Why Support Us

We all know something's wrong with California's State government. Unfortunately, there's no clear consensus on how to fix it and get it moving forward again. This has naturally led to many reform proposals, each vying for voter and community support.

We believe local public schools will receive the immediate, direct help they need if our initiative is placed on the November, 2010 ballot. By quickly addressing the single issue of school funding, voters can let local communities place proposals to strengthen and support their schools on the Spring 2011 ballot.

Our effort to get our initiative on the ballot and approved benefits from the fact that:

• We are following a successful model. Voters approved Prop 39 in November, 2000, which lowered the threshold for school construction bond measures in exchange for higher standards of accountability and disclosure.
• Voters think and act locally when it comes to schools. Greater local control means a better match between local education priorities and local education funding. With more local control, communities can better support the education programs needed in their schools.
• Our initiative is simple and easy for voters to understand. The May 2009 ballot propositions showed that voters are uncomfortable supporting complex reform measures.
• The Act protects senior citizens. Because many of them live on modest fixed incomes, senior citizens tend to be particularly sensitive to changes which could increase their living expenses. Our initiative requires school districts to offer seniors an exemption from any funding measures approved under its provisions.
• Large-scale, statewide reform will not necessarily make the State a more reliable and consistent education partner. The State budget situation is much more likely to get worse before it gets better, and it's not at all clear how education will fare as the problems are resolved. Our initiative gives local communities a way to act in the spring of 2011 to ensure their schools are adequately supported.
• The benefits will be immediate as were those that followed voter approval of Proposition 39.  With approval of our initiative in November 2010, a three year old today could be sure of having a small kindergarten class, while today's middle school students could plan on quality high school math, English and science teachers, athletics programs and AP courses.

Our grassroots movement is bringing together parents, teachers, school boards and superintendents to support the Local Control for Better Local Schools Act.

By making it easier for communities to support their local schools while retaining a supermajority requirement and demanding high standards of accountability -- we will help improve California public education, and thereby help improve California.

Please join us!