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PTA and Teachers Rally in Support of Props 1A, 1B to Protect Education Resources and Future for California's Children |
San Jose - The California State PTA, with nearly 1 million volunteer members across the state, today joined forces with teachers to rally on behalf of California's school children to urge Californians to vote YES to Props 1A and 1B on the May 19 special election ballot. These measures are critical to preserving the valuable education resources that our California public schools depend on. This rally coincided with the PTA's 110th Annual Convention.
"Budget cuts to education threaten an entire generation of children. The California State PTA supports Propositions 1A and 1B for one simple reason: They restore vital funding to schools at a time when California ranks almost dead last in the nation in supporting education," said Pam Brady, President of the State PTA. "What we must and can do in the short term is to support Proposition 1A and Proposition 1B on May 19 to restore funds that have been cut from education funding in California. We should vote for them because they will prevent further cuts to our schools and will protect our children's education, and therefore our state's future."
Joining the PTA today to show support from educators for the passage of Props 1A and 1B was Don Dawson, a math teacher in East Side Union High School District in San Jose.
"California's budget crisis has resulted in a drastic reduction in funding for education and it is our kids who are hurt the most by these cuts. That is why teachers and parents across the state are coming together to support Props 1A and 1B," said Dawson. "Props 1A and 1B are crucial to restoring this funding when the economy recovers and to investing in the future of our students. In these difficult times we must continue to invest in our kids. On behalf of California's teachers and our students, vote YES on Props 1A and 1B on May 19."
Proposition 1A protects California from future deficits by increasing California's "rainy-day" fund from 5 percent of general fund revenues to 12.5 percent. It requires the state to save money during good years so we have money to cover the gap in bad years - like this one. It repays schools some of the funding they have been cut, and it provides funding stability for key services like rebuilding our infrastructure, health care, education and public safety.
Proposition 1B ensures that schools receive $9.3 billion over time, so that the billions in cuts California was forced to make during this unprecedented fiscal crisis are not permanent. Payments to schools will come out of the newly created rainy day fund, but not until 2011-12 when the fiscal outlook is expected to improve.
A statewide coalition of teachers, administrators, school boards, parents, advocacy and education groups has come together in support of these budget reform measures. These organizations and individuals include:
- California Teachers Association
- Community College League of California
- California School Library Association
- California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
- California Retired Teachers Association
- Small School Districts' Association
- Association of California School Administrators
- California State University Board of Trustees
- University of California Board of Regents
- California Business for Education Excellence
- California School Employees Association
- Lodi Unified School District Board of Education
- Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education
- San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education
- Dr. Glen W. Thomas, California Secretary of Education
- Jordan Brandman, Trustee, Anaheim Union High School District
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everychild.onevoice.
The California State PTA has nearly 1 million members throughout
the state working on behalf of public schools, children and families, with the
motto, "Every child, one voice." The PTA is the nation's oldest, largest
and highest profile volunteer organization working to improve the education,
health and welfare of all children and youth. The PTA also advocates at
national, state and local levels for education and family issues. The PTA is
nonprofit, nonsectarian and noncommercial.
For more information about the California State PTA, visit www.capta.org.
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