Governor Schwarzenegger Highlights the Importance of Investing in Children's After-School Safety and Education
 


Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger emphasized today that his 2006-2007 budget will for the first time fully fund the After School Education and Safety Act (ASES) to provide a safe environment for California's children to thrive after school. Watch the Governor's message.


"Three years ago, I authored and campaigned for Proposition 49 because I saw that too many kids had no guidance when the school day ended," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Today, I am happy to say because of our responsible fiscal policies and improving economy, we are fully funding these important after school programs for the first time ever with more than $400 million. These funds will be used for activities that help our kids become better readers, learn how to use computers, participate in exercise programs, get assistance with their homework and have a safe, productive place to go after school."  


Californians passed ASES in 2002 to support working families and provide an educational environment for students during after-school hours when many are unsupervised. The purpose of ASES is to provide tutoring, homework assistance, and educational enrichment to improve student achievement. Programs may take place before or after school, are designed for children in kindergarten through ninth grade, and provide academic support in mathematics, science, language arts, social science, history and computer science, in addition to fine arts and physical fitness activities.


Additional ASES facts:

  • The $428 million in ASES funds contained in the 2006-07 budget is in addition to $122 million already provided to after-school programs with current Proposition 98 funds.
  • Funding will be block granted, rather than based upon attendance.
  • Proposition 49's grant caps will be increased from $50,000 to $112,500 for elementary schools, and from $75,000 to $150,000 for middle and junior high schools.
  • The application process will be simplified and made available online, and the provision of funding will be streamlined.
  • Proposition 49 is "triggered" when non-Proposition 98 General Fund appropriations become $1.5 billion higher than the level of those appropriations in the base year.
     

Governor Schwarzenegger highlighted the new ASES funds at 68th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles, known for its LA's BEST after school program. Established in 1988, LA's BEST is a nationally recognized after school education, enrichment and recreation program serving more than 23,000 children at 147 elementary schools in the city at no cost to parents.


Governor Schwarzenegger's 2006-2007 state budget will contain a $4 billion K-12 funding increase, following last year's $3 billion education spending boost. California invests nearly half of its entire state budget in education and according to the Governor's budget, total K-12 funding from all sources will reach more than $66 billion in 2006-2007, bringing per pupil funding to a high of nearly $11,000.

Specific education funding proposals in the Governor's 2006-07 budget include:

  • Career Technical Education programs: The Governor's budget adds an additional $30 million to the $20 million included in last year's budget to expand and improve CTE courses offered at high schools, regional occupational centers and programs, and the California Community Colleges.
  • Physical Education Grants: To combat the obesity epidemic and improve student health, the 2006-07 budget contains $85 million to support P.E. instruction and expand curricular opportunities for students.
  • Arts and Music Grants: To reverse the trend of under-funding fine arts programs in K-12 schools, the budget proposes $100 million to create a new Art and Music Block Grant to support standards-aligned art and music instruction in kindergarten and grades one through eight.
  • Governor's Science and Math Teachers Initiative: The Governor's budget adds an additional $1.5 million to extend the program that will increase the number of science and math teachers trained at the University of California and the California State University systems. The UC system will quadruple its annual graduation of credentialed math and science teachers and CSU will double the number of teachers trained by 2010.
  • Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program: The Governor will propose $65 million in his budget to support a required third year of induction for beginning teachers in deciles one through three schools and, at district discretion, a voluntary year for experienced teachers who are new to deciles one through three school sites.
  • California High School Exit Exam Support Services: In 2005-06, the Governor's budget contained nearly $70 million to help students get the instruction and support they need to pass the CAHSEE. This year, he is proposing a $40 million in additional funds to continue the progress made in helping students pass the CAHSEE and graduate.
     


The Governor's budget also will contain a proposal to buy back the recent tuition increase approved by the University of California and the California State University systems, keeping student fees at their current 2005-06 levels. California Community College tuition rates will remain at current levels as well. Governor Schwarzenegger will release his 2006-07 budget in its entirety on January 10.