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The budget approved two weeks ago by the Legislature includes several investments into special education funding in California, including funding to recruit and retain special education teachers and capacity building for early care. Approved budget items are below:
1) Allocates $167.2 million in Proposition 98 funding for the Inclusive Early Education Expansion program. Under this program grants will be provided to local educational agencies (LEAs) to increase access to subsidized early care and education programs for children from ages zero to five. Priority for grants shall be given to those applicants that have a need for expanded access to inclusive early care, serve low-income communities, leverage local partnerships, are able to serve a broad range of disabilities, and plan to, or already do, serve children with disabilities in proportion to the rate of identification similar to LEAs in their area. Funds may be used for one-time infrastructure costs, adaptive equipment, and professional development and grantees must provide a local match. The California Department of Education (CDE) will administer the program and conduct an evaluation of the program and direct a related stakeholder workgroup.
2) Establishes the Inclusive Early Care Pilot Program. Under this program, county offices of education may apply to receive grants to increase access to early care and education programs for children with exceptional needs, including severe disabilities, from ages zero to five. Grantees may use funds for a variety of purposes to build local and regional capacity, including, but not limited to, outreach coordinators, placement navigators, adaptive equipment, professional learning, and assessment and evaluation tools among others. Priority shall be given to applicants with a demonstrated need for expanded access to inclusive early care and education within their county, particularly within in low income and high-need communities. The CDE shall administer the program and conduct an evaluation. For the purposes of this program, $10 million in one-time federal funding is provided in the 2018-19 budget.
3) Dedicates a total of $75 million in one-time Proposition 98 funding for locally sponsored teacher residency programs for teacher shortage subject areas. Specifies that $50 million is for teacher residency programs for special education teachers and $25 million is for teacher residency programs for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and bilingual education teachers. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing is charged with administering the program to provide competitive grants to LEAs of up to $20,000 per teacher. Grantees are required to provide a 1:1 local match. Funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including stipends for new teachers, mentor teachers, or tuition at a partner university.
4) Provides $50 million in one-time Proposition 98 funding for the Local Solutions Grant program. Requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to provide competitive grants to LEAs to develop and implement new or expand existing locally identified solutions that address a need for special education teachers. Grant funding may be used for teacher career pathways, signing bonuses for newly credentialed teachers, mentors for existing teachers, professional learning communities, service awards, teacher service scholarships, student debt payment, living stipends for newly credentialed teachers, or other solutions. Requires teacher participants who receive a teacher service scholarship, signing bonus, or student debt payment to teach at a school within the LEA jurisdiction for four years.
5) Allocates $2 million in one-time General Fund for the Superintendent of Public Instruction to allocate to the Special Olympics of Northern and Southern California for specified programs.
Jordan Lindsey, Executive Director, The Arc of California