Senator Cortese’s News Conference on his bill on Education Equalization

SB 743 establishes an Education Equalization Account to provide additional funding for non-basic aid school districts. · The goal is to close the gap in per-pupil spending between high-property-tax (basic-aid) districts and lower-property-tax (non-basic-aid) districts. · Funding would come from the General Fund, separate from the Prop 98 minimum guarantee. · No existing school funding would be reduced—this bill only adds funding to create a more equitable system.