Today, Governor Newsom announced a $42 million investment over three months, to support foster youth and reduce child abuse. In his press release, the Governor expressed that, “Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable and nurturing environment free from fear, abuse and neglect.”

The $42 million investment ($40.6 million in state general fund and $1.4 million in federal funds) will provide:

    • Support for families struggling to stay together: $27,842,000
    • Additional social worker outreach: $6,896,552
    • Family Resource Centers: $3,000,000
    • Age extension for foster youth: $1,846,165
    • Resources for families impacted by COVID-19: $1,728,655
    • Access to technology: $313,128
    • Expand assist 2-1-1 and hours of service: $250,000
    • Extend time frame for caregiver approvals: $166,000

Department of Finance Update

On Friday, April 10, 2020, the Department of Finance submitted a series of letters as part of an interim fiscal update to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, that acknowledges the economic impact COVID-19 is expected to result in a recession and have significant effects on state revenues, that begun in fiscal year 2019-20 and will continue into 2020-21 and beyond.

The state is expected to spend in response to the pandemic beyond the $1 billion appropriated in SB 89 (Chapter 2, Statutes of 2020), with a projection of requiring an additional $6 billion in response-related expenditures in 2020. The state is expected to receive at least $8.4 billion in federal support for direct assistance for the state’s COVID-19 expenses and $6.9 billion for direct assistance to local governments.

For 2020-21, the state will have sufficient cash and internal borrowable resources available through the end of the current fiscal year. The State Controller’s Office indicates that the state will collect about $19.8 billion or 39 percent of the estimated tax receipts from April through June 2020, due to the delay in filing and payment of tax collections to July 15, 2020.

FEMA Funding Update

According to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), the deadline to submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been extended to 30 days past the end of the incident period (which is still open). It is still advised to submit an RPA sooner rather than later. Additionally, any applicant must complete an OES 130 Authorized Agent Resolution and an OES 89, and to be returned to CalOES at disasterrecovery@caloes.ca.gov.

Major Declaration Event Number: FEMA-4482-DR-CA (DR-4482)
Name: California Covid-19 Pandemic
Declared Counties: All 58 of California’s Counties
Incident Period: January 20, 2020 and continuing

FEMA has scheduled Grants Portal Training for Applicants. For the list of webinars this week, click here. Please note, times listed are Eastern Standard Time. A FEMA RPA quick guide can be found here.

For questions, please contact the Recovery Public Assistance at: DisasterRecovery@CalOES.Ca.gov.

CalPERS

On Wednesday, April 8, 2020, CalPERS hosted a webinar in response to the COVID-19 impact to employers. The webinar discussed CalPERS investment returns, employer contribution impacts and timelines, payment options, and workforce/business operations. As of March 31, 2020, CalPERS current assets were valued at $355.62 billion and its current investment returns were at negative 4 percent (page 7 of slides). The webinar can be found here and slides downloaded here.

On Friday, April 10, 2020, CalPERS released a letter to stakeholders providing a COVID-19 update on pension payments, customer service, and their upcoming April 20-22 Board meeting via video conference.

Upcoming Webinars

COVID-19 Guidance regarding Emergency Childcare Services for Essential Workers and At-Risk Populations. The CDE Early Learning and Care Division is hosting a webinar to provide CDE, ELCD contractors with guidance on providing early learning and care services for children of essential workers, and at-risk populations during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. Date: April 15, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. Register here.

Distance Learning Innovations in Special Education – Serving Students Across Transition Stages and Ages. This webinar will feature Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) Director, Joe Xavier, who will join the CDE to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on services provided through DOR to our local educational agencies. One district and a Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) will share resources and support for secondary transition practices, impact, and the continued connection from teachers to support families. Also featured is a teacher’s perspective on supporting distance learning for youth and a district’s experience with infant transition from the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C to IDEA Part B. Dates: April 16, 23, and 30, from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Register here.

Supporting You Supporting Students: Providing Tools for the Challenging Times. A three-part webinar series hosted by CDE in partnership with Wellness Together School Mental Health. It will feature an ongoing discussion to highlight practices, programs, and policies to strengthen student supports in the midst of school closures. This series will address mental health services for students in the midst of the recent challenges. Dates: Thursdays— April 16, 2020 and April 23, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Register here.

CDE Update to All Coordinators. This webinar is designed for assessment, accountability, and Dashboard coordinators to provide them with updates on Governor Newsom’s executive orders and the recently approved federal waiver under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Staff from three CDE divisions—Assessment Development and Administration; Analysis, Measurement, and Accountability Reporting; and Improvement and Accountability—will discuss how the executive orders and federal waiver impact assessment, accountability, the California System of Support, and the Local Control and Accountability Plan development process, reporting requirements, and submission timelines. The webinar also will include an interactive question-and-answer session. Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2020, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Register here.

Public Comment

A notice has been provided from the California Department of Education (CDE) regarding an invitation to submit public comment on California’s Funding Flexibility Waiver Request to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The State will hold a concurrent public comment period for all stakeholders and LEAs with the submission and review of the application through May 1, 2020.

Any comments or questions should be e-mailed to ESSA@cde.ca.gov or by mail to:

California Department of Education
Government Affairs Division
1430 N Street, Suite 5602
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901

In Case You Missed It

Executive Order on Child Care Released April 4, 2020

Virtual Town Hall with State Superintendent Tony Thurmond on April 7, 2020

Guidance on Child Care for Essential Workers Released April 8, 2020

Distance Learning: Instructional Strategies and English Learner Webinar (April 9, 2020). CDE hosted a webinar to focus on distance learning to support our English Learners. View webinar here.

Distance Learning Innovations in Special Education- Engaging Parents Webinar (April 9, 2020). View webinar here.

CDE hosted the second webinar for distance learning for special education, with a focus on engaging parents. View webinar here.

You can also follow CDE on Facebook at @CAEducation and on Twitter @CADeptEd for updates throughout the week.