FATIGUE,
ESPECIALLY AT SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS
AND VAS IN SOMETHING, AND THEY
REALLY, UM, FOCUS IN ON THOSE
PROGRAMS AND OFTENTIMES, VERY
SUCCESSFULLY DO THAT, MORE OFTEN
THAN NOT ACTUALLY SUCCESSFULLY
DO THAT. AND THEN THE FUNDING IS
NOT NÓ LONGER THERE. UM AND THEN
I THINK OF THIS IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE EEE PROGRAM Ó PROGRAM,
UM, THAT IN IN MY MIND, AND
SURELY I'D LOVE TO HEAR FEEDBACK
, CERTAINLY FROM THE PUBLIC AND
ANYONE WHO'S IMPLEMENTING THIS,
UM THERE ARE A LOT OF
OVERLAPPING GOALS, WHICH IS
PROVIDING SERVICES TO STUDENTS
WHO NEED THEM. UM AND THAT ALSO
MAYBE NOW THAT BEING A
CONTINUOUS PROGRAM AND HOW THESE
TWO COULD WORK TOGETHER, GOING
FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE
CONSISTENCY THAT SCHOOLS NEED
WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING. THIS
IS THE WE HEAR IT TIME AND TIME
AGAIN. THE INCONSISTENCY IN
FUNDING IS WHAT DRIVES UM DRIVES
PEOPLE CERTAINLY NUTS SOMETIMES,
BUT IT ALSO DOES NOT ALLOW FOR
PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF
PROGRAMMING IN OUR SCHOOL. SO,
UM, I LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU
KNOW, UH, WE HAVE A CHART HERE
ON THE GRANT AMOUNTS. UH,
$300,000 FOR THE FIRST FOUR
YEARS. IF YOU'RE A MEDIUM SIZE,
UM, SCHOOL UM IF YOU'VE GOT, YOU
KNOW. UH, IF YOU GOT 1000
STUDENTS YOU'RE GETTING YOU'RE
GETTING $300 FROM PER PER
STUDENT IN ORDER TO DO THIS
PROGRAM. UM IF YOU GOT 500
STUDENTS, YOU'RE GETTING TWICE
THAT AMOUNT AND SO AGAIN, UM
SOME INCONSISTENCY,
INCONSISTENCIES THERE AND HOW
WE'RE FUNDING IT SO THAT IT CAN
BE IMPLEMENTED FULLY AS INTENDED
AND ENVISIONED. SO UM, THAT'S
JUST MY THOUGHTS. I CERTAINLY
LIKE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM UM,
FOLKS WHO I HOPE ARE HERE IN THE
PUBLIC TO TESTIFY ON THAT. UM SO
I JUST WANNA SHARE MY THOUGHTS.
BUT WANNA DEFINITELY TURN IT
OVER AND I'LL HAVE SOME PROBABLY
SOME QUESTIONS FOLLOWING MY
COLLEAGUES TURN OVER TO MR MET
FIRST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH,
UM MR CHAIR, AND I UM, SIMILAR
TO THE EL Ó P PROGRAM. II I AM.
UH UH, A BIG TRUE BELIEVER IN
THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL MODEL. UM
YOU KNOW, II. I THINK THERE ARE
A LOT OF SIMILARITIES BETWEEN
THE EL LP, UH, PROGRAMS AND THE
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF
HAVING YOU KNOW THAT WHOLE CHILD
APPROACH INTEGRATING SUPPORT
SERVICES, GETTING THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. COLLABORATIVE
LEADERSHIP, YOU KNOW, EXTENDED
LEARNING TIME AND OPPORTUNITIES.
I MEAN, A AGAIN JUST A SIMILAR
TO THE L LP. IT'S CRITICAL THAT
UM, THAT WE CONTINUE THIS
COMMITMENT AS WE CONTINUE TO
DEAL WITH THE ONGOING EFFECTS OF
THE, UH, THE PANDEMIC, THE
LEARNING LOSS AND THE SOCIAL,
UH, EMOTIONAL IMPACTS. YOU KNOW,
I, I WOULD HIGHLIGHT THAT, UH,
THIS PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE
THE CRITERIA? UM FOR THE
COMPETITIVE, UH, GRANTS IS AT
THE, UH DISTRICTS IN WHICH AT
LEAST 80% OF THE PEOPLE
POPULATION ARE UND DUPLICATED.
AND SO I KNOW THAT IN IN IN MY,
UH, NECK OF THE WOODS I MEAN, LU
S¼ Dð IS CLOSE TO 90% UNDATED UH
UM, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY
COMMUNITIES THAT CAN A BENEFIT
WITH THIS, UH THERE'S
POTENTIALLY TRANSFORMATIVE. UH
UH, YOU KNOW, UH, PROGRAM, UH,
PROVIDING THE EARLY CARE
EDUCATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
FROM BIRTH TO FIVE YEARS. I
MEAN, THERE THERE IS, UH, UM,
YEAH. II I WANT TO ECHO YOUR
YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT HOW WE WANNA
TRY TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE
FULFILL THE COMMITMENT TO
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE STARTED
TO, UH, TO ENGAGE IN IN IN THESE
PLANNING ACTIVITIES. I'M UM
WONDERING WITH THE L A Ó. UM UH
, UH OR OR WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, YOU KNOW IS IT TOO
EARLY TO SEE ANY ANY DATA IN
TERMS OF, UH, OUTCOMES? UH ARE
ARE ARE ARE WE? WE'RE STILL AT
THE, UH, YOU YOU HAVE. DO WE
HAVE ANY ANY, UM, EARLY DATA IN
TERMS OF THE, UH, THE RETURN ON
INVESTMENTS FOR THESE COMMUNITY
SCHOOL PROGRAMS. UH, WE'RE WE'RE
NOT AWARE OF ANY STATEWIDE DATA
ON THAT ON THAT SUBJECT. YEAH.
ON THE STATEWIDE PROGRAM. WE
DON'T HAVE DATA YET ON THIS
PIECE, OK? UM YEAH, I. I KNOW
THAT. I'VE BEEN, UH UH, TALKING
ABOUT TOURING. SOME COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS IN IN LOS ANGELES, UH
AND, UH, I, I NEED TO FOLLOW UP
WITH THE, UH UH, LAO I. I KNOW
THAT THEY ARE, UM, SEEN AS
LEADERS IN IN IN THIS SPACE,
BUT, UH I. I JUST WANTED TO, UH
UH, HIGHLIGHT. UM THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS,
ESPECIALLY, UH, FOR LOS ANGELES
UNIFIED IN OUR LOS ANGELES
COMMUNITIES. UM THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. MR MCCARTY? YES
THANK YOU, UM, MR CHAIR AND
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
KIND OF GO BACK BRIEFLY AS I WAS
AT, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY HEARINGS
EARLIER. SO JUST THE BIG PICTURE
AS AS, UH, MISTER MARK TUCCI
SAID. AND YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE
HERE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS WHEN
WE WENT FOR A WOEFULLY FUNDING
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO NOW, YOU
KNOW, POTENTIALLY ALMOST
DOUBLING L èC FF, WHICH IS
GREAT, BUT WE DID SOME OTHER HÌ
HUGE THINGS THAT TRANSFORM
EDUCATION AND FAMILIES AND KIDS
AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IS ONE
UNIVERSAL TK. UM UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL MEALS AND EARLY LEARNING
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, AND SO NÓ.
