Good News for Schools, Students
It took nearly two years, court action, an overwhelming victory at the polls in November, and an ongoing statewide mobilization, but CTA and the Education Coalition have won a major victory that is bringing more than $5 billion in new funds to public education.
Backed by a legal suit CTA filed, the Association and its coalition partners have reached a settlement with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that will restore all the money owed to public schools under Prop. 98 and the agreement of 2004. In total, his May Revision budget includes an additional $5 billion to schools and California's 6.2 million students. It includes that repayment and the portion of new state revenues due to public education under the state constitution.
The May Revision, released to the public on May 12, contains the governor's revised budget proposal for 2006-2007 and includes the first payment on the money owed to schools. Two billion dollars will be paid in 2006-07. Three billion from the settlement agreement will be paid over the next seven years.
The future years' payments will go to help schools that are serving low-income students and English Learners. Some of the funds will underwrite an expansion at the community colleges of career education programs and help to improve transfer rates to four-year colleges.
"The agreement represents a great outcome for our schools and community colleges throughout California," said CTA President Barbara E. Kerr. "Having all the money owed to our schools under Proposition 98 and the governor's agreement of 2004 restored to our students is the news we've been waiting for. It is especially good for those students who live in high-poverty areas and who do not speak English as a first language. Using some of the repayment money to improve learning and instruction in our schools of greatest need will help us close the achievement gap."
The CTA leader cautioned that some of the funding is one-time money. Pres. Kerr pledged that CTA would continue to work with the governor and the legislature "to determine how we provide adequate resources for our schools on a long-time basis."
The agreement takes major steps toward achieving CTA's long-standing goal of providing increased resources to schools of greatest need. The repayment funds will address some of the major problems facing struggling California public schools, including reducing class sizes, enhancing teacher and principal training, increasing parental involvement, and providing school counselors.
Lawmakers and the governor have until June 30 to finalize the new state budget, which is slated to take effect on July 1.
On May 23, CTA chapter leaders from around the state converged on the Capitol to take part in the Presidents' Lobby Day. They worked with their lawmakers to ensure that the terms of the settlement are incorporated into the final budget agreement.