Recognizing that the most effective way to educate California children is at school learning from teachers;

Realizing that most California parents confirm that their children will not learn at home, due to parents needing to work, lack of reliable internet access, multiple siblings or the child’s disposition;

Considering that California private schools are open to in-person instruction, so wealthy CA children have the right to a good education, but socioeconomically disadvantaged CA children do not;

Noting that, according to the Public Policy Institute of California, over 40% of California’s children (~4 million children) live in or near poverty in California;

Noting also that California parents and caregivers of young public school children out of school are losing millions of dollars staying home with their children out of in-person schooling, and a disproportionate amount of women are losing their careers and jobs to stay home with children out of school;

Recognizing that 30% of Californian families are run by single parents who must work;

Also recognizing, without in-person public schooling, socioeconomically disadvantaged caregivers are inhumanly being asked to choose between going to work to afford their home and food or leaving young children home alone;

Furthermore, knowing that school is a safe-haven for our most vulnerable children, and that when public schools closed in the spring of 2020, calls for child abuse decreased 50% in Los Angeles, since schools are often the ones who report abuse, but were no longer in regular contact with at-risk children;

Noting that keeping public schools closed does not reduce the rate of coronavirus in our communities, as proven across America and the world; 

Aware that the teacher’s union (the Association of California Teachers) in California spent millions of dollars to gain an unprecedented amount of power on our public school boards in California, and are lobbying with millions of dollars for teachers to keep our public schools closed. As a couple examples of spending; the union spent ~$15 million to win school board seats in Los Angeles, and $100,000 per candidate to run for three seats in San Diego, and won each of the three seats against parents who were running and only spent about $1,000 each; 

We, parents and caregivers of California students, who outnumber by the millions teacher union donors, call on Governor Newsom, the CA State Legislature, Representative Pelosi, and Senators Feinstein and Harris, to open our public schools safely and full time following state and federal coronavirus guidelines for in-person instruction immediately. Waiting any longer is inhumane and proves that these California leaders are not working for the families of California, but special interests that donate to their campaigns.