Watch The Funding Video
This video describes the ways our schools receive funding and compares Los Gatos funding to other school districts.
Los Gatos Funding Lags Behind Similar Districts
California education spending (per student) lags behind many other states.
And Los Gatos spending per student is 18% less that the average of the top 10 similar districts. Why? These districts receive more from donations and school parcel taxes. Some also benefit from a lower density of students per parcel.
And Los Gatos spending per student is 18% less that the average of the top 10 similar districts. Why? These districts receive more from donations and school parcel taxes. Some also benefit from a lower density of students per parcel.
Since there are taxes for public schools why are education foundations needed?
A: In the 1980's, Prop 13 was passed in California, reducing property tax rates on homes and businesses. One negative consequence of this was that the state provided less funding to the schools. Suddenly, school districts couldn't afford all the programs and teachers that we all knew growing up. They had to cut programs. Some of the things to go were art classes, music classes, school nurses and classroom aides. