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Contact:  Matthew Hardy: 510.703.5291

SACRAMENTO, CA – CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals released the following statement on behalf of President Jeff Freitas in response to Governor Newsom’s January budget proposal: 

“California’s educators and classified professionals recognize that in the face of a budget deficit, Governor Newsom has held firm to his commitments to increase funding for public education, as well as continuing to fund community schools, the UC Compact, and healthcare for part-time community college faculty. However, we disagree with the governor’s proposal to delay billions of funding guaranteed to our students by Proposition 98. We should not delay these essential payments to our schools.

“California is the 4th largest economy in the world and we should invest in our public education system so students can live, learn, and graduate without debt and with the promise of a better future. And we should ensure that workers in our schools, colleges, and universities can live and thrive in the communities they serve. 

“We must have a serious conversation about raising revenue through progressive taxation to end the affordability crisis, as billionaires thrive in our state while our educators and classified professionals struggle to pay rent.  

“We have deep concerns about the governor’s proposal to radically change the duties and responsibilities of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), removing the constitutional officer’s oversight of the California Department of Education and moving those responsibilities to a position appointed by the governor. The SPI is vital to providing independent oversight of California schools. This move will leave California’s top school official accountable to the governor, not voters.

“CFT looks forward to working with the governor and legislative leaders to reach a final budget that invests in our students’ and our state’s future.”

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CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals represents 120,000 teachers, faculty, and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education. It is the statewide affiliate of the AFT. More information at www.cft.org.