I KNOW WE SPENT, UM AT LENGTH
TALKING ABOUT THOSE, SO I IT'S A
DIFFERENT ERA. NOW WE HAVE TO
LOOK AS OUR EE Ó SAID AT OUR
BUDGET SITUATION THAT POTENTIAL
SAVINGS BUT, YOU KNOW, CAN'T BE
LOST THAT IT'S NOT JUST
EXPANDING PER PUPIL FUNDING THAT
HELPS STUDENT OUTCOMES. IT'S
THESE OTHER PIECES THAT ARE SO
KEY IN ALL THE OTHER ISSUES
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST WHAT YOU
FOCUS ON BETWEEN. YOU KNOW 8
A.M. AND, UH 2:30 P.M. IN THE
CLASSROOM, BUT BEFORE SCHOOL
LUNCH TIME, AND YOU KNOW,
WEEKENDS AND AFTER WITH ALL
THESE OTHER PIECES ARE ARE SO
ARE SO IMPORTANT. I DID WANT TO
SAY I KNOW THAT, UH RESPECTFULLY
HAVE A DIFFERENT POSITION THAN
OUR EDUCATION SHARE ON ON THE
SCHOOL MEALS THERE, BUT I THINK
THE UNIVERSAL THING THAT WE DID
IS SO KEY THAT FOR SCHOOL MEALS
THAT IT IS UNIVERSAL, AND THAT'S
THE KEY AND I I'LL JUST SAY FOR
TWO REASONS. ONE I THINK THERE
IS A REAL THING OF KIDS. WALKING
IN WITH A CARD IS A STIGMA AND I
WENT TO CAMERON RANCH ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL FIVE MILES FROM HERE IN
SAN JUAN, AND I HAD THE LITTLE
CAR AS A FREE LUNCH. OTHER KIDS
DIDN'T AND SO THAT IS REAL. BUT
JUST THE OTHER THING IS S¼. SO
MANY OF SCHOOLS ARE ALMOST ALL
WE REDUCED LUNCH POPULATION
ANYWAY. IT TAKES SO MUCH TIME
DOING THE PAPERWORK AND SORTING
OUT JUST EVERYBODY GET SO IF YOU
LOOK AT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL
POPULATION OF 6 MILLION KIDS IN
CALIFORNIA I MEAN IN MOST OF OUR
DISTRICTS, OR SOME OUTLIERS,
SOME WEALTHY DISTRICTS, BUT MOST
OF THEM THE POPULATION, SO MUCH
IS ELIGIBLE FOR IT THAT IT JUST
MAKES SENSE. UM JUST IN THE
ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND ALSO THE
RIGHT THING. AND THEN LASTLY,
YOU KNOW SO MANY KIDS WHO WHO
WHO WHO PARTICIPATE IN THESE,
LIKE THIS LITERALLY IS SAD TO
SAY THIS IS THEIR MEAL. THIS IS
LIKE HOW THEY GET GET FED THAT
DAY. AND THEY YOU KNOW,
SOMETIMES STOCK UP AT THE END OF
THE DAY, BECAUSE THAT'S A LATINX
MEAL TO THE NEXT DAY, AND SO,
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS REALLY DOES
MEAN SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT?
WE'RE JUST ON A PIECE OF PAPER.
SO THAT'S MY TWO CENTS FOR THIS%
ISSUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM
I'D BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NÓ DATA, SO
MAYBE THERE'S NÓ ANSWER TO THIS.
UH, HOW MANY OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION GRANT AWARDEES
ARE, UH, INCLUDING BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH. THAT'S ONE THING I HEAR
FROM LITERALLY ANYBODY WHO IS
DOING ANY WORK IN EDUCATION
SUPERINTENDENTS. UH, SCHOOL
BOARDS, UH, EDUCATORS THEMSELVES
STAFF AT SCHOOLS, UH, BEHAVIORAL
ISSUES HAVE GROWN TREMENDOUSLY
OVER THE YEARS AND EVERYBODY
WANTS MORE SUPPORT IN THAT SPACE
. UM OF THE GRANTEES. HOW MANY
OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY HAVE A
COMPONENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
BUILT INTO THEM? DO DO WE HAVE
DATA? I HAVE A PIECE OF THAT,
OK? YEAH SO U èC L A IS A
PARTNER OF OUR LEAD, TECHNICAL
CENTER, WHICH IS ALAMEDA COUNTY
OFFICE OF EDUCATION. UM IS PART
OF A ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 87%
OF THE SCHOOLS, WHICH EQUATES TO
ABOUT THREE 190 OF
IMPLEMENTATION. GRANTEES
INDICATED THAT THE PROVISION OF
MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS AND
SERVICES WERE PART OF THEIR
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN OR NEEDS AN ASSETS
ASSESSMENT OF THESE SCHOOLS. 77%
INDICATED THAT THEY HAD PROVIDED
THE SUPPORT PRIOR TO YEAR ONE OF
THE CðC S¼ VÆ P IMPLEMENTATION.
57% OF THE SUBSET OF GRANTEES
INDICATED THAT THEY EXPANDED
THEIR PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER
THESE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AND
49% INCLUDED THAT THEY HAD
EXPANDED THEIR CAPACITY TO DO SO
. 39% OF THE GRANTEES PROVIDED
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FOCUS
ON MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS AND
SERVICES AND 48% OF THE GRANTEES
INDICATED THAT THEY WERE
MONITORING GROWTH AND PROGRESS
THROUGH DATA AND COLLECTION. UM,
STRATEGIES. UH, DID YOU MENTION
IS YOU LAY YOUR PARTNER ON U èC
L A IS A SUBCONTRACTOR OF
ALAMEDA COUNTY OFFICE OF
EDUCATION. THERE ARE LEAD
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR
THE STATE. HOW OFTEN ARE THEY
PROVIDING THESE REPORTS AS AN
ANNUAL REPORT ONE ANNUAL REPORT
AND THAT GETS PUBLISHED PUBLICLY
. OK GREAT. UM DO WE KNOW ON THE
CHILD AND YOUTH BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH INITIATIVES, IF THAT'S
ALSO INTEGRATED OR OR IS IT JUST
YOU JUST HAVE GENERAL DATA ON
UH, LIKE MENTAL HEALTH
SCREENINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE JUST HAVE THE GENERAL DATA
THAT WE SEE FROM U èC L A RIGHT
NOW. OK? UM, I THINK THAT'S ONE
OF THE IT'S NOT IN OUR SUB
COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT'S UM PART
OF, UM, SOMEONE I BELIEVE, BUT I
THINK WE'RE HAVING A
CONVERSATION TOGETHER AGAIN, A
COMPONENT THAT WE HEAR OFTEN
THAT IS NEEDED IN SCHOOLS ON
THIS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND
WE'LL BE HAVING A JOINT HEARING
TO DISCUSS THAT FURTHER, SO
WE'LL HAVE, UH, HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION THERE. UH, WE WILL
HOLD. UH, THIS ISSUE OPEN. THANK
YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE
AND NOW WE WILL GO ON TO OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT. I'D ASK YOU TO
PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS. AND
ANYTHING THAT HASN'T BEEN ADDED.
PLEASE ADD IT. UM IT'S BEEN SAID
BEFORE THEN JUST ACKNOWLEDGE.
IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE. UM WE
GIVE YOU ONE MINUTE AND I'LL LET
YOU KNOW AND SAY THANK YOU ONCE
YOU'RE ONE MINUTE HAS EXPIRED,
SO UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE AND LET'S GET STARTED WITH
PUBLIC COMMENT. UH HELLO, CHAIR
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS DALIA KING WITH CATALYST
, CALIFORNIA, A MEMBER OF THE
CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP FOR THE
FUTURE OF LEARNING. WE URGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO PRESERVE THE FULL
$2.6 BILLION FOR COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS. UM WHICH IS CRITICAL TO
STRENGTHENING THE, UH PUBLIC
EDUCATION OR STATE STUDENTS,
FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS AND
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE
COUNTING ON THE COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS, FUNDING TO SUPPORT OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOW AND IN THE
FUTURE. UM AND CUTTING THE
PROMISED FUNDING IN HIGH NEEDS.
SCHOOL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
STATE UNDERMINES ALL THE HARD
WORK WENT THAT WENT UNDERWAY AND
DISRUPTS THE STATE'S MOST
PROMISING STRATEGY FOR
REMODELING OUR STATE'S EDUCATION
SYSTEMS WE SHARED A LETTER WOULD
BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP
WITH THE CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SUCH
THOUGHTFUL HEARING. THANK YOU.
