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California’s Teachers, Firefighters, Nurses Stand Up for Prop. 82
Public Employees Say Preschool for All Will Help Working Families and Strengthen California Schools
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — California Teachers, Firefighters, Nurses, Healthcare Workers and labor organizations representing more than 1 million public employees announced their support today for Proposition 82, calling the initiative to make quality preschool available to children a much-needed benefit for working families.
At a Capitol press conference, representatives of the California Teachers Association (CTA), California Professional Firefighters (CPF), California Federation of Teachers (CFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), California Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), and the Service Employees Union International (SEIU) urged all Californians to support Prop 82 in June.
The alliance of teachers, firefighters, nurses and state and local employees backing Prop 82 is similar to the coalition that defeated Governor Schwarzenegger’s special election initiatives last fall. Both the CTA and CFT – together representing more than 435,000 classroom teachers – are supporting Prop 82. California’s largest union, SEIU, and the largest union representing government workers, AFSCME, are solidly behind Prop 82. In addition, the California Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), which acts as the umbrella organization for more than 1,200 affiliated unions representing 2.1 million public and private sector members, has endorsed the campaign.
“Last year, teachers in California said ‘no’ to ballot measures that would have cut funding for our schools and public safety,” said Margaret “Maggie” Ellis, president of the Elk Grove Education Association and 5th grade teacher at Elk Grove Unified School District. “This year, we’re coming together to support Preschool for All, which will strengthen our schools and give all kids a head start on learning.”
Studies show that children who go to quality preschool read earlier and learn faster. But only 20% of our children actually go to quality preschools. Prop 82 will provide a free, high-quality preschool education for every four-year old in California. It will provide trained, credentialed teachers in every classroom and more parental involvement. By sending more children to quality preschools, Prop 82 will strengthen our schools and improve education for all our kids. According to the Legislative Analyst, all revenues would be used for the new preschool program, and Prop 82 provides audits and criminal penalties, including possible jail time, for misuse of funds.
According to a recent survey, the average cost of part-day private preschool in California is $4,022, putting it out of reach for too many families. “Prop 82 is an investment in our children and our future,” said California Professional Firefighters spokesman Carroll Wills. “It is also an investment in California’s first responders who struggle with the cost of quality preschool for their children.”
“Working families face skyrocketing costs for housing and transportation in California,” said Bryan Blum with the California Labor Federation (AFL-CIO). “Prop 82 puts money back in the pockets California consumers by guaranteeing that all children have access to free preschool programs.”
Strong support from organized labor is just one component of the broad-based coalition backing Prop 82, which also includes business leaders, prominent elected officials, and preschool educators. The Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland Chambers of Commerce are supporting Preschool for All, along with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo.
A 2005 study by the RAND Corporation found that the benefits of a universally available preschool program in California would greatly outweigh the costs. Economists estimated that every dollar invested in quality preschool would generate $2.62 in savings to California’s schools, criminal justice system, and through increased tax revenue to state and local governments.
For more information on Prop 82, visit: www.preschoolcalifornia.org