FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2021
Contacts: Karn Saetang, karn@caljustice.org, 773-691-6187 and Erin Apte, eapte@publicadvocates.org, 360-584-4021
California Partnership for the Future of Learning’s Statement on Governor Newsom’s TK-12 Education Budget Proposals to Reimagine & Rebuild California’s Educational System
Today Governor Newsom announced historic investments in TK-12 education as part of his May revise budget proposal. The California Partnership for the Future of Learning (CA PFL) is excited to see our calls for robust investments in racially just, relationship-centered transformative community schools reflected in the $3 billion investment in the California Community Schools Partnership Program, along with more than $3 billion for teacher pipeline and professional development to grow the number of diverse and well-prepared educators in California’s schools.
With historic funding levels, we have an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine schools and address the root causes of education inequity. After a year of research grounded in youth and families-of-color, CA PFL and our allies released a platform to “Reimagine and Rebuild” what education can look like for our students, a place where schools:
- Center relationships
- Address whole child needs
- Strengthen diverse staffing and partnerships
- Make teaching and learning relevant and rigorous
- Empower teams to reimagine and rebuild systems
Now is the time to make meaningful progress towards this long-term vision. We call on school districts to engage with students and families to make meaningful investments with these funds. We applaud the Governor’s commitment to making transformative investments in racially-just, relationship centered community schools and investing in diverse educator recruitment and training to sustainably rebuild California’s schools and accelerate pandemic recovery.
We also know that long-term visions require long-term investments. We need to build out the statewide infrastructure and capacity to support our schools in embedding these principles to make them sustainable and effective. To do that, we look forward to working with our state leaders in identifying ways for the state of California to sustainably and continuously generate revenue for our schools.
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The California Partnership for the Future of Learning is a statewide alliance of community organizing and advocacy groups advancing a shared vision of a transformational, racially just education system built for us all. It is led by Advancement Project California, Californians for Justice, PICO California, and Public Advocates, with the support of Community Coalition, InnerCity Struggle, and over a dozen grassroots, research and philanthropic partners.
