California public schools seek private money just to cover the basics

[flashl]

Foundations are nothing new, but they're multiplying as huge budgets cuts loom. And beyond enrichment, their goals now are saving teacher positions and keeping class sizes down.

South Orange County families are being urged to donate $400 per student to save the jobs of 266 teachers in the Capistrano Unified School District.

Parents at Long Beach's Longfellow Elementary are among countless statewide who are launching fundraising foundations.

Bay Area parents launched a campaign featuring children standing in trash cans; the theme is "Public Education Is Too Valuable to Waste."

...

"Public education is free, but an excellent public education is not free at this point," said Janet Berry, president of the Davis Schools Foundation, which recently launched the Dollar-a-Day campaign, urging citizens of the city near Sacramento to donate $365 per child, grandchild or student acquaintance.

LA Times

Mission accomplished, public education that's not free.

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. An idiot governor leads the way.

[napi21]

2. So, is everybody still glad they did that recall and put THIS nitwitt

in the Governors house? I realize Davis had the personality of a stone, but it sure doesn't sound like the Groppinator is doing such a great job to me! I don't live in Ca. mainly because I couldn't afford to do so, but I have't heard any good news about your state in quite a while!

[Cresent City Kid]

3. Po Child Left Behind

We have national standards of educational achievement, but our system of funding education primarily with local property taxes locks in inequality by age 5. California has traditionally had higher incomes and taxes, so if there's a problem there, New Orleans' public schools are in real trouble, as are many others around the country. Salary disparity between administrators and teachers mimics that of the corporate world, but the first thing to go will be healthy meals at lunch for kids.