Adventures in Ed Funding
74 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsCalifornia once ranked among the top states in per student investment. What happened and what will it take for us to climb our way back? Join us as we trek through the surprisingly fascinating world of schools, money and California's future. ***During the COVID-19 pandemic, we're also featuring timely stories, guidance, personal experiences and strategies for navigating this health, economic and equity crisis.***From local educators, parents and district leaders to education advocates, researchers and State Capitol insiders, we explore the stories of those who have had a hand in shaping education funding and policy, and all those touched by it.
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Episodes
Schools & Communities Move Quickly to Provide Emergency Child Care to Children of Essential Workers
April 17, 2020 18:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBSpecial guest Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Superintendent of Schools, describes how schools, community organizations and local government agencies are stepping up together in a powerful way to meet the needs of children and families. Marin County was one of the first regions to establish an emergency pop-up childcare program to support essential workers at a time when school campuses and regular childcare facilities are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Marin sprang into action even ...
The Pivot to Distance Learning: How One School District Made the Shift
April 10, 2020 19:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBIn less than four weeks, school districts across the state have embarked on a massive shift to provide distance learning for their students, now that all campuses are physically closed. What is distance learning, really -- and what is it not? And what are the many different steps, including planning, logistics and behind the scenes activities that need to occur for districts to make this pivot quickly and successfully? In this episode, special guest Ryan Altemeyer, Associate Superintendent ...
Special: California Schools Pivot to Distance Learning
April 10, 2020 19:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBIn less than four weeks, school districts across the state have embarked on a massive shift to provide distance learning for their students, now that all campuses are physically closed. What is distance learning, really -- and what is it not? And what are the many different steps, including planning, logistics and behind the scenes activities that need to occur for districts to make this pivot quickly and successfully? In this episode, special guest Ryan Altemeyer, Associate Superintendent ...
A Quick Pivot to Distance Learning: How One School District Made the Shift
April 10, 2020 19:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBIn less than four weeks, school districts across the state have embarked on a massive shift to provide distance learning for their students, now that all campuses are physically closed. What is distance learning, really -- and what is it not? And what are the many different steps, including planning, logistics and behind the scenes activities that need to occur for districts to make this pivot quickly and successfully? In this episode, special guest Ryan Altemeyer, Associate Superintendent ...
California Schools Pivot to Distance Learning
April 10, 2020 19:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBIn less than four weeks, school districts across the state have embarked on a massive shift to provide distance learning for their students, now that all campuses are physically closed. What is distance learning, really -- and what is it not? And what are the many different steps, including planning, logistics and behind the scenes activities that need to occur for districts to make this pivot quickly and successfully? In this episode, special guest Ryan Altemeyer, Associate Superintendent ...
Special: California School Funding During (And After) the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 03, 2020 23:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBIn this episode we explore early financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on California schools: What should we know, what should we be planning for, and what might the road ahead look like? There are both some optimistic and sobering stops along the way. Guest Matt Phillips, Director of Management Consulting Services at the statewide firm School Services of California joins us. Matt discusses how the state and local districts have prepared for a pending economic crisis, plus we con...
California School Funding During (And After) the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 03, 2020 23:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBIn this episode we explore early financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on California schools: What should we know, what should we be planning for, and what might the road ahead look like? There are both some optimistic and sobering stops along the way. Guest Matt Phillips, Director of Management Consulting Services at the statewide firm School Services of California joins us. Matt discusses how the state and local districts have prepared for a pending economic crisis, plus we con...
The Meals Must Go On -- California Schools Step Up to Provide Students With Meals During the COVID-19 Crisis
March 27, 2020 21:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBCalifornia’s public school districts are rising to the challenge of providing students with much-needed meals during the COVID-19 crisis. In this episode, special guests Stephanie Bruce, Nutrition Services Director for Palm Springs USD and Andrew Soliz, Director of Child Nutrition Services for San Mateo-Foster City School District share how their districts are preparing and delivering meals to thousands of students daily, even in the face of a global pandemic. Essentially, food service team...
The Meals Must Go On: California Schools Step Up to Provide Students With Meals During the COVID-19 Crisis
March 27, 2020 21:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBCalifornia’s public school districts are rising to the challenge of providing students with much-needed meals during the COVID-19 crisis. In this episode, special guests Stephanie Bruce, Nutrition Services Director for Palm Springs USD and Andrew Soliz, Director of Child Nutrition Services for San Mateo-Foster City School District share how their districts are preparing and delivering meals to thousands of students daily, even in the face of a global pandemic. Essentially, food service team...
Special: The Meals Must Go On -- California Schools Step Up to Provide Students With Meals During the COVID-19 Crisis
March 27, 2020 21:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBCalifornia’s public school districts are rising to the challenge of providing students with much-needed meals during the COVID-19 crisis. In this episode, special guests Stephanie Bruce, Nutrition Services Director for Palm Springs USD and Andrew Soliz, Director of Child Nutrition Services for San Mateo-Foster City School District share how their districts are preparing and delivering meals to thousands of students daily, even in the face of a global pandemic. Essentially, food service team...
Special: California School Closures Due to the COVID-19 Virus -- What You Should Know
March 20, 2020 14:00 - 13 minutes - 9.26 MBIn less than two weeks, nearly all school districts and schools in California have closed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. These closures impact six million students and their families, plus hundreds of thousands of educators, school and district staff, and leaders. Moreover, school closures deeply affect our local communities. We're interrupting our planned schedule of ed funding topics to provide this special update. Join guests Sara Bachez and Elizabeth Esquivel from CASBO’s...
