Argument in Favor of Proposition 203

TO BE COMPETITIVE IN A WORLD ECONOMY, CALIFORNIA MUST PROVIDE FIRST-RATE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL OF ITS STUDENTS.

Many of California's school, community college and public university buildings are outdated or in desperate need of repair. Public school classrooms are overcrowded. More than half of our schools are over thirty years old. To protect our students, public schools, community colleges and public universities must be made earthquake-safe. Plus, our students cannot be expected to succeed in the information-age unless our classrooms are equipped with computers and modern technology.

PROPOSITION 203 WOULD UPGRADE OUR SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES, IMPROVE EARTHQUAKE SAFETY AND LESSEN OVERCROWDING.

California's school facility problems will not disappear magically. Failing to solve problems such as overcrowding, earthquake safety and lack of technology, harms all of today's students as well as future generations. We must invest in our educational facilities. We must provide access to computers and instruction in modern technology if we expect our students to succeed.

PROPOSITION 203 IS NEEDED NOW!

This statewide school construction bond is desperately needed. Every penny you, the voters, have previously authorized for school construction, earthquake repairs and technological improvements has already been spent or has been spoken for. All funds from all previous bond acts are gone.

CALIFORNIA'S SCHOOL POPULATION IS GROWING.

Public school classrooms are the most overcrowded in the nation and class sizes are nearly one-third larger than the national average. This school bond will provide money to build additional classrooms and may permit smaller classes so that students can get the individual attention they need.

PROPOSITION 203 WILL GIVE STUDENTS ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY.

California now ranks 50th out of 50 states in computers per student. This school bond will help prepare students for the workplace of the 21st century and high-skilled, high-wage jobs.

THE CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORTS PROPOSITION 203. IT WILL ALSO HELP IMPROVE OUR STATE'S ECONOMY BY CREATING NEEDED JOBS.

Proposition 203 is a WIN-WIN for California.

When you vote YES on Proposition 203 you are voting:i

for the future of our children
for earthquake-safe schools
for access to computers and modern technology
for smaller classes
all without raising taxes

JOIN WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE PTA, CALIFORNIA BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE, EDUCATORS, CONGRESS OF CALIFORNIA SENIORS, CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION, AFL-CIO, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, CHANCELLOR OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHANCELLOR OF THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND MANY OTHER LEADERS IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION 203.

VOTE YES FOR STUDENTS, YES FOR EDUCATION AND YES FOR PROPOSITION 203.

FRAN PACKARD
President, League of Women Voters of California

LOIS TINSON
President, California Teachers Association

KIRK WEST
President, California Chamber of Commerce

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