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Quality Education Investment Act allows us to invest significant resources in some of the lowest-performing schools

5/10/2007
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Jeff Caligiuri
916) 319-2032

Sacramento – Assemblymember Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) announced today that twenty Kern County public schools will receive over $140 million in additional funding through the Quality Education Investment Act.

The Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA), signed by the Governor in 2006, is designed to help schools of greatest need to close student achievement gaps. The funds are available to eligible schools to establish smaller class sizes, hire more school counselors, improve teacher and principal training, and create any additional support programs that best fit the needs of the students.

“The Quality Education Investment Act allows us to invest significant resources in some of the lowest-performing schools in Kern County,” Fuller said. “I am looking forward to seeing the changes these schools make to increase the quality of education for their students, and the improvement in student achievement that results.”

The QEIA provides $2.7 billion over seven years to the selected schools, including the $140 million approved for eligible schools in Kern County. When the Act is fully implemented in fiscal year 2008-09, the funds will be distributed on a basis of $500 per pupil for grades kindergarten through third, $900 per pupil in grades fourth through eighth, and $1,000 per pupil for grades ninth through twelfth. Schools will receive funds beginning on July 1, 2007, but the amount distributed will be slightly lower during the first year.

The Kern Union High School District was especially successful in applying for QEIA funds. Six out of eight eligible schools in the district will receive over $95 million, and over 70 percent of their eligible students will be funded through the program. The state average for the number of students funded is 38 percent. Kern County as a whole received the fourth largest amount of QEIA dollars in the state.

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