BURLINGAME – Barbara E. Kerr, president of the 340,000-member California Teachers Association, issued this statement today about the release this week of the new “Getting Down to Facts” group of public education studies:
“Educators welcome these studies. CTA agrees that changes must be made to improve student learning, but as these studies also show, change cannot happen without a substantial investment in new education funding to help all students succeed and reach the high standards we’ve set for them.
“We have one of the largest economies in the world, yet California’s education spending per student has trailed the national average for almost three decades. With some of the largest class sizes in the country, it’s hard for students to get the one-on-one attention they deserve. California also continues to rank last in counselors and librarians per student. Art, music and career technical education programs have practically disappeared in our public schools.
“This is a comprehensive study and it deserves a comprehensive approach. Blaming teachers for what’s wrong with our schools, while doing nothing to address the real problems our schools face, is not the way to improve public education. Rather than making it harder to recruit and retain teachers by questioning their professional rights, we should be looking at proven reforms like reducing class sizes, providing quality training for teachers and principals, and getting adequate textbooks and materials to all schools.
“CTA looks forward to working with the governor and the Legislature to ensure that all public schools get the adequate, stable and ongoing funding they need to help students succeed. Our school funding system has been below-average for way too long. It’s time once again to make our public schools the best in the nation.”
Review CTA's Adequacy & Performance Research packet