Public Schools Need Proposition 2, But It’s Not Perfect
Proposition 2 passed during the November 2024 election, which approved a $10 billion bond for school infrastructure repairs. This bond will go towards updating schools that 38% of Californian K-12 students go to which don’t meet the minimum required safety standards according to the Public Policy Institute of California. This institute also estimated that it would cost more $100 billion to fix every leaking roof and broken heater in California schools. Prop. 2 garnered bipartisan support and was only opposed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and one Republican Assemblymember, who argued taxpayers already support schools enough. On the other side, some left-leaning organizations, while still supporting the bill, think it needs to be more equitable. School districts that can raise more money through local bonds, usually wealthier districts, will receive more money from Proposition 2.
After the last school facilities bond failed in 2020, the money from Prop. 2 is much needed. Chronic public school underfunding is a direct result of the passage of Prop. 13 in 1978. Since Prop. 13, public schools have been severely underfunded and the only way they can even attempt to stay afloat is through state and local bonds like Prop. 2. The opposition from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association should be a red flag for anyone who cares about public school funding. The HJTA is named after the mastermind behind the original Prop. 13, and the Association always stands in opposition to anything that would result in more funding for public schools. Funds from Prop. 2 need to be distributed in an equitable way, but its passage is better than the alternative.
CalMatters / CatchLight Local
Voters agree to fix up California schools. $10 billion construction bond passes
By Carolyn Jones | CalMatters | November 5th, 2024