We are in the midst of planning AEA’s budget for the 2020-2021 school year.  Some key milestones to keep an eye on as we move through this second semester:

  1. The CA Governor releases the state’s draft budget proposal in mid-January of each year.  Click here to see Governor Newsom’s draft proposal for 2020-2021.
  2. Using the Governor’s draft proposal and other revenue projections from state-wide budget experts, in late February the AEA leadership team will begin developing a draft budget based on programmatic needs for the upcoming school year.
  3. A draft AEA budget will likely go to the AEA Board in April or May, 2020.  The Board will make preliminary recommendations to AEA staff as a result.
  4. The Governor will release his “May Revise” some time in mid-May, representing modifications that have been made since January and taking into consideration factors such as the state economy.
  5. AEA leadership will present a final draft budget to the AEA Board likely in June, 2020, for approval before the June 30 deadline, in order to send an approved budget to the district, county and state.
  6. The CA legislature will also hopefully approve the state budget before the end of June, 2020.

Please remember that all AEA Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public, and agendas and minutes are posted physically on each AEA campus as well as online www.aeacs.org (click Board of Trustees link).  Meetings can also be streamed live online.

Since Fall 2019 we have been hearing of prominent school districts and their challenges in balancing budgets for the current school year as well as into the future.  Read this interesting perspective on district budget woes.  San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) is not alone in facing these challenges; a recent San Diego Union Tribune article stated that virtually all CA school districts are facing budget challenges and would be forced to make difficult decisions moving forward.  As two public charter schools, while we create our own budgets independently of SDUSD, AEA also feels the combination of budget pressures such as rising employee pension commitments, escalating healthcare costs and state funding that appears to be leveling off.  In times like these the AEA Board of Trustees’ historically conservative approach to budgeting may provide our organization with an extra buffer against economic uncertainty.