Legislation & Education Advocacy

The Our Children, Our Future 2012 campaign and the California State PTA today launched a signature-gathering drive to secure a spot for the education initiative on the November 2012 ballot.  Click here to read the full press release.

You can HELP! Take Action NOW!

The budget proposed in January by Governor Schwarzenegger cuts education by $2.4 billion.  For Poway Unified, this will mean $24 million in cuts for the 2010-11 school year - that's more than 10% of our district's annual budget. This is on top of over $48 million in cuts that Poway Unified has shouldered over the last seven years. While our teachers have agreed to a salary rollback to prevent layoffs next year, the 140+ teachers who accepted early retirement packages will not be replaced. As a result, our class sizes will increase, our school year will be shortened, and there will be further reductions to student support services.

K-12 education represents about 40% of the state budget, yet it has absorbed approximately 60% of the budget reductions. We need your help in holding our legislators accountable for moving K-12 education back to the top of the state priority list. We need our governor and state legislators to take action and protect our schools from further cuts. 

Please take a moment to call your state legislators AND mail or fax them an advocacy letter.

Click here to TAKE ACTION NOW!

PTA Responds to Governor's May Budget Revision

May 15, 2010: California State PTA issued the following statement today 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. Click here to read more

CA PTA joins in historic lawsuit

California's broken school finance system is unconstitutional

This morning, a 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.

Ballot Initiative - Californians for Improved School Funding

February, 11 2010:  Great news!  The California State PTA has endorsed the Californians for Improved School Funding's ballot initiative, the "Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act."  If qualified for the November 2010 ballot and approved by voters, the proposed Act would lower the threshold for passage of educational parcel taxes from the current two-thirds requirement to 55 percent, provided certain requirements are met. These include:     

*Advance disclosure on how funds will be spent     
*Annual audits     
*Oversight by an independent citizens' oversight committee, and     
*Offering an exemption to senior citizens.  

The initiative would:     

*Limit parcel taxes to $250 per parcel per year, and     
*Provide local funding that could not be taken, or offset, by the state in its educational funding decisions.

1 million signatures are required to get this measure on the November 2010 ballot. Signatures must be turned in by April 16.

Instructions and signature forms are below:     

* Signature package     
* Important Information for Signature Gatherers     
* Spring 2009 EMC Research Telephone Survey Results     
* CA PTA Press Release

More information about the initiative is included below.

WHAT IS A PARCEL TAX

A parcel tax is a flat fee assessed per parcel, unlike school facility bond measures which are assessed based on property value.  By law, local school districts are only allowed to raise funds for school programs through parcel taxes.  While funds from school facility bond measures must be used for construction and renovation, parcel taxes can fund classroom instruction including reducing class sizes and supporting specific programs.  The ballot proposal prepared by the school district governing board describes the purpose the money will be used for.

HOW WILL A 55% THRESHOLD MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Most school districts do not attempt a parcel tax measure because of the difficulty of passage due to the two-thirds majority vote required, and the expense involved.  According to a recent EdSource report, from 1983 through June 2009, voters approved 261 parcel taxes in 486 elections - a 53.7% success rate.  Under a 55% threshold, 423 (87%) would have passed.

In the 1990s, California was experiencing a school facilities crisis with over-crowded campuses and aging buildings and portables.  Like parcel taxes, school facility measures were difficult to pass because they required a two-thirds majority vote.  That changed in 2000, when voters passed Proposition 39 which changed the threshold for local school facilities bonds to 55%.  Since that time, school districts have found it easier to pass these measures and school facilities have improved dramatically throughout the State.

HOW WOULD THIS INITIATIVE HELP POWAY UNIFIED?

Although the Governor announced in January that he would protect education funding, his budget proposal would actually cut K-14 education by over $2 billion.  Poway Unified could see cuts exceeding 10% of its annual budget. As Dr. Phillips shared at the Palomar Council meeting last week, the budget outlook could worsen if the Governor is unsuccessful in obtaining the $7 billion in federal funding he is seeking.

As grim as the current outlook is, it will probably grow worse in the next several years.  The Legislative Analyst's Office, the nonpartisan advisory arm of the state legislature, is predicting that California's state revenue shortfalls will continue deepening through 2012-13, and education funding will not return to pre-recession levels until at least 2013-14.

California already ranks amongst the lowest in per-pupil spending compared to that of other states.  As a low-wealth school district, Poway Unified is under-funded by over one million dollars per year (equalization).  Recent budget cuts have exacerbated this situation.  While voters are typically averse to more taxes, in opinion polls they consistently express a willingness to pay higher taxes to spare schools from cuts.  Voters also believe local school districts should have more control and they are far more likely to trust local leaders with education dollars than the state.

