New revenue should have strings attached to student success

Original op-ed in Huff Post Los Angeles by Ama Nyamekye.

On November 6, voters across California will cast ballots for two propositions aimed at raising much-needed revenue for our public schools. Propositions 30 and 38 would raise six billion and 11 billion dollars respectively for education by asking Californians to dig a little deeper into their own pockets. A recent USC/L.A. Times poll showed that half of voters are willing to do so, even as they themselves struggle to make ends meet, a sign of just how important a quality education is to our communities.

Educators 4 Excellence members strongly support these propositions because we've seen how cuts have led to shrinking resources, staff and time for instruction. We have also seen how inadequate funding has hampered the innovative work of grassroots, teacher-led reform. How can teachers design plans for turning around struggling campuses without having additional time for instruction and professional development? How can principals spend adequate time evaluating classroom instruction if we are cutting the support staff needed to help with safety and administration?

To read the complete op-ed, visit Huff Post Los Angeles.