2009-2010 Legislative and ACE Alerts

“To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth”

As your Legislative Chair and ACE Representative, we share your concern about the massive cuts to the State Education budget and how it is impacting our children at Courreges. Our school and kid’s futures are on a skeleton budget. Courreges has cut back drastically on facilities and school yard maintenance, janitorial, educational specialists, and reduced class size for younger kids. Future cuts will encroach on the teaching of fundamentals. The PTA is promoting legislation to counteract these circumstances at the National, State, and local levels, and you can help make these efforts successful—be informed and involved.

BE INFORMED
Following are excerpts concerning key issues from the California PTA Sacramento Update

Governor's Proposed Budget Imposes Additional Cuts on Education, Devastating Cuts to Other Important Programs
On January 8, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released his proposed budget for 2010-11.
Contrary to the Governor's pledge to protect education in his State of theState speech, his budget proposal actually reduces payments to schools by $2.4 billion over two years. Total cuts to schools in the past two years will be $17 billion and are disproportionate when compared to cuts made in other program areas of the state budget. click here to read more...

Race to the Top
With all the excitement of a marathon, the California State Legislature worked to pass legislation to support the state's application for Race to the Top funding (RTTT). At stake is a share of the $4.35 billion in one-time federal RTTT funds, of which California could be eligible for as much as $1 billion. After stops and starts, course changes and a final surge across the finish line, legislators agreed on three bills, including two that were joined. click here to read more…

Is the System Broken?
Faced with ever-increasing deficits and partisan gridlock in the Legislature, recent budgets have been chronically late and characterized by heavy cuts to government services, including education and critical programs for children and families. California State PTA is beginning to direct its attention to proposals for longer-term budget and tax reform. click here to read more…

Repair California

CA Forward

Californians for Improved School Funding

Learn more from the legislative websites for California PTA and 4th district PTA
(representing Orange County).
 

BE INVOLVED

Write to your elected state representatives (listed below) now about these and other
educational issues. If your blood is boiling, it is OK--that is what is getting you to act. Be aware that the letter will be taken more seriously if a few tips are followed.

5. Be concise, one page preferably.

Click here  for more explanations for effective advocate letter writing from a well-known former congressman. Remember, with a barrage of email, a snail mail letter will stand out more if you have the extra time, but do what ever is practical--just do something:

Website: http://cssrc.us/web/35

Phone: (916) 651-4035

Phone: (714) 957-4555

Website: http://republican.assembly.ca.gov/member/68/

Phone: (916) 319-2068

Phone: (714) 668-2100

Phone: 916-445-2864

Action Committee for Education (ACE) Chair