Poway Unified has never seriously considered a parcel because the two-thirds vote requirement would be extremely difficult to achieve based on past history.  As with most other school districts, attempts to pass a facilities bond measure in Poway Unified were unsuccessful prior to the passage of Proposition 39.  Proposition A received 64.37% voter approval in 1999, and Proposition Y received 62.93% voter approval in 2000.  After Proposition 39 lowered the vote threshold to 55%, we passed Proposition U in 2002 with 63.81% voter approval, and Proposition C in 2008 with 63.9% approval.  As a result of these measures passing, our older campuses have been renovated and all our students benefit from safe, modern learning environments and the technology they need to maintain the outstanding achievement our district is known for.  Our excellent neighborhood schools also increase the demand for our homes and protect our property values.

The “Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act” provides a glimmer of hope for communities like ours during this unprecedented education funding crisis.  With the voter threshold lowered to 55%, the odds of passing an education parcel tax in Poway Unified would be greatly improved.  Passage of a local education parcel tax could allow us to keep smaller class sizes and preserve important education programs that will otherwise be lost due to funding cuts. The decision would be a community decision with all the proceeds remaining in Poway Unified schools.   More information about the “Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act” can be found at Californians for Improved School Funding’s website:  www.improvedschoolfunding.com

Speak up for children and families

July 10, 2009: State budget negotiations continue in Sacramento, and education and children's services continue to face the threat of drastic cuts. Recently, the Governor proposed suspending Proposition 98, the voter-approved Constitutional funding guarantee for K-12 education and community colleges. California State PTA opposes suspending the funding guarantee. Click here to read more

Educating California: Choices for the Future

June 2009:  The bad news is that California is facing a “skills gap” - a shortage of college graduates - that threatens its economic future. But the good news is that modest improvements in college enrollment, community college transfers, and the college completion rate, particularly in the California State University system, could help to narrow that gap substantially. These improvements will not only help California’s young adults succeed in an increasingly high-skill economy but will also benefit the state by increasing tax revenues and allowing for greater economic growth. Read more here

Ever wonder how Proposition 98 works?

It's widely believed in the Capitol that no more than five or six people truly understand how Proposition 98, the 21-year-old, voter-approved state school finance law, truly works. Read more here...

Be an advocate for your child's education

To advocate is to be a proponent. Being interested, involved and inquisitive when your child enters school is an example of advocacy. Advocacy builds stronger schools.

Communicate with everyone involved in your child's education, including your child.

Become aware of the issues your child faces every day in the classroom.

Ask your child. Find out what your child likes about school, and how your child feels about a typical day at school.

Talk to your child's teacher. A teacher may have insights you do not have about your child. Share your insights too!

Be positive. If you suspect there is a problem, ask for the teacher's input. Finding answers may take time.

Is your child struggling? Research. Speak with your child's doctor, browse book stores, libraries, and the internet for valid information, i.e., California PTA www.capta.org, National PTA www.pta.org, and California Department of Education www.cde.ca.gov.

Speak with other parents, their children might be having similar experiences. Attend parent education evenings.

Volunteer in the classroom, on field trips; attend school events and meetings. You will learn how your school and school district educates and supports your child.

Knowledge is the key to success. The more you know the better advocate you can be for your child's positive school experience and academic achievement.

School district revenue

Have you ever wondered about the grand total of all the revenue a school district has? About how much it spends on the direct instruction of students? About its average teacher's salary compared to the statewide average?

Today Ed-Data debuts a brand new, easy-to-understand set of reports -- "Financial Reports for District" -- for all California school districts and county offices of education on here. Beginning with the 2003-04 school year, these reports begin to tap into the full financial reporting capability of California's Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS).

Just select a school district and use the pull-down menu to open "Financial Reports for District." Similar information is also available for County Offices of Education on the county level. Until the 2004-05 data is posted, change the year to 2003-04 to find the "Intro" that describes the structure of the reports.

This first release provides new perspectives on 2003-04 data (2004-05 will be released soon). The financial information long available on Ed-Data has been expanded and enhanced to reflect restricted and unrestricted revenues and expenditures. The new All Funds tab goes beyond the General Fund to give you a full picture of your district's revenues and expenditures, including capital projects. Another tab focuses on General Fund expenditures by activity, such as instruction or specific pupil services. To help you understand the data, the individual items have explanatory links to the California School Accounting Manual.

You can use the pull-down menu again to view the new, robust "Compare District Finances." New functionality allows you to compare your selected district to similar ones based on a number of criteria, such as revenue limits and beginning teacher salaries. Or you can search for the "highest" or "lowest" districts, again on criteria of your choosing.

You might also like to look at the updated comparison of California to the other states. Just click on "How California Compares" on the home page.

This week in Washington

Learn about what's happening on Capitol Hill, and about legislative issues that affect families, schools, and communities. Read This Week in Washington, published by National PTA.

Our Voices, Raised Together, Are Making a Difference!

Help us advocate for children. Join the National PTA Member-to-Member Network. When we need your help, you will receive an e-mail asking you to go to the National PTA website and send a letter to your members of Congress. We even write the letter for you! The few minutes you give once a week or once every other week makes a huge impact in Washington. Our voices raised together can make a difference!