State Schools Chief Issues Statement on Governor's May Revision
SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued the following statement today on Governor Brown's May Revision of the State Budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year:
"Today's May Revision raises the stakes for California's public schools, which now need the help of voters to prevent more than $5 billion in cuts and a dramatically shortened school year.
"Our state's financial difficulties cannot be resolved within the Capitol alone. As Californians, we share a common future. The 6.2 million students we serve today will soon be the doctors who treat our aches and pains, the architects and skilled workers who build our homes and factories, and the programmers and engineers who design our cars and our computers.
"The quality of their work tomorrow depends on how well we summon the collective will—now and in November—to prevent further cuts, and to begin the hard but necessary work of investing once again in California's public schools.
"Today's proposal also puts the difficult choices before us in stark relief, and puts in jeopardy California's longstanding commitment to quality early learning and child care.
"I'm hopeful that the Governor and legislative leadership will ultimately craft a budget that preserves these vital programs, and puts our state back on track for long-term success."
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100