From Alameda PTA Council - Sample Letter #1 to Governor

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

From Alameda PTA Council - Sample Letter #2 to Governor

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

As a California voter, parent, and member of [School Name] PTA, I am concerned about the effect of your proposed State Budget on public education. Not funding education as Proposition 98 requires would further harm public schools that are already suffering from inadequate resources. The California State PTA has long advocated for adequate funding to support student academic achievement and to promote programs for the health and safety of children and families.

California’s schools are among the lowest funded in the nation. Our average class size is the second largest in the nation. We are last in the nation in the funding of school nurses, librarians, and counselors. Yet we have the most rigorous academic standards and one of the most stringent accountability systems in the nation. These high standards point the way to academic success for our students and future workers, but schools need adequate funding in order to fulfill that promise.

The education funding shortfall has resulted in pressure on parents to raise funds for their children’s schools to provide necessities such as instructional materials, programs, and personnel. These efforts create a gap between school communities that can provide additional funds and those that cannot. The California State PTA believes that a strong statewide public education system is vital to California’s well-being in a global society, and that optimum educational opportunity for all students must be provided.

As Governor, you have shown that you believe in and support the will of the people via the initiative and proposition process. In 1988 voters throughout California approved Proposition 98 to guarantee a minimum level of funding for public schools. The proposed 2005-2006 State Budget breaks the promise made last year to California’s schools and to our six million students to pay back the money borrowed from Proposition 98 and to avoid more harmful cuts in future years, despite the fact that state revenues are now higher than projections indicated when the promise was made. I urge you to uphold your commitment and to provide our children with a quality education to prepare them and our state to be competitive in a global society.

I understand that in a time of stretched resources, there are many demands on available funds. The California State PTA believes that new revenue sources along with budget cuts are necessary for consideration in balancing the State Budget. I urge you to consider all necessary actions, including State Budget structural reform, to keep education and children as the first priority.

Sincerely,

From Alameda PTA Council - Sample Letter #3 to Governor

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

As a California voter, parent, and member of [School Name] PTA, I am concerned about the effect of your proposed State Budget on public education. Not funding education as Proposition 98 requires would further harm public schools that are already suffering from inadequate resources.

California’s schools are among the lowest funded in the nation. Our average class size is the second largest in the nation. We are last in the nation in the funding of school nurses, librarians, and counselors. Yet we have the most rigorous academic standards and one of the most stringent accountability systems in the nation. These high standards point the way to academic success for our students and future workers, but schools need adequate funding in order to fulfill that promise.

As Governor, you have shown that you believe in and support the will of the people via the initiative and proposition process. In 1988 voters throughout California approved Proposition 98 to guarantee a minimum level of funding for public schools. The proposed 2005-2006 State Budget breaks the promise made last year to California’s schools and to our six million students to pay back the money borrowed from Proposition 98 and to avoid more harmful cuts in future years, despite the fact that state revenues are now higher than projections indicated when the promise was made. I urge you to uphold your commitment and to provide our children with a quality education to prepare them and our state to be competitive in a global society.

Sincerely,

From Alameda PTA Council - Sample Letter to Senator Perata

Dear Senator Perata:

As a California voter, parent, and member of [School Name] PTA, I am concerned about the effect of your proposed State Budget on public education. Not funding education as Proposition 98 requires would further harm public schools that are already suffering from inadequate resources. The California State PTA has long advocated for adequate funding to support student academic achievement and to promote programs for the health and safety of children and families.

California’s schools are among the lowest funded in the nation. Our average class size is the second largest in the nation. We are last in the nation in the funding of school nurses, librarians, and counselors. Yet we have the most rigorous academic standards and one of the most stringent accountability systems in the nation. These high standards point the way to academic success for our students and future workers, but schools need adequate funding in order to fulfill that promise.

The education funding shortfall has resulted in pressure on parents to raise funds for their children’s schools to provide necessities such as instructional materials, programs, and personnel. These efforts create a gap between school communities that can provide additional funds and those that cannot. The California State PTA believes that a strong statewide public education system is vital to California’s well-being in a global society, and that optimum educational opportunity for all students must be provided.