AND AGAIN IF YOU YOUR THOUGHT,
IF YOUR COMMENTS HAVE ANY
FEEDBACK ON THE CONVERSATIONS
WE'VE HAD, UH WE'D LOVE TO HEAR
FROM YOU ON THOSE AS WELL. THANK
YOU NEXT. GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK
ON SCHOOL MEALS. WE THANK YOU
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS
CRYSTAL ETHERTON, AND I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION FOR PLA
UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT WE
HAVE ABOUT 4000 STUDENTS, AND WE
ARE, UH, MID 20% FREE AND
REDUCED AND I WAS ALSO A
RECIPIENT OF FREE MEALS GROWING
UP. SINCE UNIVERSAL MEALS HAS
BEEN IMPLEMENTED. WE HAVE
INCREASED OUR PARTICIPATION TO
162% FROM PREPA PARTICIPATION.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME UH, IN MORE
THAN A DECADE THAT WE'VE NOT
ENCROACHED ON THE GENERAL FUND
IN HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN
ANYWHERE FROM 100,000 TO ALMOST
$400,000 IN AN ANNUAL TERM FOR,
UH, MONIES THAT NEEDED TO BE
RECOVERED. UM FINDINGS SHOW THAT
THE AVERAGE CALIFORNIA FAMILY
RIGHT NOW IS SAVING AT 16% ON
THEIR MONTHLY FOOD COST WHEN
THEIR STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPATING
IN THE FREE SCHOOL MEALS. WITH
THE ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLD FROM
REDUCED TO PAID BEING AT ALMOST
$48,000 FOR THE 2425 SCHOOL YEAR
. IT'S A HIGH BENEFIT TO HAVE A
SEPARATE ELIGIBILITY SCHEDULE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS ERIN PRIMER. I AM HERE
ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES THAT I SERVE AT SAN
LOUIS COASTAL UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT. MANY FAMILIES IN OUR
RELATIVELY AFFLUENT COMMUNITY
STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER IN THE PAST
, WE REDUCED AND PAID MODEL. A
SINGLE MOM IN MY DISTRICT CALLED
ME IN TEARS BECAUSE SHE MISSED
QUALIFYING BY $100 AND DIDN'T
KNOW HOW SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO
FEED HER CHILD. SHE NEEDED THOSE
FREE SCHOOL MEALS. AND SO DID
THAT STUDENT. UNFORTUNATELY,
THIS STORY IS NOT UNIQUE. TODAY
WITH UNIVERSAL FREE MEALS, WE
CAN CONFIDENTLY SERVE ALL
STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
ABILITY TO PAY SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL IS WORKING AND IS A MODEL TO
OTHER STATES FOR HOW INVESTING
IN SCHOOL MEALS REDUCES STIGMA
AND CHILD HUNGER. THANK YOU FOR
HELPING ALL STUDENTS THRIVE.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR
AND MEMBERS ABBY HALPERIN WITH
THE CENTER FOR ECO LITERACY. WE
WORK WITH OVER 100 AND 20,
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS,
MANY OF WHOM ARE HERE IN THIS
ROOM TODAY. IN SUPPORT OF THE
GOVERNOR'S JANUARY BUDGET TO
FULLY FUND SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL
BEFORE SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL
COUNTLESS FAMILIES WERE LEFT OUT
OF A FEDERAL SYSTEM THAT DOES
NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE HIGH COST OF
LIVING IN CALIFORNIA. FOR
INSTANCE, MILITARY FAMILIES
OFTEN MADE TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY
ON PAPER BECAUSE HOUSING WAS
INCLUDED IN THEIR INCOME
CALCULATIONS. ADDITIONALLY
IMMIGRANT FAMILIES OFTEN CHOSE
NOT TO APPLY BECAUSE OF CONCERNS
AROUND THE PUBLIC CHARGE RULE.
TODAY MORE STUDENTS THAN EVER
BEFORE ARE PARTICIPATING IN
SCHOOL MEALS ARE NOURISHED AND
ARE READY TO LEARN. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR,
MR MCCARTHY, ANDREW SHANE FROM
GRACE AND CHILD POVERTY.
CALIFORNIA ALIGNING WITH THE
PREVIOUS COMMENTS ON ISSUE ONE
AND JUST SOME ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS, UM, THAT AGAIN. WE'RE
LOOKING AT THE EXTRAORDINARY
BENEFITS IN REDUCTIONS IN
DISCIPLINE AND IMPROVEMENT IN
TEST SCORES IN ATTENDANCE, SO
THIS INVESTMENT IS MORE THAN
THAN PAYING FOR ITSELF, AND I
JUST REALLY WANNA LEAN INTO SOME
OF THE COMMENTS BY DIRECTOR
FRANZEL THAT THE SOLUTIONS TO
THIS IN TERMS OF YOUR POINTS
ABOUT COST CONTAINMENT ARE AT
HAND UNDER EXISTING LAW. WE
ALREADY HAVE VERY CLEAR LANGUAGE
TO MAXIMIZE THE FEDERAL
PROVISIONS. UH AND IN DOING SO,
DIRECTOR FINZEL POINTED TO
OPTIONS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE
NEXT FALL TO IMPROVE THE
STATEWIDE, MATCHING MORE
FREQUENT MATCHING TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE FOR IMPROVED LOCAL
MATCHING BECAUSE ON THE ON THE
PUBLIC BENEFIT SIDE, RIGHT, OUR
CAL FRESH OUR ME OUR CAL WORKS
PROGRAMS, OUR COUNTY MINISTERS
SO THAT LOCAL MATCH IN ADDITION
TO THE STATE MATCH ARE RIPE
OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE AS
YOU SAID, MAXIMIZE ALL THOSE
FEDERAL DOLLARS WHILE KEEPING
THE CRITICAL MANDATE INTACT AND
DOING OTHERWISE, AS DR FELL,
SAID DIS. TOLD US THE PROGRAM.
WE DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
BAD OLD DAYS OF STIGMA. AND I
WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT'S GONNA
COST FAR MORE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON SHARING
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
JULIET CIU, AND I'M THE CHILD
NEW NUTRITION MANAGER AT LIVE
OAK SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SANTA
CRUZ. I'M HERE TO SHARE MY
SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL
IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY. WE ARE THE
SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE COUNTY IN
THE COUNTRY YET AT LIVE OAK
SCHOOL DISTRICT WE HAVE OVER 60%
OF OUR STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY AS
FREE OR REDUCED AND MANY MORE
WHO DON'T QUALIFY BASED ON
FEDERAL GUIDELINES, UM, WITH
SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL THE STIGMA
OF BEING FREE REDUCED HAS BEEN
REMOVED AND OUR PARTICIPATION
HAS INCREASED OVER 20% TO OVER
60. PAST THREE YEARS. THIS IS
CRUCIAL FOR A SEEMINGLY AFFLUENT
AREA WHERE PUBLIC SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ARE FACING A DECLINING
ENROLLMENT RELATED TO THE HIGH
COST OF LIVING SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL IS WORKING AND IS A MODEL
FOR OTHER STATES FOR HOW
INVESTING IN SCHOOL MEALS,
REDUCE THE STIGMA IN CHILD
HUNGER WHILE PROMOTING A WHOLE
CHILD PHILOSOPHY. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. CAIR CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KRISTEN
HILLMAN, DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND
NUTRITION SERVICES FOR
CAPISTRANO UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT. CAPISTRANO UNIFIED IS
A LARGE DISTRICT AND AN AFFLUENT
DISTRICT IN SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY.
WE HAVE POCKETS OF SEVERE NEED
COMMINGLED IN WITH OUR AFFLUENCY
, AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES OUR
MILITARY FAMILIES. SOME OF OUR
MILITARY FAMILIES AND MANY OF
OUR FAMILIES IN OUR DISTRICT DO
NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED
PRICE MEALS THROUGH THE FEDERAL
ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES. AND IN
ADDITION TO THAT OUR DISTRICT
ONLY HAS FIVE èC SITES, BUT OUR
STAFF MY DEPARTMENT, WE DO OUR
DUE DILIGENCE TO COLLECT MEAL
APPLICATIONS TO DO OUR DIRECT
CERT, MATCHING ON A MONTHLY
BASIS TO WORK WITH OUR COUNTY
SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO DO
DIRECT SURF MATCHING THROUGH THE
COUNTY AS WELL AND TO DO STUDENT
MATCHING SIBLING MATCHING
THROUGH US WITH OUR STUDENTS
DAILY. WE FEED 35% OF OUR 42,000
STUDENTS ENROLLED AND THE SCHOOL
MEALS FOR ALL HAS ASSISTED US IN
INCREASING ACROSS ALL INCOME
LEVELS OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION
. UM IT ALSO HAS HELPED US WITH
EQUABILITY. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, A IOS ON BEHALF OF LOS
ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UH, WE APPRECIATE THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL TO ALLOW EXPANDED
LEARNING OP OPPORTUNITY FUNDS TO
BE USED TO FUND ATTENDANCE
RECOVERY AND WE WOULD URGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO CON CONTINUE TO
CONSIDER OTHER FLEXIBILITIES AND
CONTINUING THE CARRYOVER POLICY.
UM FOR THE EXPANDED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM. THIS IS
PARTICULARLY CRITICAL WITH THE
EXPIRATION OF THE FEDERAL ESSER
FUNDS TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES FOR
OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. RACHEL
MUELLER ON BEHALF OF NEXT GEN.
