SAN JOSE, CA – On Wednesday, June 17, 2020, the Santa Clara County Board of Education unanimously approved and signed a resolution acknowledging the 2020-21 Education Protection Account (EPA).
The Education Protection Account was established when California voters approved Proposition 30 in November 2012. Proposition 30 added Article XIII, Section 36 to the California Constitution effective November 7, 2012.
The provisions of Article XIII, Section 36(e) created in the state General Fund, an Education Protection Account to receive and disburse the revenues derived from the incremental increases in taxes imposed by Article XIII, Section 36(f). Before June 30th of each year, the State Director of Finance estimates the total amount of additional revenues, less refunds that will be derived from the incremental increases in tax rates made pursuant to Article XIII, Section 36(f) that will be available for transfer into the Education Protection Account during the next fiscal year. If the sum determined by the State Controller is positive, the State Controller shall transfer the amount calculated into the Education Protection Account within 10 days preceding the end of the fiscal year.
All monies in the EPA are hereby continuously appropriated for the support of school districts, county offices of education, charter schools and community college districts, and monies deposited in the EPA shall not be used to pay any costs incurred by the Legislature, the Governor or any agency of state government. A community college district, county office of education, school district, or charter school shall have the sole authority to determine how the monies received from the EPA are spent in the school or schools within its jurisdiction.
The Santa Clara County Board of Education and the County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, acknowledge the Education Protection Account for the 2020-21 academic year and understand that they have a responsibility to annually publish on the agency's Internet website an accounting of how much money was received and how that money was spent. The Santa Clara County Board of Education acknowledges it shall make the spending determinations with respect to monies received from the EPA in open session of a public meeting as well as acknowledges that the EAP shall not be used for salaries or benefits for administrators or any other administrative cost.
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional, business, and technology services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The County Office of Education directly serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The SCCOE also provides academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to districts in addition to the 22 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.