Crisis in California

The ongoing state budget crisis has put your child’s education at risk.

Once, California schools were a model for the nation. Today, California’s per-student funding is near the very bottom of all 50 states—and with it, the quality of our schools.

How did this happen?

How did things get so bad, so fast?

SCHOOL FUNDING 101

The truth is, it didn’t happen overnight. It began in the late 70’s, when California changed the rules of school funding. Previously, local property taxes went to local schools. Initiatives like Prop 13 changed that, gathering all property tax revenue in a pool, and doling it out to local school districts according to a set formula.

The net result: Our schools took a budget hit. And the hits kept coming.

Then came the roundhouse kick: the state of California's budget crisis. Since April 2009, in response to reduced state funding, IUSD has been forced to make $38 million in reductions and adjustments. The progress we’d made trying to offset state cuts was virtually wiped out overnight.

THE BUDGET CRISIS

As you may have read, the California Legislature has been in a budget crisis. There is simply not enough revenue to pay their commitments.

The result: To help get the state through the budget crisis, the Legislature has gone to the well, drawing out funds that should go to schools. Many, many funds. No program has been cut deeper in the last 18 months than the school budget.

A budget that was already inadequate.

TODAY’S REALITIES

Change in Sacramento will not come soon.

So not only will the crisis continue. It will get worse before it gets better.

Your child needs you.

Our schools need you.

IPSF needs you more than ever.