Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidate Richard Barrera Applauds CTA Lawsuit Demanding Release of Prop 98 Funds

“Our public schools are not piggy banks that can be raided at will.”

(San Diego) Richard Barrera, Candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction applauds a lawsuit filed today by the California Teachers Association (CTA) demanding the release of $3.9 billion in public school funds guaranteed by Proposition 98. The California School Board Association has also announced plans to sue for recovery of the money.

“I salute CTA and CSBA for refusing to accept the unconstitutional action by the governor and the legislature to withhold vital school funding despite the legal mandate to release those funds on a timely basis. Our public schools are not piggy banks that can be raided at will.

“School districts around the state are struggling to meet critical budget demands that could be significantly relieved if they could access funds that rightfully should be distributed immediately to local schools. The resulting financial pressure has forced districts to lay off staff, delay critical expenditures, or even -- as in the case of Sacramento city schools -- face the possibility of having to seek a state bailout in the form of a loan. It makes absolutely no sense for Peter to borrow from Paul when Paul already owes Peter money.

“The California Teachers Association has my deep respect and gratitude for once again standing up for students and teachers, even in the face of stiff prevailing political winds. This is not academic for teachers. They see the impact of this ill-advised action every day.”

In 1988 voters approved Proposition 98, an amendment to the state constitution that guaranteed minimum funding for schools, approximately 40% of state General Fund revenues. The measure included a mechanism for suspending the guarantee in an emergency by a two-thirds vote of the state legislature. The governor and the legislature did not invoke that emergency provision, but instead chose to use the budget process to play a game of bait-and-switch with education funding by allocating the funds but refusing to release them. The governor cited concerns about possible future shortfalls in state revenue, despite the fact that California is expected to bring in significantly more funds than originally projected when the governor first proposed the 2026-27 state budget in January.

“California voters made it very clear that providing minimum funding for schools was at the top of their list of priorities. The governor and the legislature have no authority to ignore that mandate, especially as schools struggle to make ends meet,” says Barrera. “I am confident the courts will agree that withholding the funds is an egregious overstep of authority.”

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Barrera is available for one-on-one interviews. Learn more about him at https://www.barreraforedu.com/

For more information contact Dale Kelly Bankhead, 619.549.3140, dkbankhead@yahoo.com