SACRAMENTO, CA –  CFT President Jeff Freitas released the following statement on the 2023-24 budget agreement released today:

“In reaching an agreement regarding the 2024-2025 state budget, Governor Newsom and the California Legislature have once again shown their firm commitment to protecting public education in California. This budget fully funds the statutory COLA for both TK-12 and community college systems, increases the base funding for UC by 5%, and provides critical ongoing funding to address the pressing needs of our schools and students. ”

“We are thankful to Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire for their leadership in preventing substantial cuts to the UC labor centers and increasing reimbursement rates for student office hours. 

“And we can and must do more, including solving the growing staffing crisis in our TK-12 schools and eliminating the inequitable two-tier system for faculty in higher education. We are committed to working with our allies in our communities, the labor movement, and Sacramento to raise revenue for public education through progressive taxation to ultimately deliver the quality public education that every California student deserves.”

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CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals represents 120,000 teachers, faculty, and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education. It is the statewide affiliate of the AFT.