CALIFORNIA UM, HERE TO
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE
COMMITTEE SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S
JANUARY BUDGET PROPOSAL TO FULLY
FUND THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL MEALS
FOR ALL PROGRAM, ACCORDING TO
THE CALIFORNIA BUDGET AND POLICY
CENTER, 44% OF FAMILIES FACING
FOOD INSECURITY IN CALIFORNIA
WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE OR
REDUCED PRICE. UH, PRICE SCHOOL
MEALS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL
PROGRAMS INCOME REQUIREMENTS ARE
TOO LOW FOR STATES, WHERE IT WAS
IS MORE EXPENSIVE TO LIVE LIKE
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL
BRIDGES THAT GAP I PERSONALLY AM
A SCHOOL MEALS, UH, RECIPIENT,
OR I WAS WHEN I WAS GOING
THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE
SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND
I LIVE IN FOLSOM SO VERY HIGH
INCOME EARNING COMMUNITY AND I
WAS ON THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE I
NEEDED IT. THIS PROGRAM IS
WORKING AND SERVES AS A MODEL TO
OTHER STATES FOR HOW INVESTING
IN SCHOOL MEALS REDUCES STIGMA
AND CHILD HUNGER. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR. CAPRI WALKER
ON BEHALF OF NÓ KID HUNGRY. UM,
WE HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW
IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDS
ARE TO SCHOOL BASED ANTI HUNGER
PROGRAMS. THE SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL PROGRAM IS PARTICULARLY
IMPACTFUL TO CHILDREN WHOSE
PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS EARN
WAGES AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE
STATE AND LOCAL MINIMUM WAGE
LEVEL. UM, MANY OF THESE
HOUSEHOLDS TYPICALLY EARN TOO
MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR FREE MEALS
UNDER THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
YET WITH THE EVER INCREASING
COST OF LIVING, THEY DON'T
ALWAYS ALLOW, UM, MAKE ENDS
MEET. SO WE URGE THE LEGISLATURE
TO CALIFORNIA'S COMMITMENT TO
EXPANDING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS
SCHOOL MEALS AND SUMMER MEALS
AND CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE
WELL BEING OF STUDENTS BY
ENSURING THEY HAVE THE
NUTRITION. THEY NEED TO LEARN
AND THRIVE NOW AND IN THE
FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
LIBBY SANCHEZ HERE ON BEHALF OF
AL, UH, SERVING NEARLY 600,000
MEDICAL AND LOW INCOME
RECIPIENTS, UM, IN THE LOS
ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTY AREAS
HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO FULLY
FUND UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEAL,
MEALS, FOOD INSECURITY IS A REAL
ANDIF ISSUE FOR THOSE THAT WE
SERVE AND FED KIDS ARE HEALTHY
KIDS, SO WE URGE THE COMMITTEE
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
, MR CHAIR AND COMMITTEE STAFF
LIZZIE KONA HERE ON BEHALF OF
THE OFFICE OF CAT TAYLOR AND THE
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
WANNA ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY
COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORT OF THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED FUNDING FOR
SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL WE ARE VERY
CONCERNED WITH THE PROPOSED CUTS
, WHICH WOULD INCREASE INCREASE
CHILDHOOD HUNGER, REDUCE THE
QUALITY OF SCHOOL MEALS AND
THREATEN THE LIVELIHOOD OF
SCHOOL. NUTRITION PROFESSIONALS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANNA
JACKSON. I'M WITH VENTURA COUNTY
FARM TO SCHOOL. I WAS INSPIRED
TO DO THIS WORK WHEN I LEARNED
THAT A GROUP OF TEENAGERS WENT
TO THEIR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
TO DEMAND HEALTHIER FOOD. I WORK
IN TITLE ONE SCHOOLS IN THE
OXNARD ADVENTURE AREA WHERE MOST
OF OUR STUDENTS ARE 80% FREE AND
REDUCED. UM, FOR THE PAST NINE
YEARS, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
CAFETERIAS AND FARMS TO IMPROVE
NUTRITION BY BRINGING LOCAL
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND A
SCHOOL SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS
THROUGH NUTRITION PROGRAMS LIKE
MINE KIDS ARE LEARNING THAT
NUTRITION IS THE FIRST KEY TO A
HEALTHY FUTURE. AND SCHOOL
NUTRITION IS A PUBLIC HEALTH
PREVENTION PROGRAM. THE HEALTHY
FREE HUNGER KIDS ACT IS WORKING
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT 40% 47%
REDUCTION IN A LIKELIHOOD OF
CHILDREN IN POVERTY TO HAVE
OBESITY DUE TO THE IMPROVEMENTS
IN OUR SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS.
YEARS AGO, I PROCESSED LUNCH
APPLICATIONS, AND I WATCHED AS
OUR NUMBERS FOR FREE INTRODUCED
STUDENTS DROPPED DURING THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. I LEARNED
THAT OUR MIGRANT FAMILIES, THE
ONES WHO GROW AND HARVEST THE
FOOD WE EAT EVERY DAY ARE SO
AFRAID OF DEPORTATION THAT THEY
STOP SEEKING FOOD ASSISTANCE.
INCLUDING SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS.
THEY ARE CONDITIONS THAT IMPACT
OUR STUDENTS' ABILITY TO EAT,
WHICH CAN NEVER BE REFLECTED ON
A LUNCH APPLICATION. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HELLO CHAIRING
COMMITTEE STAFF, INES ROSALES
WITH PUBLIC ADVOCATES AND A
MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA
PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE OF
LEARNING. UH, WE RECENTLY
SUBMITTED A LETTER TO YOUR
COMMITTEE URGING YOU TO PRESERVE
THE FULL 2.6 BILLION FOR THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. AND AS WE
HEARD FROM THE DEPARTMENT TODAY,
CUTTING THE REMAINING FUNDING
WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO THE
DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE
STATE THAT ARE REALLY IN DEEP.
UM IMPLEMENTATION AND PLANNING
MODE. UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICE AND
OTHER THAT ARE INTERESTED IN
LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ITEM. UM,
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
MARSHAWN TABIN, ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY
AT THE SAN FRANCISCO MARIN FOOD
BANK. MY PUBLIC COMMENT IS FOR
SCHOOL MILLS FOR I WANNA START
OFF BY SAYING OVER ONE IN FOUR
CALIFORNIA FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN FACE FOOD INSECURITY.
PROGRAMS LIKE SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ARE ESSENTIAL FOR BEATING HUNGRY
CHILDREN WHERE THEY ARE BY
PROVIDING TWO NUTRITIOUS MEALS
PER DAY TO ALL STUDENTS IN SAN
FRANCISCO ONE AND 10 SAN
FRANCISCANS ARE FOOD INSECURE
THIS AMOUNT TO AROUND 88,000
PEOPLE. 9000, WHICH ARE
CHILDREN. FOR THE PAST YEAR. SAN
FRANCISCO MYRAN FOOD BANKS ALL
OVER 55,000 FAMILIES PER WEEK AT
FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES.
RAVELING COVID NUMBERS WE CAN NÓ
LONGER MANAGE HUNGER WE MUST
MANAGE TO END HUNGER, ESPECIALLY
CHILDHOOD HUNGER. PERSONALLY I
WOULD HAVE BENEFITED FROM THIS
PROGRAM. MY BROTHER AND I WAS A
REDUCED PRICE KIDS LUNCH BECAUSE
MY PARENTS MADE JUST OVER THE
THRESHOLD AND WE COULDN'T AFFORD
TO BUY LUNCH EVERY DAY BECAUSE
OF THAT, AND WE USUALLY TAKE
CHANGE OR JUST MITCH LUNCH
COMPLETELY. ATCO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MR CHAIR. UH, GOOD
MORNING, UM SHANE LEVINE ON
BEHALF OF NATIONAL EXPRESS AND
FIRST STUDENT WE PROVIDE
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
PREDOMINANTLY BUSSING, UH, TO
ABOUT A THIRD. OUR COMPANIES AND
COMPANIES LIKE US TO ABOUT A
THIRD OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN
THE STATE. THIS IS AROUND ISSUE
THREE ON THE, UM, GREEN SCHOOL
BUS PROPOSAL. UM APPRECIATE YOU
MENTIONING, SEEKING ALTERNATIVES
, AND PERHAPS THOSE COMING IN
THE MAY REVISE, UM OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ARE CURRENTLY EXCLUDED
FROM THE GOVERNOR'S, UH, FUNDING
AND HAVE BEEN, UM WE'RE LOOKING
TO FIND A TO SOLVE FOR THAT.
WE'RE FACING THE SAME MANDATE IN
579 AS EVERYBODY ELSE'S. AND SO
TRY TO SOLVE FOR THIS FOR THESE
THIRD THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SO
I APPRECIATE YOUR GUIDANCE
SEEKING ALTERNATIVES. WE HOPE TO
BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR. I'M MARISSA
TWOMBLY, VICE PRESIDENT OF
PHILANTHROPY AND ADVOCACY AT THE
EAT. LEARN PLAY FOUNDATION,
FOUNDED BY STEFAN AND AISHA
CURRY. AS YOU MENTIONED THERE'S
NÓ DEBATE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL PROGRAM.
