CTA believes California schools should be second to none in fiscal
support by the state. As a result of Proposition 13, more than 80% of
school funding comes from the state. Having lost access to most local
funding, it is incumbent on the state to uphold the California
Constitution that states that public education has first call on state
moneys.
CTA led the fight for Proposition 98, which was approved by
California voters and guarantees minimum funding to California public
schools. CTA believes all public schools in the state should have
adequate resources to assure all students a quality education that
helps them reach the state’s academic standards and meets their
individual needs. Too many California Students attend schools that lack
adequate facilities, resources and fully qualified educators.
CTA also believes that the state must provide assistance, rather
than sanctions to those schools that have been labeled low- or
under-performing based on state or federal assessments. These schools
face systemic challenges that deserve greater attention. These schools
have the most crowded campuses and classrooms, have more students from
low-income families, a higher number of uncredentialed teachers, and a
larger number of students still learning to speak English.
The state each year should provide a fully-funded, cost-of-living
adjustment and growth funding for all programs, including categorical
programs that provide direct instruction to students. All districts
need additional local flexibility in implementing new programs to
attract and retain quality educators and to improve student performance.
CTA believes that students need and deserve smaller class sizes,
up-to-date textbooks, computers, and a safe learning environment.
However, California continues to lag behind the national average in
per-pupil funding, has some of the largest class sizes in the country
and ranks dead last in the number of counselors and librarians in our
schools.
Additional state funding is also needed to support the community
colleges and California State Universities, which have the
responsibility of training California’s 21st century workforce.