SACRAMENTO, CA – California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) President and CEO Myrna Castrejón issued the following statement regarding Governor Newsom’s May Revision to the 2022-2023 state budget proposal:
“The May Revise appropriately reflects the needs of California’s public education system with a focus on a much-needed increase in overall education funding. There is no better investment of this record surplus than in our kids.
“We are pleased that Governor Newsom recognized the unforeseen impact of surges in COVID-19 cases that dramatically impacted daily attendance and included funding to protect all classroom-based schools from the financial impacts of attendance declines this year. These funding losses would have had a disproportionate impact on charter schools serving minority and low-income communities, which were hardest hit by COVID.
“We agree with the Governor that California’s historic revenues present an opportunity for the state to further support education and opportunity for all kids - and it should be just that, for all kids. This includes various models of public education that best serves the unique needs of students across the Golden State because not all children learn the same.
“As we work with the Legislature on the final budget, we will continue to advocate for equitable funding for all public schools, including nonclassroom-based schools also facing funding losses due to attendance declines. The exclusion of nonclassroom-based schools will adversely impact schools which serve our some of our most vulnerable students, such as San Francisco’s Five Keys Charter School, which provides high-quality educational opportunities to incarcerated students, and at-promise students, who are juggling home, work, and school obligations.
“Throughout the pandemic, our schools have persevered amid teacher shortages and inflation that we have not witnessed in decades. The 6.56% cost of living adjustment, the $8 billion one-time discretionary block grant allocation, and an additional $2.1 billion in Prop 98 funding for all public schools will help provide the additional resources educators need to support their students who are suffering from learning loss and negative impacts related to the pandemic.”