Wildfires May Affect School Funding

Smoke was so thick in the air in the Sacramento region on Friday, November 16th--the last day of school before Thanksgiving break--that most (if not all) schools in the greater Sacramento area were closed on that day.  In a previous post I wondered if we'd be required to make that day up in June, and and here's some information on that topic:

School closures in the Sacramento region due to unhealthy air quality from the Camp Fire likely will not add days to this year’s school calendar, or take money out of budgets.

Schools across the Sacramento region closed last week as a thick layer of smoke loomed across the valley, pushing air quality levels into hazardous territory. The city of Sacramento handed out filtration masks, and people were warned to stay indoors. Multiple school districts canceled classes, along with the Los Rios Community College District, Sacramento State and University of California, Davis.

School administrators Monday said that most districts plan to apply for state waivers that will protect their funding despite the closures. California schools are funded under a formula that counts attendance as a factor. When students miss days, funding decreases. Closure of an entire school — or district — could be financially devastating without the waiver, reducing funding by millions for larger districts...

The state will likely grant the waivers.

I hope so.