It’s the state’s duty to fully fund education

By Jennifer Chacon-Duran| 9/29/2023

Re: “The hidden price tag of California’s public schools” (Page A1, Sept. 17).

It is ridiculous that students from low-income schools cannot have the same extracurriculars and curriculums as schools from affluent communities due to a lack of donations. It is outrageous, in general, that students and their families have to contribute donations to their public schools so they can participate in more opportunities and learn the basics.

California can and needs to do better. It should not be up to our families or nonprofits in our cities to fund our art programs, libraries and counseling. This is why it is so essential to reform Proposition 13. While some families can contribute an infinite amount of money to their children’s education, that is not the case for everyone. Similarly, not every city and town in our state has a community with the numbers and resources to provide for our students. It is California’s job to fully fund our education.