Special: 3 Things To Focus On During A Crisis -- Leadership Tips
March 20, 2020 03:00 - 9 minutes - 6.34 MBSadly, we have a crisis on our hands -- locally, across the state and nation, and globally -- as we work to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The magnitude of, and speed at which, we find ourselves in this new circumstance is hard to fathom. The road ahead is largely uncharted. In this episode, we check in with CASBO’s CEO and Executive Director, Molly McGee Hewitt, to help us think about what’s important for leaders to focus on during times when so much is unsettled and un...
Under Pressure: What Are the Rising Costs and Budget Challenges Facing California School Districts
March 12, 2020 23:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MBHow can it be that many California school districts are staring into the face of painful budget cuts, even as overall school funding has increased in recent years? Why isn’t more funding available in many districts for priorities such as hiring additional counselors, teachers and staff and adding programs for students? It’s an unusual situation one researcher called, “The Silent Recession” – and it’s the subject of this episode's adventure. Special guest John Gray, president and CEO of Sc...
California School District Budgets Under Pressure
March 12, 2020 23:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MBHow can it be that many California school districts are staring into the face of painful budget cuts, even as overall school funding has increased in recent years? Why isn’t more funding available in many districts for priorities such as hiring additional counselors, teachers and staff and adding programs for students? It’s an unusual situation one researcher called, “The Silent Recession” – and it’s the subject of this episode's adventure. Special guest John Gray, president and CEO of Sc...
California School District Budgets Under Pressure (Recorded pre-pandemic)
March 12, 2020 23:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MBHow can it be that many California school districts are staring into the face of painful budget cuts, even as overall school funding has increased in recent years? Why isn’t more funding available in many districts for priorities such as hiring additional counselors, teachers and staff and adding programs for students? It’s an unusual situation one researcher called, “The Silent Recession” – and it’s the subject of this episode's adventure. Special guest John Gray, president and CEO of Sc...
Why the LCFF? California's Landmark Move to an Equity-Based School Funding Formula
March 05, 2020 19:00 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBWhy is California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) so significant? In this episode, we continue our journey through major milestones in school funding history with our first stop to LCFF-land. Special Guest Saa’un Bell, Strategy Director at Californians for Justice, helps us explore why the state’s shift to an equity-based system beginning in 2013 was so historic. The LCFF was a sweeping law, carrying with it a whole lot of hope and promise, especially for students and families who ha...
Why the LCFF: California's landmark shift to an equity-based school funding formula
March 05, 2020 19:00 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBWhy is California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) so significant? In this episode, we continue our journey through major milestones in school funding history with our first stop to LCFF-land. Special Guest Saa’un Bell, Strategy Director at Californians for Justice, helps us explore why the state’s shift to an equity-based system beginning in 2013 was so historic. The LCFF was a sweeping law, carrying with it a whole lot of hope and promise, especially for students and families who ha...
More Key Moments in California School Funding History: A View From Inside the Capitol
February 28, 2020 18:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBHow did California slide into such a deep school funding hole, and how can we climb our way back up? These are among the questions we take on in this latest adventure with special guest Gary Hart. As a former state legislator, longtime Senate Education Committee Chair, and Secretary of Education, Gary offers the critical perspective of someone who was “inside the Capitol building” during a truly pivotal time in the early life of Ed Funding. He began his career as a classroom teacher befor...
Special: Prop. 13 (2020) School Facilities Bond: A Vital Vote to Support Students on March 3
February 27, 2020 20:00 - 4 minutes - 2.83 MBThe Proposition 13 (2020) School Facilities Bond will help ensure that students across the state have access to safe, healthy and modern learning environments. On March 3, California voters have an important opportunity to pass this statewide school bond measure. It provides critically needed resources for renovating and building schools in districts throughout the state. Proposition 13 (2020) includes significant funding for K-12 schools, plus the University of California system, Californi...
Have We Got A Proposition For You? Proposition 98 and a Brisk Hike Through California School Funding History
February 20, 2020 18:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBWould California schools actually be better off if Proposition 98 had never come into being? Why is it still so important to understand? And where do we go from here to fulfill the initiative’s promise of bringing state spending per student to the top ten among states? On this show, we’re big believers in the axiom that to get where you want to go, you need to understand where you’ve been. That’s why we’re making a special journey this episode into the recent history of school funding in C...
What Do California School Districts Spend Their Money On?
February 14, 2020 17:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBJourney with us to California’s Inland Empire as we consider this foundational question: What do school districts spend their funding on? Special guest Rich De Nava, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, helps us explore where schools devote their money. Hint: the vast majority is spent on people. In his role, Rich works with business officials from 33 school districts in the county. He explains that, by and large, about 85-9...
California Schools: Where the Adults Aren't
February 07, 2020 17:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBIn our inaugural episode, Guest Samantha Tran from Children Now, a statewide nonprofit organization, takes us through a study comparing a typical California high school to similar schools in two other states that invest more per student than California. What the study found, she says, was jarring. Public school students in California don’t have the same types of experiences and opportunities that kids in most other states do. The typical California school is dramatically understaffed. On ...
Trailer
February 03, 2020 22:00 - 3 minutes - 2.6 MBComplex. Mystifying. These words are often used to describe education funding -- and yet, funding is the crucial ingredient to ensure our public school system meets the needs of all students, families and society. Join us as we journey through the surprisingly fascinating world of schools, money, and California's future. About CASBO The California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California...
Series Introduction: Join us as we trek through the surprisingly fascinating world of schools, money, and California's future
February 03, 2020 22:00 - 3 minutes - 2.6 MBComplex. Mystifying. These words are often used to describe education funding -- and yet, funding is the crucial ingredient to ensure our public school system meets the needs of all students, families and society. This series is for everyone who works in and around education -- plus anyone who wants to learn more about what drives the most important institutions in every local community: our public schools. From local educators, students, parents, and administrators -- to education advocate...