For Immediate Release
May 12, 2021
Contact: Duc Luu, dluu@publicadvocates.org
Statement by Managing Attorney John Affeldt on Governor Newsom Education Budget:
This is an historic investment in public schools and equity for our high-need students. We and our grassroots partners asked the Administration to make an ambitious $5 billion multi-year investment in racially just community schools and a diverse and prepared teacher workforce. We were delighted to see the Governor meet and exceed our request with an even higher, combined, $6.3 billion proposal.
We also applaud the impressive proposal for an ongoing $1.1 billion investment in staffing increases in districts with concentrations of low-income students, English learners and foster youth and eventually another $5 billion ongoing in rich afterschool and summer school programs.
These together with many of the other K-12 proposals from the Administration for wrap-around services, $4 billion in social emotional and mental health supports, universal Transitional Kindergarten for 4-year olds, and college accounts hold great promise to rebuild and reimagine our public schools. With these investments, California can begin the journey toward truly creating the racially just, relationship-centered community schools our neediest students and students of color are calling for.
The challenge before us will be to pass and implement these programs effectively and to transform our schools with ongoing—not just one-time—investments when they are shown to work.
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