Ltr1-16: College Readiness

Dear County Superintendents of Schools:

FIRST APPORTIONMENT FOR THE
COLLEGE READINESS BLOCK GRANT
FISCAL YEAR 2016–17

This apportionment, in the amount of $99,737,578, is made from funds provided by Section 9 of Senate Bill (SB) 828 (Chapter 29, Statutes of 2016) in support of the College Readiness Block Grant (CRBG). SB 828 provides $200 million to establish the CRBG to provide California’s high school pupils, particularly unduplicated pupils as defined in Education Code (EC) sections 42238.01 and 42238.02, additional supports to increase the number of students who enroll at institutions of higher education and complete an undergraduate degree within four years.

Preliminary entitlements are allocated to each eligible county office of education, school district, and charter school (both local and direct funded) at a rate of $149.32 per unduplicated pupil enrolled in grades nine through twelve (9–12) as certified in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) during the 2015–16 fiscal year, with minimum funding provided at $75,000. Eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) will receive a final allocation of funds only for unduplicated pupils attending a school that is currently accredited or in the process of obtaining accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

As a condition of receipt of funds, LEAs are required to report to the California Department of Education (CDE) by January 1, 2017, on how they will measure the impact of CRBG funds received on their unduplicated pupils’ access and successful matriculation to institutions of higher education, as identified within the plan required to be developed as explained below. LEAs will also report the status of WASC accreditation for their schools on this report.

The amount paid in this apportionment reflects approximately 50 percent of the preliminary entitlement calculated for each eligible LEA. Remaining funds will be released in the spring of 2017 subject to adjustments made for the required reports due in January 2017 and the status of WASC accreditation for each school. LEAs that fail to submit the required report will not be paid in the subsequent apportionment and will be billed for the return of funds paid in this apportionment.

County superintendents of schools were notified of this apportionment by e-mail sent to their CDEfisc e-mail addresses. The CDE requested that the e-mail be forwarded to school districts and charter schools in the county, and included a link to this letter and the accompanying apportionment schedule which are posted on the CDE Web page under Fiscal Year 2016–17, College Readiness Block Grant Funding 2016 Funding Results at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/ca/collegereadiness.asp. The link also provides information on CALPADS Grades 9–12 unduplicated pupil source data used for the CRBG.

Warrants will be mailed to each county treasurer approximately four weeks from the date of this letter. For standardized account code structure coding, use Resource Code 7338, College Readiness Block Grant, and Revenue Object Code 8590, All Other State Revenue.

LEAs should be aware that pursuant to EC Section 41580(e), a plan shall be developed describing how funds will increase or improve services for unduplicated pupils to ensure college readiness and include in the plan information on how it aligns with their local control and accountability plan. In addition, the plan shall be discussed at a regularly scheduled meeting by the governing board and adopted at a subsequent regularly scheduled meeting.

If you have any questions regarding this payment, please contact Thi Huynh, Fiscal Consultant, Categorical Allocations and Management Assistance Office, by phone at 916‑324‑4555 or by e-mail at thuynh@cde.ca.gov [Note: the the preceding contact, phone number, and email information is no longer valid. Please contact the Categorical Allocations and Audit Resolution Office by email at CAAR@cde.ca.gov.]. If you have general questions regarding the CRBG or the submission of the report due on January 1, 2017, please contact the College Preparation and Postsecondary Programs Office by phone at 916-323-6398, or by e-mail at crbg@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Peter Foggiato, Director
School Fiscal Services Division