July 21, 2008
Dear Select County Superintendents of Schools:
REVISED Form J-7CSR Report of enrollment
for the KINDERGARTEN and grades One through THREE
Class Size Reduction Program
FISCAL RELIEF FROM THE OCTOBER 2007 FIRES
Fiscal Year 2007-08
On June 13, 2008, the Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1893 (Chapter 30, Statutes of 2008) to provide fiscal relief to school districts and charter schools in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura whose funding for the Kindergarten and Grades One through Three Class Size Reduction (K-3 CSR) Program was affected by the October 2007 fires. More specifically, AB 1893 allows school districts and charter schools in the aforementioned counties to claim K‑3CSR Program funding for the 2007-08 school year based on enrollment counts before the 2007 fires, and for classes that exceeded 20 (20.44) pupils or were housed with another class, provided specified criteria are met.
In order to receive additional funding pursuant to AB 1893, school districts and charter schools must submit a Revised-AB 1893 Form No. J-7CSR. The form should include the additional counts and classes made eligible pursuant to AB 1893 as well as the remaining eligible K-3 CSR classes as identified in the submission of the original Form No. J-7CSR due
May 2, 2008.
If a school district or charter school claims funds based on enrollment counts before the October 2007 fires, it should also submit (1) a signed AB 1893 Certification attesting to the fact that it suffered a loss of enrollment in K-3 CSR classes due to the October 2007 fires which resulted in a decrease in K-3 CSR funding, and (2) a Request for Allowance of Attendance Because of Emergency Conditions (Form J-13A) pursuant to California Education Code Section 46392, and due to the October 2007 fires. School districts that have already submitted a Form J-13A should enclose a copy of that form and, if available, the California Department of Education approval letter.
If a school district or charter school claims funding for a class that either exceeds 20 (20.44) pupils or is housed with another class, it must submit an AB 1893 Certification attesting to the fact that pupil enrollment increase is a result of the October2007 fires and this growth increased the number of pupils enrolled in K-3 CSR classes, and it lacked sufficient classroom space or credentialed teachers to accommodate the enrollment increase due to the October 2007 fires.
County offices of education are requested to notify program participants of the availability of funding due to AB 1893 by forwarding to them a copy of this letter and the following enclosures: Revised-AB 1893 Form No J-7CSR, AB 1893 Certification, and General and Special Instructions. For this purpose, a list of all participating school districts, and charter schools that have applied independent of their authorizing entity, is also enclosed. A copy of this letter and enclosures are also available on our Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/cs/k3/formsinst.asp.
Please ensure that the Revised-AB 1893 Form J-7CSR is completed, signed, and returned, via your county office of education, on or before August 22, 2008, to:
Rebecca Lee, Fiscal Consultant
School Fiscal Services Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 3800
Sacramento, CA 95814
If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Lee, Fiscal Consultant, Categorical Allocations and Management Assistance Office, at 916-3244533 or by e-mail at relee@cde.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Scott Hannan, Director
School Fiscal Services Division
1430 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814