California Ranks 50th In The Nation In Per Pupil Spending

Education Week just released it's California State Highlights 2014 report which ranks California dead last in per pupil spending. (See: http://www.edweek.org/media/ew/qc/2014/shr/16shr.ca.h33.pdf) 

According to the report average per pupil spending in California is $8,341 per student. That is about $3,000 less per student than the national average of $11,864. The news is even worse for school districts like Capistrano Unified which is expected to receive per pupil funding of $6,773 for 2014- 2015 under Governor Browns new Local Control Funding Formula.  That would put CUSD $5,000 per student below the National average and $2,000 per student below the State average.

Public Advocates Inc., a non-profit law firm and advocacy organization is suing the State of California on behalf of Campaign For Quality Education; a grassroots research organization dedicated to educational equality for all communities. The law suit claims that the State is failing to provide all children with an equal opportunity to obtain a meaningful education. 

Despite the depth and breadth of the California economy (with record high revenues now at $104 billion) the State's continued lack of adequate funding is forcing Districts across the State to undertake cost- saving measures that further undermine student's access to fundamental educational opportunities by:

• Reducing the school year (furlough days)
• Increasing class sizes 
• Laying off teachers, instructional aids, counselors, custodians and support staff
• Eliminating art and music classes and programs,
• Eliminating after-school programs
• Eliminating summer school supplemental and intervention programs

The complaint alleges that the effects of inadequate funding is reflected in high dropout rates and a lack of proficiency in core subject areas. 

The full court documents can be read at the following link: http://www.fairschoolsnow.org/court-documents