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Account Code
A number that classifies sources of revenues or purposes of expenditures in either a school district budget or the reports districts submit to the California Department of Education (CDE). The account code classifies expenditures according to the types of items purchased or services obtained, and revenues by the general source and type of revenue.
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Actuals
The amount a district actually spent in a given period as opposed to original budget estimates.
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Adequacy
An approach to school funding that begins with the premise that the amount of funding schools receive should be based on some estimate of the cost of achieving the state’s educational goals. This approach attempts to answer two questions: How much money would be enough to achieve those goals and where would it be best spent.
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Adult Education
Classes offered by school districts, community colleges, and other public and private organizations for residents 18 years or older who are not enrolled in a high school. State law requires that certain courses, including citizenship and English, be provided at no charge, while others may carry a fee. Adult Education revenues and expenditures must be tracked separately from a school district's general fund.
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Apportionments
Funds that federal or state governments distribute to local education agencies (LEAs) or other governmental units according to certain formulas.
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Appropriations
Funds set aside or budgeted by the state or local school district boards for a specific time period and specific purpose. The state Legislature and local school boards must vote every year on appropriations.
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Assembly Bill (AB) 1200
Legislation passed in 1991 that defined a system of fiscal accountability for school districts and county offices of education to prevent bankruptcy. The law requires districts to do multiyear financial projections; identify sources of funding for substantial cost increases, such as employee raises; and make public the cost implications of such increases before approving employee contracts. County offices review district budgets, and the state reviews countywide school districts.
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Assessed Value
The value of land, homes, and businesses set by the county assessor for property tax purposes. Assessed value is either the appraised value of any newly built or purchased property or, for continuously owned property, the value on March 1, 1975 plus annual increases. These increases, tied to the California Consumer Price Index, may not exceed 2% annually. (See Proposition 13).
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Average Daily Attendance (ADA)
The total number of days of student attendance divided by the total number of days in the regular school year. A student attending every day would equal one ADA. ADA is not the same as enrollment, which is the number of students enrolled in each school and district. (This number is determined by counting students on a given day in October.) ADA usually is lower than enrollment due to factors such as students moving, dropping out, or staying home due to illness. The state uses a school district’s ADA to determine its general purpose (revenue limit) and some other funding.
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Basic Aid
The minimum general-purpose aid guaranteed by the state's Constitution for each school district in California. The amount is $120 per pupil/ADA, with a minimum of $2,400 for very small districts. In 2003 lawmakers decided that the funding schools receive from categorical programs could satisfy this guarantee.
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Basic Aid School District
The historical name for a district in which local property taxes equal or exceed the district's revenue limit. These districts may keep the money from local property taxes and still receive constitutionally guaranteed state basic aid funding. Because of budget constraints in 2002–03, lawmakers decided to eliminate the $120 per student based on average daily attendance (ADA) in basic aid, saying that the state met its constitutional obligation to these districts with other state funding from categorical programs. However, these districts—referred to by some legislators as "excess revenue" districts—were allowed to keep their excess property taxes.
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Benefit Assessment District
An area in which fees charged to property owners are used to provide a service of benefit to all fee payers, such as the maintenance of public parks and recreation areas. Districts must hold an election before fees are levied. It is also called a Maintenance Assessment District.
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Block Grant
An allotment of money that is the sum of multiple special-purpose funds combined into one. A block grant tends to have fewer restrictions on how the money is spent than the original, disparate funding streams had; and it often combines funds that have similar purposes.
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Bond Interest and Redemption Fund
An account maintained on a local education agency's behalf by the county auditor and used for repayment of bonds.
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Bond Measure
A method of borrowing employed by school districts to pay for a large capital investment, used in much the same way as a person who takes out a mortgage to purchase a home. Since 2001 voters in a school district can authorize a local general obligation bond with a 55% "supermajority" vote. In the past a two-thirds vote was required. Districts can choose to seek bond passage with either a two-thirds vote or a 55% vote that requires greater accountability measures. The principal and interest are repaid by local property owners through an increase in property taxes. A simple majority of state voters must approve a state general obligation bond, which is repaid by state taxes and has no impact on property tax rates.
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Bonus/Performance Pay
Extra money for school district employees who perform extra duties or are considered exemplary. In some states, performance pay is being offered as an incentive for teachers to improve their students’ performance. In California, both employee pay and benefits are determined in collective bargaining, according to state law. (See performance incentive.)
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Budget Act
A constitutionally established, one-year statute for the state's budget appropriations. It is the only bill allowed to have more than one appropriation. The state Constitution requires that it be passed by a two-thirds vote of each house and sent to the governor by June 15 each year. The governor may reduce or delete, but not increase, individual items.
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Building Fund
A fund that districts must use only for buildings. The money comes from sources such as bonds and the sale/rental of property.
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Cafeteria Fund
A separate fund used by many districts to track the income and expenses related to food service.
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California Basic Educational Data System (CBEDS)
Reports that contain statistics about schools, teachers, and students. CBEDS reports are collected from each school in the fall.
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