The Governor and legislators say the state budget crisis is so bad that we have no choice but to severely cut education and health and welfare services for kids.

They are wrong!

Please e-mail your legislators.

Remind them that their obligation to all of California’s children does not stop when times get tough.

A budget is a reflection of our values. We value the future of our children and the future of California. We understand cuts to education programs will be enacted as part of a budget deficit solution. But the cuts currently being considered are far too deep and will shortchange an entire generation.

To read California State PTA President Pam Brady’s statement on the budget negotiations, click here.

Please call or e-mail your state Assembly member, state Senator and the Governor right away and deliver the following messages:

• Support a balanced budget approach that includes some additional revenues to prevent even deeper cuts to children’s education programs and services.
• Support full funding for Healthy Families, CalWORKs and Cal Grants – essential programs that support the health and well-being of children, students and families.

Find Your Legislators | Contact the Governor

The Governor and all legislators need to continue to hear directly from parents and PTAs about the devastating impact that cuts proposed in the state budget will have on children. We know many of you have been contacting legislators; it is vital to remind them that PTAs throughout the state and all parents are watching their actions closely.

California State PTA: Now is not the time to retreat from addressing the needs of all children
May 20, 2009

SACRAMENTO – California State PTA President Pam Brady called on state leaders to redouble their efforts to steer California through its current economic crisis, following the defeat yesterday of five measures on the May 19 special election ballot.

“The defeat of these measures doesn’t change our need to find budget and funding solutions for California; it only adds new urgency to our task,” said Brady, on behalf of California State PTA’s nearly 1 million volunteer members.

“Now is not the time to retreat,” Brady said. “Our state faces an unprecedented fiscal crisis and bold, bipartisan decisions are needed. Now – more than ever – we need to ensure that children are the top priority. We can’t keep making cuts to schools – including more than $1 billion proposed in additional cuts during the last month of this current school year alone. Today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce, and our state’s economic health in the future depends on what happens in classrooms now.”

Brady said the state must adopt long-term budget reforms, including reducing the voting margin in the Legislature to 55 percent or a simple majority for passage of both the California state budget and revenue measures. California is one of only three states that requires a two-thirds vote.

“We also must dispel this notion once and for all that cutting vital programs is the only way to close the state’s deficit. Polls consistently show the public does not want cuts to schools. We need a thoughtful, balanced approach both for the short and long-term.”

Brady said PTAs will continue to play an essential role in helping local communities and schools navigate through these challenging economic times.

“PTAs help bring people together to make a positive difference for all children and families,” Brady said. “In these times, we’ll need to seize on new and creative ways to work together. And parents need to stay well-informed and active so they can assist local and state policymakers in identifying and advocating for steps that will lead toward adequate funding for education.

“An entire generation of California children is threatened unless we change way decisions are being made in Sacramento right now.”

The California State PTA has nearly 1 million members throughout the state working on behalf of public schools, children and families, with the motto, “Every child, one voice.” The PTA is the nation’s oldest, largest and highest profile volunteer organization working to improve the education, health and welfare of all children and youth. The PTA also advocates at national, state and local levels for education and family issues. The PTA is nonprofit, nonsectarian and noncommercial.

For more information about the California State PTA, visit www.capta.org.