Willow Glen Resident
Education
$3 billion in one-time state funds to reduce some schools' class size
By Mayra Flores De Marcotte
Gardner Academy and Galarza Elementary Hammer Montessori School are two of nine schools in the San Jose Unified School District that are eligible to receive one-time state money designed to shrink classroom size and hire more qualified teachers.
Approximately $3 billion became available to California schools through the Quality Education Investment Act.
The one-time funds were approved last fall by state legislators as part of a deal between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California Teachers Association, settling a lawsuit over money the governor borrowed from schools to balance the 2004-05 budget.
Chosen schools, which will begin receiving the money in June, will get an additional $500 per student in K-3 classrooms, $900 per student in grades 4-8 and $1,000 per student in grades 9-12, said San Jose Teachers Association president Janice Allen.
According to the California Department of Education website, school districts will receive approximately $268 million in 2007-08 and $402 million for each fiscal year until 2014.
The money, however, is only available to schools that rank either 1 or 2 out of 10 on the state's 2005-06 Academic Performance Index. There are 1,455 schools that fall in these ranks, but only enough funding for 500.
Each county is guaranteed grant money for one school. The rest will be awarded through a random drawing.
"Hopefully this will help in closing the achievement gap that seems to be getting larger in California," Allen said. "We're keeping our fingers crossed."
According to Allen, schools that receive the grant will reduce their classroom size to 21 students per teacher in K-3 and 25 per teacher in 4-8, which is five students less than the school's average per classroom.
In addition to making the classroom size smaller, the grant aims at providing teachers with additional training and professional development, Allen said.
"The school will also receive more money to use toward English Language development, something that tends to bring test scores down," Allen said.
With the additional help, teachers could work one on one with students, and there could be more staff for additional diagnostic testing so teachers can identify needs sooner, she said.
There will also be a parent component to the grant money, Allen said.
"The school could provide workshops and ESL classes for parents so that they in turn can help the children succeed in their studies."
Schools will submit a school plan along with an application outlining needs and timelines.
"The schools need to show each year that they are moving toward meeting their goals," Allen said.
By the third year, schools need to be fully implementing their plan and exceeding the target API growth, she said. County superintendents will be responsible for monitoring a school's progress.
"The grant will help create working and learning conditions that will help attract and retain qualified teachers," Allen said.
The deadline to apply is March 30. Schools that are chosen will be notified May 10 and 11.
For applications, visit the California Department of Education's website, www.cde.ca.gov/ta/lp/qe.
