California Committee debates $200M school attendance recovery program proposal

California's Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance recently discussed a significant proposal regarding the school attendance recovery program, which aims to address chronic absenteeism among students. The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) presented a proposal that suggests delaying the implementation of this program could save the state at least $200 million.

The attendance recovery program is designed to provide additional funding to local educational agencies (LEAs) that successfully increase their average daily attendance (ADA). However, the LAO raised concerns that the costs associated with launching this program could exceed the budget allocated in the May Revision, potentially straining state finances in a tighter budget year.

Ken Kipon from the LAO emphasized that under current law, districts are incentivized to improve attendance since funding is tied to ADA. He noted that attendance rates have been gradually improving since the pandemic, suggesting that existing incentives are already effective. The LAO's stance is that the state should rely on these existing mechanisms rather than introducing a new program that could lead to unpredictable costs.

However, some committee members voiced strong concerns about the implications of defunding the attendance recovery program. They argued that chronic absenteeism remains a critical issue, and if current funding formulas were sufficient, the problem would not persist. The discussion highlighted the need for further investigation into the potential impacts of delaying the program, which is intended to enhance student outcomes and provide additional funding for LEAs through increased attendance.

As the committee continues to evaluate the proposal, the outcome will significantly influence how California addresses student attendance challenges and the financial support available to schools in the coming years.