FUND ALL KIDS
All children are guaranteed equal education rights and opportunities under California’s constitution. SB-820, California’s new school funding bill, doesn’t go far enough to ensure every child’s education is funded. The state’s actions allow schools declining in enrollment to keep funding for students who are no longer attending these schools, while failing to fund schools that are growing.
Tell Gavin Newsom and California legislators to #FUNDALLKIDS.
Our LawsuitS to fund all kids
In July, a group of students and families filed a lawsuit, Samaiya Atkins v. State of California, against the State of California, the Governor, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Controller, and the California Department of Education. The plaintiffs include 19 public school students attending charter school organizations and are challenging the constitutionality of the Student Defunding Law.
New Lawsuit — Olena Reyes, et al. v. State of California
In September, three public school leaders took the lead in a class action lawsuit that will impact thousands of students in California. The lawsuit challenges the state for breaking its agreement with public schools by changing the rules on how children are funded at charter schools after enrollment decisions were made. In doing so, California is now refusing to fund newly enrolled students at any of the hundreds of non-classroom based public charter schools in the state. Combined, the three school organizations named in the lawsuit have welcomed over 2,000 unfunded new students resulting in approximately $20.9 million in withheld state funding. These school systems represent a small portion of the 310 non-classroom based schools in California—many of which are growing this year.
SB-820 Doesn't FUnd All Kids
The statewide battle to ensure all students are funded began in July when families with children at four growing public school organizations across the state filed a lawsuit, Samaiya Atkins v. State of California challenging the constitutionality of SB-98, the state’s original budget deal. As written, SB-98 withheld funding for any growing public school potentially resulting in over $542 million in public funding being withheld from students. SB-820 was intended to correct this problem. However, SB-820 fails to fund actual enrollment at growing public schools. In addition, the legislation will not fund any new students at non-classroom based public schools.
parents deserve choice
All families have the right to choose the best public education for their children. Great schools that are providing a great education should be rewarded and incentivized to serve a growing student body. Schools that are not serving students well should not be allowed to hoard money.
FUND
ALL
KIDS
Is California witholding money from your child's school?
SB-820 fails to fund actual enrollment at growing public schools. In addition, the legislation will not fund any new students at non-classroom based public schools. Does your child attend a non-classroom based school?
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California has 310 non-classroom based public schools which educated 195,000 students last school year.
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These schools represent 24% of all public charter schools in California.
