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Building K-12 Schools Now

School Construction - California must build new schools in order to meet the needs of our children, particularly in areas of high growth like our communities. I support setting aside a portion of the state's General Fund to build more schools. At least some of the future funding for school construction should be done on a "pay-as-you-go" basis, just to keep up with the demand. Specifically, the money can be specified as "one-time" general fund monies used specifically for new school construction projects.

Despite the availability of surplus General Fund dollars in recent years, the State has not allocated a single dollar for K-12 school construction purposes. We can and should invest as much as we can in our schools. California can be paying for school facilities today instead of waiting to pass bond measures tomorrow. Schools are running out of space, forcing students to learn in portable classrooms and other temporary facilities. If the State expects children to be able to meet the new state requirements, then safe and adequate school classrooms are an integral part to their success.

Equalization (K-12) - School districts in our community receive less per student than many districts throughout the state, yet are still expected to provide the same opportunities to students as other schools who receive more dollars per student. We need to address these inappropriate district-to-district funding variations and provide our schools with the necessary funding to give students the tools they need to succeed. We need to provide a funding mechanism to equalize the disparity in revenue limits between districts. These allocations will bring 90% of the statewide full-time equivalent students to an equal level of funding within each size and type of school. This funding is an important step towards ensuring that all students have an equal educational foundation.

Per-pupil spending to the national average - I support ensuring that California students receive funding at least at the national average in per-pupil funding. Significantly improving the academic achievement of the state's almost 6 million pupils is the highest priority in the state. California has adopted academic standards that are among the highest in the nation and has established a rigorous school accountability system, yet per-pupil funding remains well below the national average. Measures are needed to ensure that schools receive the necessary resources to achieve the new high standards. With additional funding in our schools, teachers and students will be better equipped to achieve the new higher state standards. More money can mean better schools, higher test scores, superior academic achievement and excellent teachers.

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