SACRAMENTO –Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D- Sacramento) unveiled legislation in which California State University (CSU) students and the State of California would obtain transparency and improved oversight of state funds and student tuition and fees.

Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva’s Request for State Audit on Education Supplemental Funding Released

Orange County, CA - Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva’s (Fullerton) request to the California State Auditor’s Office to complete an audit on Local Education Agencies and the use of supplemental funding has concluded.  As a teacher for more than 30 years, Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva initiated the request last year, as it was necessary to ensure that the sub funds get to specified groups.  As a champion and leader in the achievement gap conference over ten years ago, Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva understands it is more crucial than ever that we provide a high quality education for students and provide students with resources in order to support a well prepared workforce, safer communities, and a thriving economy.

There are close to six-million students in California’s public schools from grades K - 12.  Educational funding is complex, with funding from the Federal government and state allocations.  A large portion of California’s billion dollar state budget is allocated for Kindergarten through 12 education.  In the 2013-14 budget, California began funding K -12 education, in part through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).  This was to provide more local control over the spending of funds and to improve educational outcomes and close the education gap among certain groups.  

“As an educator, I believe we must ensure that the intended student groups benefit from the supplemental funds that have been given to the school agencies,” said Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva.  “The Legislature should address the concerns of requiring local educational agencies to identify those unspent funds by annually reporting on estimated and actual spending.”

ASSEMBLYWOMAN QUIRK-SILVA ADDRESSES CALIFORNIA COLLEGE CHALLENGES

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva’s (Orange County) legislation, addressing the growing concerns and issues affecting California Higher Education have been signed the Governor.  

Assembly Bill (AB) 136 prevents anyone found guilty in the college admissions scandal from taking tax deductions for donations made to the charities involved.  The intention of the bill is to prevent scandals of this magnitude from being replicated.  In March 2019, more than fifty people, many from California, were indicted by federal prosecutors with charges ranging from alleged bribes paid to college coaches, standardized college testing administrators paid for illegal activity, and parents who paid contributions used for bribes so that their children can secure admissions to the best universities that the United States has to offer.

A former Educator, Quirk-Silva went on to add “It is essential that we bring back integrity to our college admissions, and the Governor signing our bill into law makes this reality. The criminal actions have victimized hard working and low-income students who were denied admissions because of the actions of those involved – and they were able to do so at the expense of the California taxpayers. These actions will not be tolerated and my bill intends to hold those accountable,” said Quirk-Silva.