New School Year Brings New Funding Formula

Governor Jerry Brown was so proud of the funding plan he had to sign it twice. He held signing ceremonies in Los Angeles and Sacramento. The plan is based on a complicated funding method that gives each school district a base grant, and then divvies up additional money based on how many poor and non-English speaking students a district has.

But Brown says it comes down to giving more help to the kids who need it most.  

“We have millions of immigrants and millions of poor people and they don’t do as well as people with more money. That’s just a fact.”

The plan will also give school districts more discretion on spending the money, though there will be accountability standards districts have to meet.

Brown was joined by lawmakers from both parties at the signing ceremonies. The legislature was largely supportive of his plan.