California’s legislative analyst last month opposed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $300 million earmarked in his proposed 2023–24 budget proposal to fix academic gaps and racial disparities in the state’s lowest-income schools—saying the state should focus on accountability and transparency instead.
The additional funds—which Newsom calls “equity multiplier”—came at the push from members of the Legislative Black Caucus, a group of black lawmakers who address legislative concerns for black Americans and other ethnic groups.
“I am … happy to announce that Governor Gavin Newson and his staff have committed to on-going funding and to work with us, to create a comprehensive policy aimed at improving the academic achievement of students in the lowest-performing groups and the related goal of addressing the needs of black students,” Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) said in a statement last August. “This proposal will be included in the Governor’s January 2023 budget.”…