The proposed 2005-2006 State Budget breaks the promise made last year to California’s schools and to our six million students to pay back the money borrowed from Proposition 98 and to avoid more harmful cuts in future years, despite the fact that state revenues are now higher than projections indicated when the promise was made. I urge you to uphold your commitment and to provide our children with a quality education to prepare them and our state to be competitive in a global society.

I understand that in a time of stretched resources, there are many demands on available funds. The California State PTA believes that new revenue sources along with budget cuts are necessary for consideration in balancing the State Budget. I urge you to consider all necessary actions, including State Budget structural reform, to keep education and children as the first priority.

Sincerely,

From Alameda PTA Council - Sample Letter Assemblymember Chan

Dear Assemblymember Wilma Chan:

As a California voter, parent, and member of [School Name] PTA, I am concerned about the effect of your proposed State Budget on public education. Not funding education as Proposition 98 requires would further harm public schools that are already suffering from inadequate resources. The California State PTA has long advocated for adequate funding to support student academic achievement and to promote programs for the health and safety of children and families.

California’s schools are among the lowest funded in the nation. Our average class size is the second largest in the nation. We are last in the nation in the funding of school nurses, librarians, and counselors. Yet we have the most rigorous academic standards and one of the most stringent accountability systems in the nation. These high standards point the way to academic success for our students and future workers, but schools need adequate funding in order to fulfill that promise.

The education funding shortfall has resulted in pressure on parents to raise funds for their children’s schools to provide necessities such as instructional materials, programs, and personnel. These efforts create a gap between school communities that can provide additional funds and those that cannot. The California State PTA believes that a strong statewide public education system is vital to California’s well-being in a global society, and that optimum educational opportunity for all students must be provided.

The proposed 2005-2006 State Budget breaks the promise made last year to California’s schools and to our six million students to pay back the money borrowed from Proposition 98 and to avoid more harmful cuts in future years, despite the fact that state revenues are now higher than projections indicated when the promise was made. I urge you to uphold your commitment and to provide our children with a quality education to prepare them and our state to be competitive in a global society.

I understand that in a time of stretched resources, there are many demands on available funds. The California State PTA believes that new revenue sources along with budget cuts are necessary for consideration in balancing the State Budget. I urge you to consider all necessary actions, including State Budget structural reform, to keep education and children as the first priority.

Sincerely,

From California School Board Association Website

The real issue is the quality of public education in California and our need to commit resources sufficient to achieve the high standards we have set for our students. California’s public schools have sustained literally billions of dollars of budget cuts over the past several years, and the effects of these cuts are beginning to be seen in higher class sizes and a leveling off — and in some cases a loss — of the achievement gains we have accomplished since the enactment of the Public School Accountability Act.

State Superintendent Jack O'Connell's Statement

Today, our expectations remain high, but our investments have bottomed out. We have created world-class expectations for our students and schools in California, but we simply aren't funding our schools at the level they need to produce world-class results. California is not investing in its future.

California Education Coalition Statement

The Education Coalition believes it is unconscionable that the Governor’s proposed budget breaks the promise he made to California’s students and public schools.

Last year, students and public schools sacrificed $2 billion in ongoing cuts because the Governor promised that our schools would receive their fair share of any additional state revenues and would be spared cuts in future years. The Governor’s budget proposal breaks his promise to California’s six million students and takes even more money from our schools.

The Governor’s proposals are a smoke screen designed to divert public attention from the real problems facing our public schools. They do nothing to help public schools and students. Instead, they exacerbate an already inadequate funding problem by adding new requirements without any commitment to adequate and stable funding.

California schools have suffered more than $9.8 billion in cuts in the last four years. This has meant school closures, increases in class size, lay offs of teachers and support staff, and a devastating shortage of librarians, counselors and nurses. Many schools lack basic supplies and instructional materials. California voters passed Proposition 98 in 1988 to protect schools and students from harmful budget cuts and to establish at least a minimum level of education funding.

The Governor’s plan to cut another $2.3 billion from our schools goes against the will of California voters, fails our students and breaks the education budget agreement approved by the Governor and the Legislature last year. Two recent independent reports concluded that California’s schools were underfunded, had some of the largest class sizes in the country and inadequate teacher salaries. At the same time, studies credit California for having the highest student standards and accountability assessments of any state in the nation. We can’t expect our students to meet those high standards without giving them the resources they need to succeed. Our students and schools deserve better.