|
Palomar Council PTA, December, 2003
Whereas, every child enrolled in a public
school in California is entitled to an equally funded education; and
Whereas, California’s existing school
funding formula for General Purpose (Revenue Limit) funds is based on dynamics that
existed 30 years ago; and
Whereas, the inevitable changes that have
occurred in communities and districts were not accounted for when the formula was
implemented in 1972; and
Whereas, the formula has been adjusted for
inflation, but no permanent changes have been made to adjust for its inherent
inequities; and
Whereas, numerous districts continue to be funded at a rate below the state average; and
Whereas, elementary schools are funded at the
lowest rate, while high school districts receive the highest amount of per-student
funding, yet unified districts are funded at a rate closest to the elementary rate;
and
Whereas, these disparities, combined with
massive cuts to education funding in 2003, have placed an extreme financial burden to
low-funded and unified school districts; now therefore be it
Resolved, that the California PTA advocates
the permanent restructuring of General Purpose (Revenue Limit) school funding formulas
to bring all districts to the statewide average; and be it further
Resolved, that the California PTA advocates
the permanent restructuring of General Purpose (Revenue Limit) funding formulas so
that unified districts are funded at the elementary rate for elementary students, and
at the high school rate for secondary students; and be it further
Resolved, that the California PTA, and
its districts, councils and units will advocate for immediate legislation to
restructure General Purpose (Revenue Limit) funding formulas as noted; and be it
further
Resolved, that the California PTA, and
its districts, councils and units will educate members and the community on the
existing disparities in General Purpose (Revenue Limit) funding and the need to
restructure funding to be fair and equitable for all students.
CLASS SIZE REDUCTION:
REFORM IS NEEDED TO KEEP CLASSES SMALL
Palomar Council PTA, December 2003
Whereas, the California State PTA
convention delegates in 1996 adopted a resolution titled CLASS SIZE REDUCTION
directing the California State PTA and its districts, councils and units to seek,
support and sponsor legislation to reduce class sizes, beginning with grades 1 through
3; and
Whereas, the California State PTA
continues to believe that the ratio of 20 students to one teacher is important to
improving academic performance; and
Whereas, the costs to school districts
for Class Size Reduction are not fully funded by the State of California, thus
requiring participating districts to subsidize Class Size Reduction by encroaching on
general funds and/or funds previously allocated to other programs; and
Whereas, many esteemed organizations
have publicly endorsed relaxing the requirements for Class Size Reduction including
the CSR Consortium, the California Federation of Teachers, the California School
Boards Association, and the California Association of School Business Officials; and
Whereas, cuts to state funding for the
2003/2004 school year have forced numerous school districts to reduce and even
eliminate Class Size Reduction; and
Whereas, due to budget cuts, some
school districts have resorted to allowing parents to fund Class Size Reduction,
further exacerbating the differences in education quality of students living in
wealthy areas versus those in economically disadvantaged areas; and
Whereas, relaxed Class Size Reduction
requirements would result in an estimated savings to California school districts of
$200 million state-wide, which would allow many school districts to continue
participating in the program rather than abandoning it altogether; now therefore be it
Resolved, that the California State
PTA, and its districts, councils and units will advocate for full funding of
California’s Class Size Reduction program; and be it further
Resolved, that until California’s
Class Size Reduction program becomes fully funded, the California State PTA, and its
districts, councils and units, advocates relaxing Class Size Reduction requirements to
allow for a 22:1 student to teacher ratio, providing the school-wide average does not
exceed a 20:1 average; and be it further
Resolved, that the California State
PTA, its districts, councils and units will urge policy-makers to pass short-term
emergency legislation, that will allow CSR funding with no penalties, for classes with
a 22:1 student to teacher ratio, providing the school-wide average does not exceed a
20:1 average; and be it further
Resolved, that the California State
PTA, and its units, councils and districts will work with local school districts to
encourage them to participate in California’s Class Size Reduction program.
|
