Berkeley Schools Excellence Project
Monica Thyberg, Manager
2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: (510) 644-8717
Fax: (510 644-8923
Since 1986, our community's response to school funding shortages.
What is the Berkeley Schools Excellence Project?
Click here for a flyer describing BSEP.A community response to school funding shortages in the wake of Prop. 13, the Berkeley Schools Excellence Project (BSEP), has made a huge difference in the quality of our children’s education since 1986. This special local tax won the approval of 82% of the voters in 1994, and 92% in 1998. It must be reauthorized again in 2006. Measure A revenues will total about $20 million in 2007-08. The 10-year measure was approved by the voters in November 2006 with approval by 74% by the voters. The money is allocated as follows:
- Smaller Class Sizes, Expanded Course Offerings, and Middle School Counseling Services (66%)
- Programs to Enhance Student Learning, including school site programs (10.25%), school libraries, music (7.25%), visual and performing arts (6.25%), and parent outreach programs (1.25%)
- Professional Development and Educational Program Evaluation and Technology for Schools (9%)
- Before the money is divided into the the three categories above, 2% is take for support of the Planning & Oversight Committee, translation, and public information
How to Spend School Funds? It's Up To The Schools...
Unique among the BSEP Funds, the site channels all of its resources (about $2 million in 2007-08) directly to each school, where an elected School Governance Council of parents and staff (and, at Berkeley High, students) decides how best to use them. The wide variety of programs thus funded provides the special character at the heart of each Berkeley school. BSEP puts the art in Berkeley Arts Magnet, the Farm & Garden at LeConte, the unicycles at Jefferson. Thanks to the creativity of the School Governance Councils (not to mention the generosity of Berkeley voters), these school-based programs support and supplement the classroom's core curriculum in a broad range of areas, and in a myriad of ways. A sampling includes:
- Academic Support -tutors, Homework Clubs, computer instruction, mentors, Service Learning, Independent Study projects
- Arts Programs - field trips to Cal Performances / Zellerbach, Berkeley Rep, SF Opera,Shakespeare / drama / art / music classes, Baile Folklorico, Afro-Haitian dance classes
- Science - science vans from Lawrence Hall of Science and Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Oceans Week, the "bat lady," kits for building models of molecules and other special equipment
- Student Activities - clubs, intramural sports, drill teams, student magazines & newspapers, Street Law Project, mock trial/debate club.
Thoughtful Oversight of Funds
Among the cities that have created local tax initiatives to supplement their schools’ budgets,the BSEP measure is unusual in that it earmarks the purposes for fund expenditures, and requires extensive parent involvement in planning and overseeing the expenditures.The BSEP Planning and Oversight (P&O) Committee ensures that funds are spent in compliance with the measure.The committee has parent representatives from each of Berkeley’s schools.
Before Measure A funds are spent, spending proposals are discussed in Planning & Oversight subcommittees, as well as receiving two readings at the P&O. After approval by P&O, the propsals are sent to the School Board for approval. More information on the Planning & Oversight Committee is found by clicking here.
BSEP funds many classroom teachers as well as other vital programs intrinsic to an excellent education. The continuing generosity of Berkeley taxpayers has strengthened Berkeley schools and given Berkeley public school children many opportunities for quality education which they would not otherwise have.