Wonderland PTA President Teri Levy marched on Sacramento during the recent CA State PTA Convention to publicize the 900 million reasons why the education budget should not be cut.
Listen to Teri’s speech on the Capitol’s steps about how Wonderland’s grass roots efforts are making international headlines.
PTA joins in historic lawsuit
California’s broken school finance system is unconstitutional
On May 20th, an historic lawsuit was filed against the state of California declaring that the current education finance system is broken and unconstitutional. As a result, students are being denied the opportunity to master the educational programs the state requires.
Maya Robles-Wong v. the State of California was filed in Alameda by the California State PTA, the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators. Plaintiffs include nine school districts, as well as individual students and their families. Plaintiff Maya Robles-Wong is a 16-year-old 11th-grader at Alameda High School.
“We must have a school finance system that allows schools to deliver a high-quality education for all children – in good times and in tough times,” said Jo A.S. Loss, president of California State PTA.
About the lawsuit
California’s constitution requires a school system that prepares students to become informed citizens and productive members of society. The state has set clear requirements for what schools must teach and what students must learn. The state has an obligation to provide the resources necessary to meet the required standards, but the state has failed to do so.
This lawsuit seeks to remedy the broken school finance system by (1) declaring that it is unconstitutional and (2) requiring state lawmakers to uphold their constitutional duty to design and implement a school finance system that provides all students equal access to the required educational program.
The lawsuit declares that the “unsound, unstable and insufficient school finance system is neither aligned with required educational programs nor with student needs.”
Filing this lawsuit was a last resort for California State PTA and the other plaintiffs. The Governor and lawmakers have known for some time that the current school finance system is harming students, and they have done nothing to remedy the crisis.
For more information on the lawsuit and to read the complete complaint, please visit www.fixschoolfinance.org.
We recognize the need to keep our membership informed as the case progresses.
Important note
The Board of Directors and Board of Managers weighed this decision to participate in the lawsuit very carefully. The unprecedented step of initiating legal action is necessary given the serious deficiencies of the current school funding system, and the utter lack of meaningful action taken by the Legislature and Governor to address it.
All of the legal representation for California State PTA’s involvement in this case will be provided at no cost to our association. A number of prominent law firms and legal experts are involved in the case, some volunteering their time. Absolutely no member dues or any other of our revenues will be spent on legal costs for this case.
PTA Responds to Governor’s May Budget Revision
California State PTA issued the following statement on May 14 in response to the Governor’s May Revision to the state budget. In the coming weeks, we will be analyzing the specific proposals and providing more information to you to assist in advocacy efforts.
SACRAMENTO – Jo A.S. Loss, president of California State PTA, issued the following statement in response to the Governor’s May Revision of the 2010-2011 budget proposal.
The Governor continues to propose cuts to education, children’s programs and critical social services that are intolerable and unconscionable. The first responsibility of our elected officials is to meet the fundamental needs of all of our children, including a quality education.
The Governor stated that a budget should be a reflection of what we value most. Yet, his proposal does not at all support what Californians care about most: our children.
The Governor also spoke about the need to create jobs and stimulate our economy. Healthy, well educated students are critical for a strong economy.
Any responsible approach to solving the current fiscal crisis requires a balanced approach, including additional revenues. These brutal cuts jeopardize the future of our children and the future of our state.
We are deeply disturbed that the Governor’s May Revision chooses to solve the state’s current fiscal crisis with massive cuts. This was not the only option. Choosing to impose these cuts on our children is unacceptable.
We call upon all Californians to speak up and demand a budget that invests in and meets the needs of California’s 9 million children.
We have seen more than $17 billion in cuts to public education in the last two years. The Governor’s May revision proposes to continue cutting education funding at the same levels as proposed in January. Class sizes are increasing, and we are already losing arts, music, gifted programs and extra-curricular activities. Our most vulnerable students are losing academic support programs and intervention services. School libraries are closing or reducing the hours they are available to students. Already among the last in the nation in the number of nurses, librarians and counselors per student, we are losing even more of these critical members of our education communities.
PTA is equally worried about the threats to the health, safety and well-being of California’s children. Eliminating CalWORKS and decimating child care and other programs as proposed in the May revision will have a devastating effect.
The people of California want a budget that reflects their values. 79 percent of California voters are opposed to making further cuts to public schools to reduce the state budget deficit. A majority of Californians believe that there is not enough state funding going to public schools, and 66 percent would be willing to pay higher taxes to maintain current funding for public schools.
Business officials agree that investing in education is critical. Top Silicon Valley business leaders note that improving K-12 education is one of the most important things the state should do to improve the business climate. Good schools are needed to recruit the best employees.
The future prosperity of our state requires a well-educated workforce able to compete in the global economy. Brutal cuts to our schools and critical services to children jeopardize California’s future.