IT'S A DIGNIFIED AND INCLUSIVE
APPROACH IN REACHING OUR MOST
VULNERABLE STUDENTS, INCLUDING
CHILDREN WHO MAY NOT QUALIFY BUT
ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED
OR UNDOCUMENTED. I IMPLORE YOU
TO CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF
DEFUNDING SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL.
NOT ONLY WOULD THIS PULL THE RUG
FROM UNDERNEATH MILLIONS OF
FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD
ON THE TABLE, BUT IT WILL PLACE
AN ENORMOUS FINANCIAL BURDEN
BACK ON TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS,
FACING DEFICITS AND MANAGING
MULTIPLE URGENT SPENDING
PRIORITIES ON BEHALF OF EAT,
LEARN PLAY. WE COMMEND SENATOR
SKINNER'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS
LANDMARK POLICY AND RESPECTFULLY
URGE THE COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT
THE GOVERNOR'S JANUARY BUDGET
AND FULLY FUND SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS Kò. HOFFMAN AND I'M HERE
ON BEHALF OF 70 UNDER UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT. I RESPECTFULLY
URGE THE COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT
THE GOVERNOR'S JANUARY BUDGET TO
FULLY FUND CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
MEALS FOR ALL. I WANTED TO SPEAK
TO THE CEP QUESTION THAT YOU HAD
TO THE PANEL. UM, SO MY DISTRICT
THE WAY THAT èC P IS DONE IS
THROUGH YOUR DIRECT
CERTIFICATION PERCENTAGE. YOU
HAVE TO BE AT A 40% THRESHOLD. I
WAS AT 38. AND NOW THE U S¼ Dð A
ALLOWS 25. SO ON PAPER. I'M AT
49% AND BECAUSE èC P IS LOWERED
, I'LL RAISE THAT TO 60% SO,
WITH THIS NEW LOWER THRESHOLD, I
BELIEVE THAT IT'S GONNA AFFECT,
UM THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
CALIFORNIA IS GOING TO HAVE TO
CONTRIBUTE. WE HAVEN'T THIS IS
THE FIRST YEAR THIS HAS
HAPPENED, SO I THINK THAT THAT'S
GONNA REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN TERMS OF THE BURDEN TO
CALIFORNIA AND I HAVE TO. I HAVE
TO SAY TO THE PROUDEST MOMENTS
I'VE HAD IN MY CAREER IS WHEN
TWO STUDENTS TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T
WANT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO COME
TO SCHOOL, BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT
TO MISS SCHOOL LUNCH. SO I. I
HOPE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE
STUDENTS PROUD WITH WITH THE
QUALITY MEALS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
MAKE WITH THE EXTRA FUNDS
THROUGH UNIVERSAL MEALS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO MY NAME IS
JAMAR CRAWFORD. I AM A SENIOR
èC Kò MCCLATCHEY HIGH SCHOOL
AND SACRAMENTO IF WE CUT THE
SCHOOLS FOR OUR PROGRAM AS A
RESULT OF THIS BUDGET DEFICIT
THAN THAN A LOT OF UNDUE
SUFFERING WILL EMERGE AS A
RESULT AS A STUDENT HAS BEEN WHO
HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE SCHOOL
CAFETERIA FOR A YEAR, IT IS
EVIDENT THAT MANY KIDS COME TO
THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA FOR LUNCH
AND BREAKFAST BECAUSE THAT WOULD
BE THE MEAL THAT THEY EAT THAT
DAY. SO IF WE WERE TO MAKE KIDS
PAY FOR THOSE SCHOOL MEALS AS A
RESULT, FOR OF CUTTING THE COMA
FOR ALL PROGRAM, THEN THE THEN
THERE WON'T BE ANY SIMPLE
ISSUES. FOR KIDS WHO AREN'T ABLE
TO EAT. THIS PROGRAM IS
ESSENTIAL FOR MEETING HUNGRY
CHILDREN WHERE THEY ARE. BY
PROVIDING TWO NUTRITIOUS MEALS
PER DAY TO ALL STUDENTS ALLOWS
THEM TO GO HUNGRY BECAUSE THEY
CANNOT PAY FOR THE SCHOOL MEAL
WITHOUT GIVING THEM A SOLUTION
IS ERRONEOUS, TELLING PARENTS IF
YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO GIVE YOUR
KID MONEY EVERY DAY TO EAT
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, THEN THAT
IS YOUR PROBLEM. TO FIGURE OUT
IS WRONG AND 100% OUR PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A SOLUTION TO PREVENT
ALL THESE STUDENTS FROM GOING
HUNGRY AND WE HAVE A WAY TO
AVOID THIS UNDUE SUFFERING ON
BOTH PARENTS AND STUDENTS. THE
SOLUTION IS FACING US NOW AND
IT'S UP TO YOU IF YOU'RE GOING
TO ALLOW KIDS TO GO HUNGRY AND
STAR SUPPORT GOVERN SUPPORT
GOVERNOR NU'S PROPOSED BUDGET
FULLY FUND THOSE AGREEMENTS FOR
OUR PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. FAIR ABOUT JUST CHILDREN
NOW, ALIGNING MY COMMENTS WITH
AMAZING STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS THAT
HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED BEFORE US
ON UNIVERSAL MEALS AS WELL AS
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. MY ONLY
COMMENTS ARE IN PARTICULAR TO
THE EXTENDED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM, AS WELL
AS OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES ON
RECOVERY. ATTENDANCE AND CREDIT
RECOVERY FOR STUDENTS
CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES BEYOND
THOSE PROPOSED IN THE JANUARY
BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT
STUDENTS CAN, UM, CONTINUE
PROGRESSING IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL
CAREERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR. MY NAME
IS KERRY BOVI AND I AM THE
CALIFORNIA STONE NUTRITION
ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT AND
DIRECTOR BOBAN UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT WITHIN A ENROLLMENT OF
APPROXIMATELY 14,700 STUDENTS.
SINCE UNIVERSAL MEALS, WE HAVE
DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF BREAKFASTS
WE HAVE SERVED TO 3800 A DAY,
DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF LUNCHES WE
SERVE TO 4700 A DAY. AS A RESULT
, WE HAVE, OR, UM, INCREASED
OVER 40 HOURS OF LABOR A DAY TO
OUR SITE, UM ADDED 13 POSITIONS
AND HAVE INCREASED HOURS TO FIVE
POSITIONS, WHICH NOW MAKE MY
EMPLOYEES BENEFITED, AS WELL AS
MEMBERS OF CAL. CAL PURS I AM
PLEASE PROTECT THE FUNDING OF
SCHOOL MEALS. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, NICOLE MESSY, SENIOR
DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION SERVICES
AT CUPERTINO UNION SCHOOL
DISTRICT. WE ALL AGREE THE
BENEFITS OF THE UNIVERSAL MEALS
PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS, BUT WE
HAVE NOT HEARD HOW THIS PROGRAM
HAS BENEFITS OR BENEFITED OUR
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY DUE TO THE
INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION IN THE
BREAKFAST AND LOAD LUNCH
PROGRAMS. LOCALLY WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO ADD JOBS. INCREASE HOURS
, PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH
OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE HEALTH
INSURANCE AND RETIREMENT. THIS
ECONOMIC IMPACT HAS EXTENDED TO
OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS IN THE
STATE, WITH SOME PARTNERS
REPORTING AN INCREASE OF 30% OR
HIGHER SALES. WE'VE INCREASED
OUR PURCHASES IN LOCAL
CALIFORNIA ITEMS AND WE ARE
SUPPORTING SMALL CALIFORNIA
FARMERS IN CUPERTINO. WE HAVE
SEEN AN INCREASE OF 45% IN OUR
LUNCH PARTICIPATION. WE'RE NOW
OFF FOR BREAKFAST TO ALL 20
THREE OF OUR SCHOOLS. ANY RETURN
TO OF A MODEL OF, UH COPAY OR
LIMITED COPAY WILL INCUR DEBT
THAT WILL COME DIRECTLY OUT OF
THE, UH, GENERAL FUND AND
STRAIGHT FROM THE CLASSROOM. SO
PLEASE SUPPORT THE MEALS.
FUNDING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE.
TIFFANY MARK WITH èC F Tð, A
UNION OF EDUCATORS AND
CLASSIFIED PROFESSIONALS. WE ARE
HERE TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL FOR FULLY FUNDING
UNIVERSAL MEALS, COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS IN ZERO EMISSION SCHOOL
BUSES. WE, ADDITIONALLY UM WANT
A PROPOSAL FOR A MASTER PLAN FOR
CLIMATE RESILIENT SCHOOLS TO
MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR SCHOOLS
HAVE ACCESS THE SCHOOL GREENING.
