Payment for past expenses can be used at the school's discretion, whereas ongoing funds are earmarked for special education. The agreement, announced by the governor's office Oct. 26, falls well within the 120-day period schools had to file claims with the state controller's office Settling with school districts now benefits the state by reducing its liability for past expenses.
Schools win by avoiding the cumbersome and time-consuming process of filing itemized claims.
They will now be reimbursed on the basis of their average daily attendance, with no application required. The settlement also removes the threat of legal appeals that could delay payment for years, says Richard Hamilton, lead attorney for the California School Boards Association's Education Legal Alliance. The alliance has led the effort to resolve the test claim filed by the Riverside County superintendent of schools in 1981. After the case weathered numerous legal challenges, the Commission on State Mandates decided in June to proceed with the claims process. At that time, the commission adopted parameters and guidelines for submitting claims to the state controller.