Nine school districts in El Dorado, Placer and Sacramento counties were placed on a fiscal early warning list, meaning they are in danger of not meeting financial obligations.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said the number of schools on the list rose across California.
Districts are given one of three classifications for each interim financial report prepared semi-annually.
A positive rating means the district has balanced its budget for the current and two subsequent years. A qualified certification is given to districts who can show a balanced budget for two of the three years. A negative rating is given when a district can't meet its financial obligations for the remainder of the current year or for the subsequent fiscal year.
A negative rating opens the door to closer monitoring. All of the districts in El Dorado, Placer and Sacramento counties received qualified ratings. No Yolo county schools were on the list.
In Sacramento county, those districts were Elk Grove Unified, Folsom Cordova Unified, Natomas Unified, Sacramento City Unified, San Juan Unified and Twin Rivers Unified.
In El Dorado county, Black Oak Mine Unified and Gold Trail Union Elementary were given qualified ratings.
In Placer county, Placer Hills Union Elementary was given a qualified rating.
"Because of the sharp downturn in our economy and deep cuts to education, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of districts that are on the negative or qualified certification list," O'Connell said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the cuts to public education that are part of the state budget are likely to result in even more districts being added to this list."
Two years ago, five districts were given negative ratings and 19 were given qualified ratings. On Tuesday, the list grew to 19 districts in negative and 89 in qualified.
For a complete list, go to http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fi/ir/second0809.asp.
Call The Bee's Melody Gutierrez, (916) 326-5521.
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