CA Educational Budget Leaves Teachers Drowning in Responsibility

Behind California’s school budget proposal: An education system in an advanced state of decay

Jun 28, 2022

In an article written by David Benson, he explains that the California education budget and today’s inflation rates are creating plenty of concern from teachers and the public about the proposed state educational budget. The latest budget for California state education includes $128 billion with $110.3 billion allocated to K-12 schools (Benson, 2022). Governor Newsom states, “this is about education reform. This is about completely reimagining the educational system,” yet the allocated money is divided so specifically that districts are still struggling with local budgets and having to make tough decisions about teacher and school employee cuts, deferring maintenance, and barely providing staff raises that are far below the inflation rate. This is a huge issue in the educational system and people should raise their concerns because our state government sees education from an outer lens. Government controllers do not see the teachers putting their own funding forward to improve classroom environments or employees not taking vacation time because the workload is too demanding. The budget is for students, yes, and increases programs on campus, yes. This funding is requiring teachers and staff to do more yet accept their paycheck with little to no regard to inflation and the level of additional work being put on the shoulders of the teachers in the trenches. The state budget is large, but this itemized list of improvements and opportunities for students limits how local districts can allocate those funds to better the health and longevity of the school and its employees.

Teachers and staff numbers are continuing to drop due to early retirement and those who are choosing to leave the profession. In addition, student enrollment in public and charter schools is declining, which is catastrophic since Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funding generates and drives the amount of cash flow going into local school districts. The article, Behind California’s school budget proposal: An education system in an advanced state of decay, states that many schools are also on the verge of bankruptcy where the state would then absorb and take over the district finances and execute massive cuts in addition to the already dwindling school site. This is happening all over the state due to capitalism and improper use of educational fund allocation beginning at the state and federal level.

What will public and private education look like if we continue this misallocation?

View original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/06/27/wklx-j27.html