Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1539593
Legislature Approves State Budget, our fight for school funding continues Prop. 98 underfunded by $1.9 billion By Julian Peeples I N R E S P O N S E T O widespread advocacy and organizing efforts, legis- lators approved a State Budget that avoided most of the austerity cuts that would have hurt our state's most vulnerable. e approval rejected many of the governor's proposals to slash programs, relying on borrow- ing from other state funds to close a $12 billion shortfall. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the budget into law in late June. This came after a May Revise from Gov. Newsom that painted a grim financial outlook, proposing a number of regressive changes and cuts to close the gap — including major cuts to Medi-Cal and higher education. Legislative leaders pushed back, refusing to balance the budget on the backs of California's most vulnerable. "We will never waver in our commitment to all Californians," Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said in a joint statement. " This budget fights to protect health care access for millions of the most vulnerable families, speeds up housing construction, and makes homes more affordable. It advances historic investments in CAL FIRE to make our state more fire-safe and prioritizes our kids and public schools." Gov. Newsom's May Revise included more than $4 billion less in guaranteed funding for K–12 public education than in January's ini- tial budget proposal. e proposed Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is 2.3%, down from 2.43% in January. e budget includes $2.1 billion ongoing to support the full implementation of universal transitional kindergarten along with additional funding to lower student-to-teacher ratios in these classes. Newsom also proposed $1.7 billion in Student Support and Professional Development Block Grant funding to be used to address rising costs and statewide priorities, including professional development for educators on the ELA Framework and Literacy Roadmap and Mathe- matics Framework, as well as teacher recruitment and retention strategies. A d dit i o n a l ly, th e a pp r o v e d budget underfunds Proposition 98 by $1.9 billion this fiscal year, d el ayin g p aym ents unti l n ext July — a budgeting man euver that creates uncertainty for local school districts in their planning and threatens the sanctity of the guaranteed education funding approved by California voters. "We remain determined to pro- tect Prop. 98, the cornerstone to funding public education," CTA President David Goldberg said in response to the May Revise. "While Californians fight back against the Trump Administration's chaotic and extreme threats to our economy and our public institutions, we also understand we have the power and responsibility to lead the nation and prioritize investments in education, health care and public services over padding the pockets of billionaires and corporate CEOs." "We remain determined to protect Prop. 98, the cornerstone to funding public education. We have the power and responsibility to lead the nation and prioritize investments in education, health care and public services over padding the pockets of billionaires and corporate CEOs." —CTA President David Goldberg 40 cta.org Organizing