Want to tell Fresno Unified how it should spend its money? Here’s how you can do that
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Hey everybody! It’s Lasherica with The Bee’s Education Lab. It’s Tuesday, Oct. 18, and this is our weekly newsletter.
Over the last couple of weeks, Fresno and Clovis school districts have been awarded millions of dollars for their scholarship foundations. Notably, Fresno Unified’s unsolicited $20 million.
Well, I usually read people’s comments on stories because I want to see what the community thinks, learn about their concerns, and see if we’re missing something.
One comment that I can’t shake questioned how FUSD would use the funding. While that $20 million is for scholarships and programs, there is a lot more money that comes to the district annually that YOU can provide input on.
The Local Control and Accountability Plan is a three-year plan where districts must detail their goals, actions, and resources to address student achievement.
The more targeted students a district has, the more funding it gets. Targeted students are those living in poverty or are English learners, foster youth, or homeless. Districts with 55% or more of those student groups get 65% more of their base funding.
Eighty-eight percent (yes, 88%) of Fresno Unified students fall into at least one of those categories.
On top of over $650 million in the base grant, the district gets for basic educational costs, it gets more than $249 million in supplemental and concentration funding for its targeted students, according to FUSD’s LCAP Executive Summary.
But what does all that mean? Fresno and other districts host opportunities for the community to provide input on how that funding can address student achievement.
Throughout October and November, staff, students, and families can participate in Community Idea Exchange Forums.
Those forums are at 5 p.m. on:
Tuesday, October 18 at Sunnyside in the cafeteria
Thursday, October 27 at Edison in the cafeteria
Tuesday, November 1 at Roosevelt in the cafeteria
Monday, November 7 at Fresno High in the library
Tuesday, November 8 at Hoover in the cafeteria
Thursday, November 10 at Bullard in the cafeteria
“These community workshops are vital to helping the district prioritize spending and improve education,” the district said in its Community Zone e-newsletter. “These events are where you can share your input on how we budget for the next school year.”
Take advantage of these opportunities to share ideas on ways to utilize funding.
In the meantime, in case you missed our stories about the Fresno and Clovis school board races, lawsuits and the salaries of elected officials, here are those stories all in one place.
HERE’S THE LATEST FROM THE EDUCATION LAB
Will Fresno Unified see a major political power shift next month? Who’s on the ballot
With four of FUSD’s seven school board seats on the ballots that began hitting mailboxes last week, a political power shift could be in the works.
Big money pours into Fresno Unified’s Bullard-area race as campaign tensions mount
Although four Fresno Unified school board seats are on the ballot this November, one race seems to be hogging the spotlight — at least in terms of campaign dollars.
Classroom curriculum, learning loss among emerging issues in Clovis school board races
The last two pandemic years are a driving force behind why many started paying attention and are vying for a spot on the board.
Big lawsuits expected after Fresno Unified rejects damage claims in high-profile cases
Attorneys for two Wolters Elementary students filed claims for damages against Fresno Unified School District.
Fresno County’s highest-paid employee could be paid even more
Salary negotiations are underway for the next Fresno County Superintendent of Schools who takes office in January.
MORE FRESNO-AREA EDUCATION NEWS
The Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Office is expecting more than 2,500 high school students to attend the annual Central Valley Career Tech Expo. Students will be able to discover and explore career opportunities as over 100 industry professionals, local trade schools, apprenticeship programs and colleges share information and offer hands-on experience, a news release said.
For example, interested students can get a culinary art experience of operating a food truck.
The event will feature career pathways in industries, such as medicine, automotive
and transportation, building trades and construction, early childhood education, agriculture, energy and utilities, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, public safety and engineering and architecture.
The free event is Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Chukchansi Park from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Fresno Pacific University is partnering with a public school district for the first time but pledges similar partnerships in the future.
Fresno Pacific and a San Bernardino high school district agreed that all Chaffey Joint Union High School District can attend Fresno Pacific as long as students meet mutually-agreed upon admission requirements. And the university will provide at least $7,000 in scholarships and grants to those students each academic year, a media release announced.
“We see this as part of our future and look forward to signing many more of these,” said the university’s president André Stephens. “Such actions speak directly to our desire to provide as many qualified students as possible with the professional, personal and spiritual benefits of a Fresno Pacific education.”
STILL WANT MORE EDUCATION NEWS? HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING
ACT test scores drop to lowest in 30 years in pandemic slide
2022 is the first time average composite scores have dipped below 20 since 1991. | Associated Press
Texas State Police Deflect Blame, Downplay Their Role in Uvalde Shooting Failures
State troopers outnumbered local law enforcement 2-to-1 outside Robb Elementary, but the Department of Public Safety has blocked the release of records and carefully shaped the narrative to cast local authorities as incompetent. | ProPublica
Social-Emotional Learning Coalition Will Fight Back Against Politically Charged Attacks
“Supporters of social-emotional learning are going on the offensive in a bid to untangle the teaching of skills like empathy and resilience from the polarization surrounding lessons on racism, sexuality, and even American history.” | EducationWeek
The Pandemic Was a ‘Wrecking Ball’ for K-12, and We’re Still Tallying the Damage
From academics to mental health to special education services | EducationWeek
I hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter, and I hope that you’ll be back next week for another one. Until then, follow me and Julianna on Twitter for stories as they’re published!
