May 17, 2024
Our Response to Governor Newsom’s Revised 2024-2025 State Budget
“As educators, we agree with Governor Newsom that we need to preserve the progress we’ve made in funding for public education. Any cuts to education would have dire implications for our public schools, further exacerbating the inequities we see in our classrooms every day.”
Read our full statement below.
Contact JHoward@cta.org
SACRAMENTO – On Friday, May 17, the California Teachers Association (CTA) hosted a virtual press briefing to provide an analysis of Governor Newsom’s May Revise.
David Goldberg, CTA President, issued the following statement:
“While our state is facing a massive deficit, we refuse to accept that our students’ educational experience will be defined by years of cuts. Students deserve more resources today – smaller class sizes, school counselors, nurses, and librarians – not less. Together, Californians overwhelmingly passed Proposition 98 to protect school funding in good times and bad – back in 1988. Californians are still committed to funding our schools today.
“The Proposition 98 maneuver proposed in the May Revise threatens public school funding. Eroding this guarantee would harm schools for years to come and create the conditions for larger class sizes, fewer counselors, school nurses, and mental health professionals, cuts to essential school programs and potential layoffs. We will be calling our elected leaders in the coming weeks to demand protection of school funding. We are also launching a public media campaign to ensure that our communities understand what’s at stake.
“Proposition 98, passed by California voters and enshrined in the California constitution, provides protections and mechanisms that have been used in the past to ensure that, even in times of economic downturn, funding for California’s schools is secured. While purporting to protect education funding for the 2023-24 budget year, the May Revision’s solution to the State’s current and ongoing budget deficit is premised on a substantial cut in public school funding. Specifically, the May Revision proposes an unconstitutional reduction to the Proposition 98 minimum funding guarantee of nearly $12 billion (background and more details HERE). This proposal will lower school funding this year and for years to come and will open the door to future manipulation of the Proposition 98 guarantee.
“Essential services are on the chopping block. Educators are getting layoff notices. And now the floor of our public-school funding system is under threat. At CTA, we are committed to rectifying these deep inequities. We all deserve stronger, more robust and consistent revenue in our state to fund the public institutions that are the bedrock of our society. We are going to explore all paths forward to ensure that public school funding is protected for our students and communities.”
“We call on the Governor and our Legislature to stand with us to protect public school funding and uphold the will of California voters.”
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The 310,000-member California Teachers Association is affiliated with the 3 million-member National Education Association.
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Contact NewsDesk@cta.org
SACRAMENTO — California Teachers Association (CTA) President David B. Goldberg issued a statement following today’s presentation of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May revised 2024-2025 state budget:
“As educators, we agree with Governor Newsom that we need to preserve the progress we’ve made in funding for public education. Any cuts to education would have dire implications for our public schools, further exacerbating the inequities we see in our classrooms every day.
“As always, we will closely monitor any attempt to weaken the constitutional protections behind the Proposition 98 funding guarantee. Eroding this guarantee would harm schools for years to come and create the conditions for larger class sizes, fewer counselors, school nurses, and mental health professionals, cuts to essential school programs and potential layoffs. All while California is in the bottom half of per pupil spending in the country. Proposition 98, passed by California voters and enshrined in the California constitution, provides protections and mechanisms that have been used in the past to ensure that, even in times of economic downturn, funding for California’s schools is secured.
“Educators and our students are also part of the very communities being impacted by the proposed cuts to other programs that our students and families rely on. The impact of any cuts to critical programs like healthcare and other essential services will be felt far and wide.
“At a time when our economy is booming for corporations and their wealthy CEOs, we strongly believe that the Governor and California legislators should be raising additional revenues and investing more resources into our communities and schools, not less. We urge the Governor and the Legislature to raise new revenues and close corporate tax loopholes so our state doesn’t continue to encounter these impossible budget situations where only the wealthiest Californians win.
“We will continue to work with the Governor and the Legislature to safeguard constitutionally protected school funding for the 2024-25 budget year and beyond.”
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The 310,000-member CTA is affiliated with the 3-million-member National Education Association.
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Contact JHoward@cta.org
SACRAMENTO—California Teachers Association (CTA) President David B. Goldberg issued the following statement following today’s presentation of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2024-2025 state budget:
“Governor Newsom’s proposed budget continues to keep our state’s commitment to equitable access to a quality public education and resources for all California students. In the face of a $37.86 billion budget shortfall, the governor’s ongoing commitment to public education means that school districts and community colleges will be able to build on the recent investments in education that have expanded learning opportunities for students.
“We are especially pleased that the governor remains unwavering in his commitment to Community Schools. With the historic $4.1 billion investment maintained, California is on the road to making one in four California schools a Community School. This prioritizes democratic decision making, racial justice, and the needs of students.
“CTA will continue to work with lawmakers throughout this year’s budget process to ensure the final budget reflects the will of California voters, educators, and parents to prioritize public schools and colleges. We will work to ensure there are no layoffs to educators and school employees as we have seen in some past budget deficit years. Layoffs are devastating and chaotic for educators, students, and communities. The budget shortfall this year, and the potential for cuts or freezes to vital services that people depend on, highlight the need for long-term, consistent investment in all public services, including public schools. California is the fifth largest economy in the world, and our students deserve nothing less than an education system that reflects that economic strength.”
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The 310,000-member CTA is affiliated with the 3-million-member National Education Association.
2023 State Budget News
Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal includes historic gains for public education. Learn more here.
Proposition 98: What You Should Know
Passed by California voters in 1988, Proposition 98 sets a minimum funding guarantee for public education. That amount can vary slightly from year to year but is usually around 40 – 41 percent. Learn more via EdSource.
School Finance: Addressing Inequities
A large share of our K-12 students are English learners or from low-income families, costing more to educate. The Local Control Funding Formula provides a base grant for all students and supplemental and concentration grants for these students.
California Budget Project reviews Local Control Funding Formula
Local Control Funding Formula and the State Budget
When Governor Jerry Brown proposed the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) in 2013, he said “Equal treatment for children in unequal situations is not justice.” CTA continues to advocate for justice for all students in our budget process and through the local control funding formula. CTA believes:
- State and federal government should provide adequate funding for education in order for school districts to fulfill the goals of providing a quality education and necessary resources to meet the individual needs of all students.
- Students with the greatest needs (English language learners, foster youth and low-income students) require additional resources to achieve the state’s academic standards. That is why when it was first implemented during the 2013-14 school year, the CTA State Council of Education adopted its Budget Principles that define support for the LCFF based on equal funding for students most in need, restoration of the deficit factor, an annual cost-of-living adjustment while the formula is being implemented over a period of several years, and full funding for K-3 Class Size Reduction Program.
- Funding must be based on enrollment and that quantifiable data is consistently applied and publicly available.
CTA continues to advocate for additional, ongoing funding for the LCFF as stated in the most recently-adopted CTA Budget Principles for 2019-20.
Learn more about the Local Control Funding Formula.
