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Ladies, Ca Teachers need your help
I just found out that our dear ole governor is proposing to elminate the Class Size Reduction programs to save money for the state.
This is a huge thing for Ca teachers. As of right now, most district have 20-23 students in the classroom. If it eliminated, class size could go up to as high as 40 students per class. With those kind of numbers, there will be no time for teachers to try to help the students in real need of reinforcement or more small group/or individual instruction.
I am asking you, and please spread the word to your friends and family, to please call your Assembly member and State Sentor.
Thanks 
Here is the information (pulled from an email sent to teachers):
Call Assembly member using the CTA's "cuts hurt" hotline, 888-268-4334. Tell your legislator to fund our schools, uphold Prop 98, and protect the Class Size Reduction program.
Call your U.S. Senators 800-294-9811 Tell them to make sure they include funding for our public schools and community colleges in any Economic Stimulus package.
Re: Ladies, Ca Teachers need your help
WTF?! Up to 40 kids a class?? Arnold needs to go back to making Commando-like movies. That's insane!
thanks for the tele #s.
Arnold is already cutting DH's pay by 10%, Yvette and other state workers as well. It's a terrible time!
It is terrible times.
I know that Joolz would know more about this, but LAUSD has been protesting State testing. Actually, protesting the materials used to prep the students for the test (ie test prep booklets). Districts spend a lot of money every year on these items. I know my distirct alone uses 5 differents books just in 1st grade.
Teachers are expected to squeeze test prep into an already overcrowded instruction time. So LA teachers are saying instead of cutting teachers, cut the test prep.
Syl,
He did not say 40.. but taking away the Class Size Reduction would not limit districts to the number of students in a class. So yes, it could get that high but it could not.
Right now, public school are protected by this. If you take it away, we would be like private schools that are not limited as to how many students can be in the class. Each district would make the decision based on district funding. So districts like LAUSD could have significanly higher numbers, like 30+.
Have they talked about laying off non-essential certificated people? My FIL was telling me that there are so many people that are usueless in the school system, ie; too many secretaries, too many coaches, etc....just like in County Mental Health.
I am so tired of threatened budget cuts when no one looks at cutting the freaking FAT!
Alisa,
I dont know about useless people. My district is really small and everyone is very over-extended here. People doing two different jobs.
In fact, to save money.. my district is thinking of not adopting a new language arts program next year (we are suppose to) and keep it for one more year. That way there is more time to see if the budget gets better.
I agree. At my workplace they have had a "Hiring Freeze" for about a year now. They claim only essential positions can hire. Funny how every position suddenly becomes "essential". They are starting furloughs at some places...I'd LOVE to take some unpaid days off here and they would never let me do it (we are not being furloughed). It would not disrupt the workflow either. It's annoying.
Wow! You only have 23 per class right now?? That's amazing!
I grew up in PA and we had 30-35 per class even back when I was in school. I think its around 40 now.
Its fine for students that excel, but does NOT work for students that needs some attention or one on one time.
Yes, they are cutting around 40% of positions in the central LAUSD district office as well as many positions in the local district offices, so basically what will happen is they will be bumping teachers with less senority. They are also trying to absorb some of the job losses by offering eligible retirees with $300 "early retirement" incentive (don't know all the details about it) and we do have a hiring and budget freeze. I don't think our health insurance benefit negotiations have been finalized yet. I've been donating soap and printer paper at my schools.
I don't think you can say that all the jobs are "useless" and but maybe non essential. They cut down the coach positions as well. I think next year one of my schools is sending the Title 1 coordinator back to the classroom so they can pay for the school nurse. We're definately feeling it, but I think we can survive if we get creative. I work in special ed, so we (my department) haven't felt the impact as significantly since the programs are legally mandated by the kid's IEPs.
Regarding the state testing, I honestly feel kids are waaaay over tested, but you also have to understand that many of the funds we receive are based on test scores so our union is basically saying to cut out all the non-legally mandated testing, not eliminate them all together.
I'm kind of glad that the district is "cleaning house". I did see a lot of waste and hopefully they'll pay more attention to that now.
Well, hopefully that explained some questions about LAUSD. Back to work.