(Los Angeles County)– Assemblymember Tony Mendoza whose 56th District includes at least 11 schools classified as “low performing,” is leading the charge to ensure that those schools apply for their fair share of the almost $3 Billion that are newly available to help schools which need it most  and are ranked in Deciles 1 and 2.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to enhance the quality of education for students at the schools most in need of improvement. Forty (40%) percent of the schools that apply will receive millions of dollars over a seven year period to help challenged students improve.  It would be a great disservice to the community for an eligible school to let this chance go by without even applying, I’ll do all I can to help,” says Assemblymember Mendoza.

Mendoza will hosts phone conferences and workshops to help the eligible schools in his district apply for the funding. Experts from Strategic Education Services will be available to answer educator’s questions and provide support. The project is being undertaken as applications for the funding are set to be released on Friday.

Eligible school districts and their schools include:  ABC Unified- Artesia High, Fedde Middle , Furgeson Elementary, and Melbourne Elementary.  East Whittier City Elementary- Evergreen Elementary. Los Nietos Elementary- Aeolian Elementary.  Norwalk-La Mirada Unified- Glenn High, Huerta Elementary, Norwalk High, Sanchez Elementary, Waite Middle.

Funding under the Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) implements a settlement agreement in the case California Teachers Association, et al. v. Arnold Schwarzenegger, et al. over Proposition 98 funding that was due to schools but not provided in fiscal years 2004-05 and 2005-06. Mendoza is a former school teacher who served as a representative to the California Teachers Association and the National Education Association.  Funds may be used to reduce class sizes, improve teacher and principal training, and hire additional school counselors, while also giving local school districts the flexibility to support programs that best fit the particular needs of their students.  Applications are due by March 30, with recipients announced in May.   The Act lays out specific targets participating schools must meet by 2008-09 and 2010-11 in order to continue receiving funding for the last three years of the program, including class size reduction and staff development for teachers.  Schools which are chosen will receive $500 per child in grades K-3, $900 in grades 4-8 and $1000 in grades 9-12 for each of the seven years through 2013-14.