All Students Must Be Winners in Our Education System

Only five months in as your California State Assemblyman and I have been working hard to protect funding for our schools since my first day on the job. As a former South Bay School Board Member, and as a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, I’m ready for the fight. 

The Governor wants to dramatically change the way California’s public schools are funded.  The bottom line is he wants to give more money to urban school districts at the expense of suburban districts like those in the Beach Cities.  He wants to close the “achievement gap” by giving more money to districts with large populations of low-income and English learner students.

The Governor is correct that  disadvantaged students may require greater resources.  But those resources should not be at the expense of the other school districts in the state– urban, suburban, and rural – that have been hit hard by state budget cuts in the past five years.  I know firsthand how South Bay schools have been hit with increasing class sizes, teacher layoffs, art and music program cuts, and other setbacks.

As a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, I’m working to restore funding for all school districts, not just those with large disadvantaged student populations.  I’ve also introduced Assembly Bill 1214 to save the Southern California Regional Occupation Center, an outstanding South Bay career technical education program at risk of being wiped out as a result of the Governor’s proposal.

This is not a partisan issue.  By partnering with Democrats and Republicans, we can counter the Governor’s proposal with a plan that will benefit everyone.  But I need your help.  Let the Governor know that a proposal that creates winners and losers among school districts is not the answer.  For a sample letter and more information, please visit my website: http://asmdc.org/members/a66/other-resources/governors-school-funding-proposal

Thanks!

- Al