The California Legislature and Governor passed the Omnibus Education Trailer Bill ensuring students transferring to a new or different school in 2020 would not receive school funding.   As a result of this, many schools are dramatically limiting new enrollment which eliminates parent’s choice of schooling for their child and will severely harm schools serving more students in 2020-21 than they did in the previous school year.  Many of you have been calling and writing the governor and legislature to fix this language.  Thank you for doing so!

In addition to charter school inequity, there is a more broad political fight to “fund public school growth”.  This brings into play not only our homeschooling community, but low-socio-economic, special education and traditional public schools.   This is a powerful ally for us and it will help us to join together to fight for this correction.

The California legislature is currently in recess.  Due to recent COVID related illness, the legislature extended their recess and is now scheduled to reconvene July 27th.  At that time, it is expected that the legislature will attempt to address only budget related issues including per-pupil funding for schools.  Beginning next week, I will again ask you to speak up to preserve parent choice and fund all public school students including growth.

For those who wish to take action to get this changed:

Things you can do today:

1. Sign aPlus petition to Restore Per-Pupil Funding for All Kids in All Growing Public Schools. This is a petition specific to charter schools funding of growth.  Messaging is provided.
2. Sign petition from EdVoice to Fund ALL Students  This is a broad petition that will gather signatures across the state including low-socioeconomic communities, special education communities, growing school districts and charter schools.  Messaging is provided.

Things you can do between July 20 and August 3rd (and possibly longer).

3. Beginning next week we will be sending out emails, rotating through our IEM schools, to contact your legislative representative and Governor with the following “Make sure every public school student is funded including new growth.  This should include school districts and charter schools.  The current budget language does not fund growth and creates funding inequity for California children who must change schools.”  You can call and/or write in as frequently as you like, and of course are always welcome to personalize your message.  We are rotating schools to help lighten the load for our families and ensure we keep up the pressure.  I will send out a reminder each week to the specific school and we will be posting on our Facebook page.
   1. 7/20 (week prior to session) – Ocean Grove
   2. 7/27 (session begins) – South Sutter
   3. 8/3 (second week of session) – Sky Mountain

I hope your family is healthy and enjoying the summer break.  Our staff is working diligently to add new families and answer many questions.   We have secured PPP funding and will be spending down our financial reserves to serve as many as we can during this unknown financial time.  Your help in this battle for funding will ensure we can serve many more and preserve the financial stability and quality educational options for our parent choice community.  You are welcome to forward and share this information.

Warm Regards,

Jodi Jones, IEM CEO