Op-Ed: Don't Split the Vote on Props 30 and 38

Submitted to Patch by Susie Peyton.

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As a founding member of Educate Our State and a longtime supporter of public education in California, I am urging you all to vote YES on Prop 30 and YES on Prop 38 in this important election. 

Both propositions will direct billions of dollars to schools and make spending of those funds more accountable. They use different mechanisms for similar goals.

Please remember:

• If they both receive over 50 percent of the votes, the proposition with the most votes becomes law.
• We cannot split the vote on these two education initiatives.
• We need everyone to vote for both. 

This is very important, not only to our state, but to our country. California educates one out of every eight students in the United States. We cannot continue to cut education.

Here is a snapshot of how California currently ranks compared to other states:

• 48th out of 50 states in teacher-to-student ratio
• 45th out of 50 states in principal- and assistant principal-to-student ratio
• 50th out of 50 states in guidance counselor-to-student ratio
• 50th out of 50 states in librarian-to-student ratio

* Statistics courtesy of EdSource.

Another telling statistic is the length of the school year in the U.S. and abroad:

• 180 days - U.S. average
• 196 days - countries around the world with high student achievement
• 175 days - current California minimum
• 160 days - new minimum allowed if Prop 30 fails

I am linking to some of the best information I have found for you to read about Prop 30 and Prop 38. I think the infographic by EdSource does a great job of comparing the two, and the FAQ from Educate Our State clears up many questions asked by parents and voters about the two propositions. I have also linked two short videos Educate Our State has made for our campaign “Yes for Education."

Hope you enjoy and vote YES-YES FOR PROPS 30 AND 38!

EdSource Infographic:                    

http://www.edsource.org/infographic-initiatives.html

Educate Our State FAQ:                

http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/2/20/3267832/6.%20EOS%20YES%20for%20Education%20FAQs_v3.pdf

Educate Our State videos:

http://www.educateourstate.org/why_vote_yes_yes

http://www.educateourstate.org/you_cannot_fake_a_high_quality_education_yes_for_education

Thank you,

Susie Peyton

Parent of three children in public schools

Founding member of Educate Our State

Former board member and current volunteer for the Redwood City Education Foundation (RCEF)

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