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That trope needs to die. California's schools are not underfunded. California spends a record amount on education[0], over $18k per child. "Reflecting the chan

That trope needs to die. California's schools are not underfunded. California spends a record amount on education[0], over $18k per child. "Reflecting the changes to Proposition 98 funding levels noted above, total K-12 per-pupil expenditures from all sources are projected to be $18,837 in 2020-21 and $18,000 in 2021-22—the highest levels ever (K-12 Education Spending Per Pupil). The decrease between 2020-21 and 2021-22 reflects the significant allocation of one-time federal funds in 2020-21." [0]: www.ebudget.ca.gov/2021-22/pdf/BudgetSummary/K-12Education.pdf

mobilefriendly 5y ago
As a nation, US inflation adjusted, per-student K-12 spending has tripled since the 1960s.
- bombcar 5y ago
  I suspect per-teacher salaries haven’t tripled in that time however!
  - gedy 5y ago
    Their pension and retirement benefits likely cost way more now.
chrisseaton 5y ago
> over $18k per child Lol what? What on earth do they do with that money? You could hire a private tutor per four children for that money and have them do it in the children's homes. Would end up as a private tutor half-time for two-child families, with them doing homework the other half-time. If you had four children it'd be full-time!
- bombcar 5y ago
  Pensions, administration, and buildings eat a lot of the budget. And they continue to grow.
kart23 5y ago
Makes private school look like a good deal. I seriously didn't know it was that high.
- thebigman433 5y ago
  The money isnt evenly distributed at all. Plus, private schools in areas that actually spend 18k/student will cost you more than 18k on their own. Most in the Bay are over 20k now
chadaustin 5y ago
Part of the issue is how unevenly distributed the money is. Look at slide 7/8 in https://www.cusdk8.org/cms/lib/CA02218495/Centricity/Domain/4/We%20are%20in%20it%20together%20-%20equity.pdf https://www.cusdk8.org/cms/lib/CA02218495/Centricity/Domain/... $8,200 per pupil in Cupertino, $24,700 in Woodside CUSD is considering closure of three schools and eliminating librarians and art and music due to the failure of passing a parcel tax, and low per-pupil funding. Lots of folks on the street argue “it’s the administrator salaries!” but when you actually look at the budgets there’s just not enough money to keep the schools running. Teachers commute from over the mountains. Administrators are paid reasonably, but that’s the cost when their skill sets would easily apply to project management at a local tech company. Money’s not always the solution but sometimes it is.

mobilefriendly 5y ago

As a nation, US inflation adjusted, per-student K-12 spending has tripled since the 1960s.

bombcar 5y ago
I suspect per-teacher salaries haven’t tripled in that time however!
- gedy 5y ago
  Their pension and retirement benefits likely cost way more now.

chrisseaton 5y ago

> over $18k per child Lol what? What on earth do they do with that money? You could hire a private tutor per four children for that money and have them do it in the children's homes. Would end up as a private tutor half-time for two-child families, with them doing homework the other half-time. If you had four children it'd be full-time!

bombcar 5y ago
Pensions, administration, and buildings eat a lot of the budget. And they continue to grow.

kart23 5y ago

Makes private school look like a good deal. I seriously didn't know it was that high.

thebigman433 5y ago
The money isnt evenly distributed at all. Plus, private schools in areas that actually spend 18k/student will cost you more than 18k on their own. Most in the Bay are over 20k now

chadaustin 5y ago

Part of the issue is how unevenly distributed the money is. Look at slide 7/8 in https://www.cusdk8.org/cms/lib/CA02218495/Centricity/Domain/4/We%20are%20in%20it%20together%20-%20equity.pdf https://www.cusdk8.org/cms/lib/CA02218495/Centricity/Domain/... $8,200 per pupil in Cupertino, $24,700 in Woodside CUSD is considering closure of three schools and eliminating librarians and art and music due to the failure of passing a parcel tax, and low per-pupil funding. Lots of folks on the street argue “it’s the administrator salaries!” but when you actually look at the budgets there’s just not enough money to keep the schools running. Teachers commute from over the mountains. Administrators are paid reasonably, but that’s the cost when their skill sets would easily apply to project management at a local tech company. Money’s not always the solution but sometimes it is.