Copyright © 2007 School Services of California, Inc.

Volume 27                          For Publication Date: April 27, 2007                             No. 9

Random Drawing Held for QEIA Funding 

With the click of a mouse, Assistant Secretary of Education Ray Reinhard set the computer program in motion to determine which schools will ultimately receive funding under the Quality Education Improvement Act (QEIA). According to the California Department of Education (CDE), approximately 1,500 schools are eligible for funding. There is sufficient funding for about 500 of these schools. 

The regular QEIA program provides funding to reduce class sizes as well as pupil-to-counselor ratios. At least 85% of funded pupils must be in the regular program. Up to 15% of funded pupils may be in a locally designed alternative program. 

Selected schools will receive the following: 

 

Funding Per Pupil*

Grade Level

2007-08

2008-09 to 2013-14

K-3

$333

             $500

4-8

$600

             $900

9-12

$667

          $1,000

*Based on CBEDS count in prior fiscal year

 CDE received applications for 1,260 schools, 86.6% of those who are eligible, including 88 applications for the alternative program. Each school district was randomly assigned a number for each applicant school. As part of the application process, school districts listed their priority for schools to receive funding. 

San Bernardino City Unified School District received slot #1, guaranteeing funding for the school that is the district's first priority. Fresno Unified School District received random order #2 and Los Angeles Unified School District first appears in slot #6. San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties account for more than one-third of eligible schools. 

QEIA requires the selection of schools to be representative of grade levels. In addition, there must be at least one school selected in every county with eligible schools. 

Elementary schools with a number below 350 will most likely receive funding. Elementary and middle schools will receive approximately 73% of the funds. Approximately 75,000 students, 15%, will be funded under the alternative program. Staff at CDE is currently reviewing and scoring applications for completeness. 

The final list of schools will be approved by the State Board of Education on May 9, 2007. 

Click here for a display of the random draw of eligible schools for QEIA funding. 

-Terry Anderson