This morning I attended the Burbank and neighboring communities PTA-hosted Community Forum on Public Education. While my husband went willingly, eager to understand the issues that affect our community, especially when it comes to education, my 11-year old was just a tad less than enthusiastic about dragging herself to Glendale at 8:30 on a Saturday morning. Despite the fact that she's an intelligent, eager young lady, she is still, after all, 11. However, despite her hesitation, I watched her listen intently, write notes like mad, and do her best to process the information. I watched her watch me, and my concern. More than once, she simply placed a hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed. Imagine my genuine joy and pride when, at the end, I asked her, "Will you come to the next one with me." "Yeah. I will." No hesitation.What cannot happen now is to remain still about all that I learned today. How does one listen to the realities of the state of public Education in California and not speak up. Silence is not an option. Several statements were made today by the speakers that, alternately, made me angry or made me cry. And so, with the greatest respect for and deference to Mary Perry, Deputy Director of EdSource, and Dr. Morgan Polikoff, Assistant Professor of K-12 Policy @ USC Rossier School of Education, I begin with their words.
We operate at highly efficient levels in California.
The fact is, California has 1 million more students than New York and Florida combined. The fact is, California currently has 10,000 schools, representing 967 distinct districts, and is trying desperately to educate 6.2 million children. The fact is, for every 1000 students, California provides 48 teachers, while the U.S. average is 64. "Efficient levels" is a damned fine euphemism.
The fact is, our schools rely on state leadership to allocate money. The fact is, local districts have little ability to raise revenues for our schools, due to the passing of Proposition 13, 'The People's Initiative", 33 years ago. The fact is, 40% of California's budget is spent on education, and it's not enough to sustain it. The fact is, we're in our third year of substantially reduced funding for K-12 education due to a tanking state economy. The fact is, our governor will likely not be able to avoid additional cuts due to the very real $28 billioin dollar budget deficit.
The clear conclusion is, we have arrived at a day of reckoning. California has long enjoyed reliance on flush budgets and a healthy economy to fund its schools. Even then, K-12 budgets tended to be "highly efficient." This is not likely to happen again in the near future, and our schools will continue the decline.
On the rare occasions when they're all on the same page, they have changed the decisions.
Not addressing these issues is not an option. Every once in a great while, on the rarest of occasions, schools, educators, administrators, parents, and legislators have arrived onto the same page at the same time, doubtless after endless hours of focused effort to bring them all there. At these times, the direction has pivoted, shifting just off the status quo. Here, in this space, true change has taken place. Not only can it again, but it must. The effort it will take to bring us again to a common point is undeniably intimidating. I say, bring it on. For what other choice do we have?
Change does not come from talking about what is broken.
Today's gathering was not about rehashing everything wrong with the system. It was a systematic look at the statistical realities of the funding of public education in California. It was a detailed presentation of the statistical trajectory of No Child Left Behind to date. It was the presentation of factual information to a group of individuals who cared enough to be there to hear it, and, maybe, to do something with it. But it had to be said in order for us to understand. And it will be said again, in order for every other parent, educator, legislator, administrator, and community member to also understand. But we must then act, with pride, persistence, and passion.
We get the leadership we deserve.
The legislature of California needs to know what its voters want. If we as Californians are not clear on what we want, or are unwilling or unable to communicate it, we will clearly continue to get what we deserve. Nothing but the status quo. We have to understand the cold realities and the hard facts. We ALL need to understand where the money comes from, how it is spent, and just how much there really is. You and I cannot afford to believe everything we think we hear, and throw blame where we think it belongs. We owe ourselves, each other, our children, our community, and our planet more than that.
We have some very heroic educators.
Damn straight we do. There are individuals who go above and beyond what is expected. In the classroom, the boardroom, the community, and the political arena. They take great pride in folding the precious time and resources available to them over and over, in the most creative ways, to provide experiences for their children. The moments they spend influencing the lives of our children are among the most rewarding and precious to them. They move without hesitation or thought beyond expectation and into the heroic.
And so?
It's your turn. Go to EdSource and educate yourself. Open your minds to the information available, and consume it. Scream it to your neighbors and your community. Invite people over and TALK ABOUT IT. The financial crisis impacting our schools is not only far from over, it's moving full speed down a steep grade and taking our kids' education with it. Step up, my friends. Please step up.
Today I brought my family to an event that matters. I listened to real information, and I processed it. I blogged about it, to you. I began reading about the Burbank City Council and School Board candidates to determine who, if any, are willing to go the distance for our children's education. I reached out to EducateOurState, in their own words, a parent-led, statewide campaign to demand high quality K-12 public education in California. I asked them how we can have a local gathering hosted by them in Burbank. I offered to help. That was today. Tomorrow is a new day.
