2,913,430 / 36.8% Yes votes ...... 4,989,466 / 63.2% No votes

See Also: Measures

• Creates permanent fund for reduction of kindergarten through third-grade class size.
• Funding eligibility requires each school establish governing council of parents/teachers. Council consults with principal, makes all curriculum/expenditure decisions for school; principal responsible for personnel decisions.
• Pupil performance to be utilized for teacher evaluations.
• Teachers must pass subject matter examinations for credential and assignment to teach particular subjects.
• Immediate pupil suspension for drug possession.
• Creates Office of Chief Inspector of Public Schools to evaluate school quality.

• Creates up to $60 million in new state programs. A significant portion of the annual cost probably would be paid from within the state's existing education budget or be offset by increased fee collections.
• Potential costs to local school districts in the high tens of millions of dollars annually for new teacher testing requirements and various other provisions. The actual costs to districts could be significantly less, depending on how the state implemented the measure.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

Various changes to the state's education system would be made. For instance, the measure (1) creates a state Office of the Chief Inspector of Public Schools, (2) increases the responsibilities of school site councils and principals, (3) alters the qualifications that must be met by teachers in California, and (4) prevents the state from reducing funding for the existing kindergarten through grade three class size reduction program.

A NO vote of this measure means:

The various changes to the state's education system described in the "yes" statement would not be made.

• Offical WWW Site
• Full Text
• Impartial Analysis from the Legislative Analyst

Summary of Arguments FOR Proposition 8:

Proposition 8 is comprehensive education reform: guaranteed funding for permanent class size reduction without increased taxes; mandatory expulsion for the possession of dangerous drugs; educational accountability to taxpayers; and active parental participation in their child's school. It gives our children a solid foundation upon which they can succeed in life.

Full Text of Argument In Favor, Rebuttal

Summary of Arguments AGAINST Proposition 8:

Cuts education programs. Funds a new unaccountable school bureaucracy (triple the existing size)--a political appointee (with no limit on his salary ) and 8000 committees (not elected by taxpayers) authorized to spend tax-dollars and set 8000 different local curricula (ignoring uniform state standards). Join taxpayers, teachers and parents. Vote "no!"

Full Text of Argument Against, Rebuttal

Contact FOR Proposition 8:

Mitch Zak
Californians for
Smaller Classes,
Drug-Free Schools and
Educational Accountability
555 Capitol Mall,
Suite 600
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 492-7758

Contact AGAINST Proposition 8:

Parents, Teachers, Cops
and Taxpayers
Against Prop. 8
111 Anza Boulevard,
Suite 406
Burlingame, CA 94010
(650) 340-0470 or
(310) 996-2671
http://www.noprop8.org

League of Women Voters

• Easy Reading Voter Guide
• Pros & Cons of Proposition 8
• In Depth on Proposition 8
• Criteria for Evaluating Ballot Propositions - (also en espanol)

• Analysis of Prop 8

• Analysis of Proposition 8

• Analysis, Yes/No groups, links

Cal. Voter Foundation

• Californians for Smaller Classes, Drug-Free Schools and Educational Accountability -- Yes on 8 (Support)
• Parents, Teachers, Cops and Taxpayers Against Prop. 8 (Oppose)

• Top Contributors By Proposition

• Top 10 Contributors For and Against

Bakersfield Californian

• Kern's top educator against Proposition 8

• On Proposition 8 - See related articles at bottom of page

• Detailed Analysis
• Complex Prop. 8 Creates Divisions Teachers, GOP split over diverse items in proposal 10/21/98

Support

• Californians for Smaller Classes, Drug-Free Schools, and Educational Accountability

• Parents, Teachers, Cops and Taxpayers Against Prop 8

Secretary of State

• All propositions - a state map showing county results is available