School finance: preschool funding.

Existing law establishes a public school system that requires state funding for county superintendents of schools, school districts, and charter schools to be calculated pursuant to a local control funding formula, as specified. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to calculate, for each county superintendent of schools, school district, and charter school, a base entitlement for the transition to the local control funding formula that includes, among other things, the sum of the amount of funding received from appropriations contained in certain budget items of the Budget Act of 2012. This bill would establish the school district and charter school preschool funding formula. The bill would require the Superintendent, commencing with the 2015–16 fiscal year, and each year thereafter, to calculate and apportion a preschool funding grant pursuant to a specified funding formula for each school and charter school that offers kindergarten or first grade in the state. The bill would require the school district and charter school to use the money to fund either existing or startup preschools in the district or at the charter school. The funding formula would provide for supplemental funding based on the number and concentration of 4 year olds enrolled in a school district who are economically disadvantaged, English learners, or foster youth, as defined, or a combination thereof, as provided by each school district. By imposing new mandates on a school district, the bill would establish a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.