FINALLY AS ALWAYS, WE, UH
SUPPORT NEW REVENUES TO CREATE A
STEADY STREAM OF FUNDING FOR OUR
SCHOOLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. HELLO MY NAME IS
CASEY AND ON BEHALF OF FOOD SHED
COOPER. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
GOVERNOR GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S
PROPOSAL TO FULLY FUND
CALIFORNIA'S SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL FU JET. COOPER IS A SAN
DIEGO FOOD HUB BASED IN CITY
HEIGHTS, WORKING ON BEHALF OF A
NETWORK OF SMALL TO MID SIZE
REGENERATIVE FARMERS ARE FARMER
OWNED WORKER, COOPER IS CREATING
AN EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM BY
PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FARMERS
WHO ARE UTILIZING REGENERATIVE
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES THAN
DIRECTING THIS NUTRITIOUS
PRODUCE INTO COMMUNITIES, WHICH
ARE HISTORICALLY AND CURRENTLY
DEPRIVED OF THIS ACCESS. WHILE
CALIFORNIA STUDENTS WELL BEING
IS THE FOCAL POINT, I'M HERE TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME ANCILLARY
BENEFITS. FIRST THE INVESTMENT
IN LOCAL FARM BUSINESSES,
RESULTING IN ECONOMIC
REINFORCEMENT AND GROWTH.
CONTINUED FULL FUNDING OFFERED
SCHOOL DISTRICTS MORE ABILITY TO
PARTNER WITH LOCAL REGENERATIVE
FARMS, AS OPPOSED TO INDUSTRIAL
FARMS, THE NUTRITION, CULTURAL,
ECONOMIC AND CLIMATE BENEFITS
ARE MASSIVE. ANOTHER BENEFIT IS
THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF A
LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THAT IS
RESILIENT AND RESPONSIVE TO THE
NEEDS OF ITS COMMUNITY, OUR FOOD
HUB, THE FARMERS AND FOOD SYSTEM
. WORKERS REMAIN DEDICATED TO
THIS DUTY, AND WE INVITE YOU TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS, UH, WORK.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON TO
MEMBERS WERE COME MORALES ON
BEHALF OF THAT TRUST WEST. WE
WANT TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR
THE EXPANSION OF èC èC G I TO
ALL SIX THROUGH 12TH GRADE
STUDENTS HOUSING ALL COLLEGE
RELATED PROCESSES ON ONE
PLATFORM CAN LEAD TO IMPROVED
FAMILY SUPPORT BY COUNSELORS AND
INCREASE ACCESS FOR STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES. FOR EXAMPLE, èC èC
G, I CAN HELP SUPPORT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL
FINANCIAL AID AND POLICY,
FINANCIAL AID POLICY AND A B 469
. WELL WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE
AFTER ONE YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION
. EQUITY CONCERNS FOR STUDENTS
OF COLOR REMAIN AND èC èC. IS
A CRUCIAL TOOL THAT CAN PROVIDE
COUNSELORS WITH INFORMATION ON
WHICH STUDENTS SO NEED SUPPORT
WITH COMPLETING THE APPLICATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS RIMA RAMIREZ CAFETERIAS
LEAD OF TWIN RIVERS UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT HERE IN
SACRAMENTO FOR 17 YEARS I HAVE
WITNESSED AND PERSONALLY
EXPERIENCED THE EFFECTS OF
BEFORE AND AFTER CALIFORNIA'S
SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL PROGRAM
SINCE IT WAS ENACTED IN THE
POSITIVE IMPACT IT HAS MADE IN
OUR ABILITY TO SERVE ALL
STUDENTS. THE PREVIOUS
DIVISIONAL STIGMAS OF FREE,
REDUCED OR PAID MEALS ARE GONE.
ST STUDENTS NÓ LONGER HAVE TO
DEAL WITH THE ANXIETY ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL HAVE
MONEY ON THEIR ACCOUNTS OR IF
THEY HAVE A NEGATIVE BALANCE.
THIS LIFE LESSON IS ONE A CHILD
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FACE WHILE
COMING TO SCHOOL TO LEARN THEIR
FOCUS AND CONCERN SHOULD BE ON
THEIR STUDIES FOR THEIR FUTURE.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK ON BEHALF OF
MY FELLOW LUNCH LADIES, THE
CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FULLY FUND
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL
PROGRAM LET THE DAYS OF COURTESY
MEALS CHARGED LIPS, LUNCH DEBT
REMAIN RESTED IN PEACE WHERE
THEY BELONG. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. UH YES, BUT AT ALL IN NEW
HAVEN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
DIRECTOR, UM I URGE THE
COMMITTEE TO FULLY FUND AND
CONTINUE TO FULLY FUND THE
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM
AND TO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO
THE STATE REIMBURSEMENT RATES.
THE FEDERAL INCOME THRESHOLDS
FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS
DOES NOT FACTOR IN THE SER LIKE
COST OF LIVING IN CALIFORNIA, UM
, KEEPING UNIVERSAL MEALS INTACT
WHILE REQUIRING PAID STUDENTS TO
PAY FOR MEALS WILL DO NOTHING
BUT CREATE A LARGER BURDEN TO
THE GENERAL FUNDS OF SCHOOL
DISTRICTS. THAT'S HISTORICALLY
IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I'VE LED
AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF MY
COLLEAGUES, THE MAJORITY OF THE
PAY STUDENT DEBT POPULATION DO
NOT PAY FOR THEIR MEALS. BUT THE
PATCHES OF TWO S¼ B 265 BACK IN
2019, KNOWN AS THE NÓ LUNCH
SHAMING BILL, WE'RE STILL
REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PAY STUDENTS
WITH A MEAL REGARDLESS OF THEIR
ABILITY TO PAY OR WHAT THEY
CURRENTLY OWE. WE'RE NOT ALLOWED
TO USE OUR FUNDING CAFETERIA
FUNDING TO PAY OFF THE BAD DEBT
AND TYPICALLY THAT IS PAID BY
THE GENERAL FUND. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS MICHAEL JOCK. I'M, THE
NUTRITION DIRECTOR FOR MORGAN
HILL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. I
COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET TO FULLY FUND
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL
PROGRAM. MORGAN HILL HAS THE SAD
STATISTIC THAT DUE TO OUR
GEOGRAPHIC SIZE CHILDREN OF
COLOR ARE A FIVE YEAR SHORTER
LIFE SPAN DUE TO POOR DIET. IT'S
NOT THE AFFLUENT KIDS WHO WILL
SUFFER. THEY DON'T EAT WITH US.
