Position Paper on Education

By Noreen Evans

Providing safe and modernized school facilities are essential for allowing our children to learn. That's why I supported last year's statewide school bond, Prop. 39, and support the second half of the bond to appear on the November 2004 ballot.

I firmly believe that public schools should be a partner with local jurisdictions and businesses to provide child care services. As a working mother, getting my children safely to and from school is a real challenge. In addition, research shows that assisting families with basic benefits to increase parents' productivity at work increases their children's performance at school.

I believe one of the most important components of any child's education is a qualified teacher in the classroom. In Sacramento, I will fight to devote more of our educational dollars directly to classroom instruction and protect the class-size reduction program for elementary grades.

As a California State University graduate who worked my way through school, I fully understand the need for accessible financial aid. One of my goals when elected will be to work to keep public university tuition low to make college education a reality for all California youth. I will advocate for high schools to expand occupational training programs to accommodate those students who do not go on to college.

Of course, all of this takes money. Currently California ranks 35th in the nation in education spending per pupil and has the third highest average classroom size. This is unacceptable. I believe state government can and must do more to cut wasteful spending programs, restructure our current tax system without short-changing our schools and give more authority to local school districts. Education is one of my top priorities, and in the Assembly I will advocate for responsible and realistic reforms to improve our education system.