California schools receive second round of CCSS funding

The California Department of Education recently announced that schools have received the second half of the $1.25 billion block grant of state funding meant to go toward the implementation of the Common Core State Standards.

School districts were able to add the funds they received to what they initially earned this past September. How district officials use the second portion of the grant, which is valued at about $622 million, is up to them.

"California took a major step toward college and career readiness for all our students when we adopted the Common Core back in 2010," said Tom Torlakson, state superintendent of public instruction, in a statement. "The state made a significant down payment on that commitment with this first block grant - but we must do more."

The funding will be a big help to school systems across the state, such as the Long Beach Unified School District, which recently received nearly $8.3 million, the Orange County Register reported. Chris Eftychiou, a spokesman for the School District, told the news source the money will be used to pay for technology upgrades, instructional materials and professional development.