ANYWAYS, I WATCHED DOORDASH
DELIVERED TO THEM DAILY. SCHOOL
MEALS FOR ALL GIVES THE OTHER
99% OF THE STUDENTS A FIGHTING
CHANCE TO DEFEAT CHILDHOOD
DIABETES AND OBESITY. WE CAN
NOURISH OUR FUTURE LEADERS
THROUGH CONSISTENT FUNDING OF
SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL PROGRAM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SARAH
DOHERTY. AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF
OF EAT REAL, BUT WE'LL SPEAK TO
MY RECENT MANY YEARS AS THE
NUTRITION DIRECTOR AT NORTH
MONTEREY COUNTY UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN NORTH MONTEREY
COUNTY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT,
88% OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION
QUALIFIED FOR FREE OR REDUCED
PRICE MEALS WHEN WE IMPLEMENT A
DISTRICT WIDE COMMUNITY
ELIGIBILITY AND HAD THE ABILITY
TO SERVE ALL STUDENTS,
REGARDLESS OF INCOME. WE SAW AN
INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION OF
MORE THAN 50% AT BOTH BREAKFAST
AND LUNCH, PROVING THE POINT
THAT STUDENTS WHO QUALIFIED FOR
FREE MEALS WERE NOT EATING AT
SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA
ASSOCIATED WITH SCHOOL MEALS. TO
SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL BECAUSE OF
THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE RECEIVED
FROM INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN
THE TIME WE GAINED TO THE
REDUCED ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN
ASSOCIATED WITH COMMUNITY
ELIGIBILITY PROVISION IN
UNIVERSAL MEALS, WE WERE ABLE TO
INCREASE FRESHLY PREPARED MEALS
INVEST IN OUR KITCHEN
INFRASTRUCTURES, CREATE JOBS FOR
OUR STAFF AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL
ECONOMIES BY PROCURING FROM
LOCAL FARMERS, RANCHERS AND
SUPPLIERS. SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL
IS WORKING AND IS A MODEL FOR
OTHER STATES FOR HOW INVESTING
IN SCHOOL MEALS REDUCES THE
STIGMA FOR HUNGER. THANKS FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION. MY NAME IS
JANICE LIAM AND I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF VENTURA COUNTY FARM TO
SCHOOL. LAST YEAR, I SERVED AS
AN AMERICORPS MEMBER IN THE
VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT,
WHERE I SUPPORTED CAFETERIA
CULTURE AND STUDENTS
UNDERSTANDING OF NUTRITIOUS
MEALS. IN THAT TIME, I SAW
STUDENTS THRIVING BECAUSE OF THE
IMPACT SCHOOL MEALS FOR HOW ALL
HAD ON ALL STUDENTS, WELL BEING
AND THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, LIKE
OTHERS HAVE ALREADY SAID BEFORE
ME, NEARLY HALF OF CALIFORNIA
FAMILIES WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR
REDUCED PRICE MEALS. AND I'M
CONCERNED THAT THAT WILL STUNT
STUDENTS POSITIVE GROWTH. I LAST
YEAR. UM WHAT THE GROWTH I SAW
LAST YEAR WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE
IF WE ADDRESS THE FRAMEWORK FOR
SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME'S UMED. SALAZAR RIVAS. I'M
HERE AS A FOOD COURT SERVICE
MEMBER PLACED AT LIVE OAK SCHOOL
DISTRICT. WHEN I WAS A STUDENT
ON THE FEDERAL FREE MEALS
PROGRAM, THERE WAS MUCH STIGMA
AROUND PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL
MEALS. SCHOOL MEALS ARE FOR POOR
KIDS. I FELT SHAME FOR FEELING
MY BODY WITH SCHOOL LUNCH, BUT
SOME DAYS THIS WAS THE ONLY WELL
BALANCED MEAL. I'D HAVE WITH
SCHOOL MEALS. FOR ALL, WE CHANGE
THE NARRATIVE TO EVERYONE HAVING
ACCESS TO SCHOOL MEALS AND
STUDENTS TO NOT FEELING ASHAMED
OR PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL LUNCH
. SCHOOL MEALS, FOR ALL IS A
MODEL ON HOW INVESTING IN SCHOOL
MEALS REDUCES STIGMA AND CHILD
HUNGER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
CASSIE SPINDLER AND I AM
SUBMITTING COMMENTS AS A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OF THE
CALIFORNIA FOOD COURT AMERICA
PROGRAM. I'D LIKE TO ALSO
BRIEFLY SHARE ABOUT STIGMA THAT
HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY SCHOOL
MEALS FOR ALL OUR SERVICE
MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE, SEE
THE BENEFITS IN THE CAFETERIA
AND CLASSROOM WHEN ALL STUDENTS
HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO
NOURISHMENT. SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
LEARNING, CROSS CULTURAL SHARING
AND EQUITABLE LEARNING SPACES
ARE ALL UNLOCKED WHEN THERE ARE
NÓ BARRIERS TO ACCESS SCHOOL
MEALS FOR ALL PROVIDES DIGNITY
TO ALL THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
OF CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. HØI KATIE
HARDMAN WITH THE CALIFORNIA
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. UM èC Tð
A SUPPORTS MAINTAINING THE
COMMITMENT TO UNIVERSAL SCHOOL
MEALS FOR ALL STUDENTS AND
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. JARED CALLED NISH
CALIFORNIA JUST WANT TO ADD MY
VOICE TO THE CHORUS, UH, URGING
YOU TO FULLY FUND UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL MEALS ALSO WANT TO URGE
THE DEPARTMENT, UM, TO EXPLORE
EVERY OPTION TO INCREASE, UH,
DIRECT CERTIFICATION RATES TO
INCREASE THOSE IDENTIFIED
STUDENT PERCENTAGES SO THAT, UH,
WE CAN BETTER MAXIMIZE THE
COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION
AND DRAW DOWN MORE FEDERAL
FUNDING. UM THINGS LIKE PROB
PROBABILISTIC MATCHING ARE DONE
IN OTHER STATES, AND I THINK WE
SHOULD REALLY EXPLORE THAT.
THANK YOU. HELLO JI TRICK ON
BEHALF OF THE PARTNERSHIP FOR
CHILDREN AND YOUTH. WANT TO
REALLY APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION
THIS MORNING ABOUT EL Ó P AND
THE RECOGNITION ABOUT THE
BENEFITS OF EXPANDED LEARNING,
INCLUDING INCREASED SCHOOL DAY
ATTENDANCE AND STUDENT
ENGAGEMENT APP APPRECIATE THE
RECOGNITION FOR THE NEED OF DATA
. WE WANNA KNOW WHICH KIDS ARE
BEING SERVED, UM, REALLY
APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION ON
THE NEED FOR STABLE AND
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING TO MEET
STATE REQUIREMENTS AND ECHO
CONCERNS ABOUT TIER TWO
DISTRICTS, UM AND ALSO THAT
EXPANDED LEARNING IS A PILLAR OF
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, AND WE CAN
HELP PROVIDE SOME MORE
INFORMATION AND EXAMPLES OF WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE. UM AND LASTLY,
JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING
OUT TO SITES AND SEEING WHAT'S
HAPPENING AND ALSO MEETING WITH,
UM SOME OF THE 500 FOLKS,
INCLUDING 200 STUDENTS THAT CAME
UP LAST WEEK. EXPRESSING THEIR
GRATITUDE FOR OP IN TRYING TO
HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT SO FAR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HØI UM,
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS KELLY
FLORES. AND I'M WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD
BANKS. UM, SPEAKING TO SCHOOL
MEALS FOR ALL I WANT A PLUS ONE
WHAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR AND ALSO
ALIGN OUR COMMENTS WITH GRACE IN
CHILD POVERTY AS A FORMER
RECIPIENT OF SCHOOL MEALS,
INCLUDING THE COMMENTS RELATED
TO SHAME. UM, AND NOW AS A PART
OF ASSOCIATION, UH UH, THAT
WORKS WITH A NETWORK OF 41 FOOD
BANKS FROM ACROSS THE STATE. WE
SEE THE IMPACT OF HUNGER ON
FAMILIES EVERY DAY. UH, WE STAND
PROUD TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS
AND, UM FUNDING FOR SCHOOL MEALS
FOR ALL. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR BETH SMOKER WITH
THE CALIFORNIA FOOD AND FARMING
NETWORK. WE'RE A NETWORK OF
ABOUT 50 ORGANIZATIONS THAT
REPRESENT SMALL FARMERS, FARM
WORKERS AND ANTI HUNGER
COMMUNITIES. AND WE, UM, WANNA
ASK THAT YOU FULLY MAINTAIN
MAINTAIN FULL FUNDING FOR SCHOOL
MEALS FOR ALL. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. MY NAME IS ASHA SHARMA WITH
PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK, ALSO
IN SUPPORT OF MAINTAINING FULL
FUNDING FOR SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, REBECCA MARCUS,
REPRESENTING THE CENTER FOR FOOD
SAFETY, THE CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED
ORGANIC FARMERS AND COWPER JUST
URGING YOU TO MAINTAIN, UH, FULL
FUNDING FOR UNIVERSAL SCHOOL
MEALS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
HELLO I'M AMBER STOTT. I'M THE
èC E Ó OF THE SACRAMENTO BASED
NONPROFIT FOOD LITERACY CENTER.
OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE KIDS
TO EAT THEIR VEGETABLES. IN
CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE A 40%
CHILDHOOD OBESITY RATE, WHICH
COSTS CALIFORNIA BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS AND IS PREVENTABLE. IF
WE GET OUR KIDS TO EAT THEIR
VEGETABLES AND TO PROTECT THEIR
HEALTH. THERE IS ONE PLACE WHERE
KIDS ARE GUARANTEED A HEALTHY
MEAL EVERY DAY. SCHOOL LUNCH.
