Contact: Mike Myslinski, 408-921-5769 or mmyslinski@cta.org
BURLINGAME – The following statement was issued today by Dean E. Vogel, president of the 325,000-member California Teachers Association, in response to Gov. Jerry Brown’s May Revision budget proposals:
“Educators know that the governor’s revised budget released today reflects the harsh realities we all face as the state budget deficit continues to swell. But we also know that our schools cannot take more cuts. California already ranks 47th in per-pupil spending and has cut or deferred $20 billion from our schools and colleges in the past four years, despite having the ninth-largest economy in the world. The billions in proposed trigger cuts to schools are unthinkable, and make it all the more crucial that voters pass the governor’s tax measure in November to put California back on the road to recovery.
“CTA also continues to have concerns about changing the school funding formula in these uncertain times. Moving toward a funding formula that creates a system of winners and losers for students will only add to the challenges local schools are facing.”
The 325,000-member CTA is affiliated with the 3.2 million-member National Education Association.