Question: Once the state budget is approved, how do K-12 funds flow from the state to the school districts? Is there a single annual transfer of funds; is it by school term or monthly? What is the role of County Offices of Education in facilitating the flow of funds from the state to districts for the basic revenue limits?

Response: Funds flow from the state to school districts within a variety of time lines, which are dependent on what type of funds they are. Revenue limit funding is monthly, along with transportation, School Improvement Funds (SIP) and Economic Impact Aide. Other state categorical funding, such as instructional materials and safety grants, are sent on a schedule that the state determines. The state, more specifically the California Department of Education, sends notices to both the county offices and the districts explaining how much the various district allocations are and when the payments will be made. In most cases, the state sends funds directly to county treasuries with a notice also to the county offices. The county office's role is to ensure that the treasurer apportions the funds correctly. The county ensures this by validating the specific district apportionments against the notice from the state. The county office is the direct contact with the treasurer, but does not make arbitrary decisions. Rather, they ensure that the apportionment is in agreement with the state's allocation.

A source of information is the California Department of Education website, which is http://www.cde.ca.gov. That site contains a vast variety of information and would be of assistance for the various types of state funding, including their payment schedules and apportionment amounts.