VEGETABLES ARE CHEAPER THAN
HEALTH CARE. SO DO NOT CUT
SCHOOL MEALS. FUNDING. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. THE STAFF UH, JEFF BUCKER
, REPRESENTING THE RIVERSIDE
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE
PROPOSAL AROUND THE CALIFORNIA
COLLEGE GUIDANCE INITIATIVE. OUR
COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION HAS
SERVED AS èC G. I'S FISCAL
AGENT. UH, FOR ALMOST NINE YEARS
NOW, SO WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH
THE PROGRAM. OUR 20 THREE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY WERE
EARLY ADOPTERS, IF YOU WILL, AND
WE'VE SEEN IT MADE A SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCE WITH AN ISSUE THAT I
THINK THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
STATE HAS GRAPPLED WITH. SOME
TIME NOW, AND THAT'S THE SAME AS
SEAMLESS ARTICULATION BETWEEN Kò
12 SCHOOLS AND HIGHER EDUCATION.
WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS,
THE èC G. I HAS MADE A LOT OF
PROGRESS, AND WE HOPE THAT
MOMENTUM CAN BE MAINTAINED. UM
EVEN IN THIS DIFFICULT BUDGET
YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CIST
MIGUEL VILLARREAL IN SUPPORT OF
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS. AND LIKE
YOU AND MANY OTHERS IN THE ROOM,
UH, SPENT THE 1ST 12 YEARS OF MY
ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH
SCHOOL AS A FREELANCE STUDENT. I
SPENT THE NEXT 40 YEARS AS A
SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR, UH
, AND MAKING SURE THAT CHILDREN
ARE RECEIVING HEALTHY MEALS AS
POSSIBLE. I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING
FOR UNIVERSAL MEALS FOR AT LEAST
30 YEARS IN BEFORE ME, MANY
OTHERS ADVOCATING FOR UNIVERSAL
MEALS WE'VE BEEN IF YOU WILL
KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. THESE ARE
HARD DECISIONS, BUT THE
DECISIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
WE TOGETHER YOU AND I AND MANY
OTHERS, UH, FROM THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, THEY'VE BEEN PROGRAMS
HAVE BEEN SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED
FOR YEARS, RELYING ON SCHOOL
FREE SERVICE PROGRAMS TO MAKE UP
THOSE DEFICITS BY ELIMINATING
STAFF OR BY REDUCING FOOD, UH,
PROVIDING, UM, FOODS THAT
WEREN'T AS HIGH QUALITY AS WE
SHOULD BE DOING SO, UH, I URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT UNIVERSAL MEALS.
THANK YOU. HELLO MY NAME IS
ALANA FLORES. I AM A STUDENT
FOOD LIAISON AT THE NEVADA CITY
SCHOOL OF THE ARTS HERE AND I AM
HERE TO REPRESENT AND SUPPORT
THE FREE MUS. FOR ALL. IT'S BEEN
PARAMOUNT TO SEE THE EFFECTS
THAT IT IS ON ON OUR STUDENTS
AND THE QUALITY OF CARE THAT
THEY RECEIVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE
STUDENTS COME TOGETHER AND SHARE
MEALS AND HAVE IT BE AT A
UNIVERSAL EXPERIENCE CREATES
COMMUNITY AND A VIBRATION THAT
CONNECTS THEM THAT AND SO
TOGETHER THAT CREATES A
CONVERSATION OF RESILIENCE
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY BEYOND JUST
THE METRICS OF WHAT THAT'S
AFFECTING. IT'S ALSO I'M ABLE TO
SEE THAT THOSE CHILDREN ARE
EATING NUTRITIONALLY VALUE
COMPLETE MEALS THROUGHOUT THE
DAY. STUDENTS ARE BRINGING
THINGS FROM SCHOOL ARE OFTEN
BRINGING THE SUGARY AND SALTY
SNACKS THAT AREN'T GIVING THEM
THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE THAT THEY
REQUIRED TO PASS TESTS TO STAY
FOCUSED THERE TO CURB BEHAVIORAL
ISSUES. SO IT'S A HUGE BLANKET
THAT IS ACTUALLY WRAPPING THESE
STUDENTS IN AN UNDERSTANDING OF
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO,
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO
ARE HERE. MY NAME IS ANDREA MARR
AND I'M, THE SCHOOL FOOD
SERVICES DIRECTOR AT NEVADA CITY
SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, AND I JUST
WANT TO ECHO EVERYTHING THAT
EVERYONE IS SAYING. THOSE ARE
ALL THE KEY POINTS OF WHY WE
WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE WITH
FULLY FUNDING UNIVERSAL SCHOOL
MEALS. UM AS A DIRECTOR, I'VE
SEEN OUR PARTICIPATION RATE
JUMPED TO NOW 89% OF ALL OF OUR
KIDS ARE GETTING BREAKFAST AND
LUNCH EVERY DAY. WE'RE WORKING
WITH COUNTLESS LOCAL FARMERS
WERE SPENDING THE MONEY. IN OUR
COMMUNITY TO RAISE RESILIENCE OF
OUR OWN LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM. I'VE
GROWN MY STAFF FROM TWO PEOPLE
TO SEVEN PEOPLE, SO THAT'S A
COMMUNITY BENEFIT IN AND OF
ITSELF, AND I JUST CANNOT SEE
GOING BACKWARDS. AND THIS IS
JUST GONNA MAKE MORE AND MORE
PROGRESS FOR CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
CHILDREN IN OUR RURAL
COMMUNITIES TO FULLY FUND THANK
YOU. HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
CHRISTINA LAWSON AND I'M THE
FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR FOR
WESTERN PLASTER UNIFIED LOCATED
IN LINCOLN, CALIFORNIA. UM, I'M
REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TO NOT
ONLY ECHO ALL OF THE LIKE, THEY
DON'T THINK WE'RE ARGUING LIKE
THE BENEFITS OF SCHOOL MEALS. UM
MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS IF YOU
GUYS CUT OUR FUNDING, ALL OF THE
WORK THAT WE HAVE WORKED TOWARDS
THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR TO, UH,
MAKE SCHOOL YEARS BETTER OR
SCHOOL FOOD BETTER IS GONNA
HONESTLY IT'S GONNA BE WASTED IN
MY DISTRICT ALONE. WE ONLY HAVE
32% FREE AND REDUCED IF YOU GUYS
CUT FUNDING. I KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN. WE'RE GONNA
CUT HOURS TO OUR POSITIONS.
THEY'RE NÓ LONGER GOING TO BE
BENEFITED. WE'RE GOING TO END UP
LAYING OFF PEOPLE IN OUR QUALITY
OF FOOD WILL GO DOWN
DRASTICALLY. I WILL NÓ LONGER BE
ABLE TO INVEST IN OUR LOCAL FARM
PURCHASING OR PROCURING FROM
LOCAL BUSINESSES. ALL IN ALL,
IT'S GONNA REDUCE OUR QUALITY
AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT
WANNA, UM COME AND EAT WITH US
AND IT'S GONNA BE DETRIMENTAL TO
OUR PROGRAM. I DO NOT KNOW HOW
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MOVE FORWARD
WITHOUT THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE
CURRENTLY GETTING, BECAUSE EVEN
THAT IS NOT ENOUGH AND FOOD
SERVICE DIRECTORS. WE'RE SCRAPPY
FOLKS, GUYS, WE WANT TO USE OUR
DOLLARS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO
WASTE THEM. SO WE JUST REALLY
NEED THE DOLLARS TO KEEP DOING
WHAT WE'RE DOING AND CONTINUE TO
IMPROVE OUR PROGRAM. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SAM
GREENLY. I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF ALCHEMIST COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
NONPROFIT SERVING THE GREATER
SACRAMENTO AREA AND THE FATHER
OF TWO SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN HERE
IN SACRAMENTO. I JUST WANT TO
SPEAK STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF THE
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM.
UH, MY CHILDREN WOULD NOT HAVE
TO OR WOULD HAVE TO PAY IF, UH,
THAT PROGRAM WERE REPLACED.
COULD WE AFFORD THAT AS A
FAMILY? YES. WHAT I SEE AT MY
CHILDREN'S SCHOOL IS THE DIGNITY
FOR ALL OF THE CHILDREN. UH WHEN
THERE IS NÓ NÓ SEPARATION OF
PAYMENT, OR HAVING A CARD THAT
THERE ARE CHILDREN WHOSE
FAMILIES COULD AFFORD LUNCH AND
THOSE WHO CANNOT EATING IN THE
EXACT SAME WAY, OBTAIN THEIR
FOOD IN THE EXACT SAME WAY THE
KIDS SEE NÓ DISTINCTION. THERE'S
NÓ BULLYING OR PICKING ON IT. I
REMEMBER FROM MY OWN CHILDHOOD,
UH, THE SEPARATION OF THOSE
CARDS WOULD CAUSE AND, UH, YOU
KNOW, THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD
HAS REALLY IMPROVED AT THE
SCHOOL AS THE SCHOOL WAS ABLE TO
MAKE MORE BULK PURCHASING, WITH
MORE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN
THE PROGRAM. UH, IT'S BEEN
REALLY INCREDIBLE. AND I THINK
FEEDING CHILDREN WELL, AND
FEEDING THEM WITH DIGNITY IS
WORTHWHILE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
ALL FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT
TODAY. APPRECIATE YOUR
PARTICIPATION WITH THAT WE
ADJOURN.