The Board of Education voted unanimously on Feb. 4 to endorse the California Schools and Local Community Funding Act, a November ballot measure that would generate an estimated $12 billion in revenue annually for schools and local governments.

“California’s public schools remain woefully underfunded, especially when compared with the rest of the nation,” Superintendent Austin Beutner said. “Los Angeles Unified receives about $17,000 a year to educate each student, while New York provides about $30,000. More funding is needed to provide all students with the great education they deserve.”

The resolution was sponsored by Board Vice President Jackie Goldberg, along with Board Members George McKenna III, Scott Schmerelson, Nick Melvoin, Kelly Gonez and Mónica García.

“California has been systematically disinvesting from our children’s educations for decades, and it’s time we turned that trend around,” Goldberg said. “Additional revenue for our schools will help reduce class size and expand resources to enrich the experiences of our students.”

“There has been a severe strain on students, families and teachers of our K-12 schools and community colleges,” García said. “This initiative will help to boost funding, especially in the poorest and most needy school districts. It will allow us to have smaller class sizes and restore funding for programs that have been cut in the sciences, arts and music. We are grateful to the alliance of over 200 labor and community organizations fighting to increase resources toward more adequacy and equity in California.”

“After many decades of underinvestment, it is time to start finding ways to bring vital resources and services to support our schools, families and communities,” Schmerelson said. “Our students need and deserve public schools that are fairly and adequately funded. Supporting this measure will ensure that our schools and communities come first and that our students receive the funding they deserve to become successful leaders in the 21st century.”

For information, visit boe.lausd.net.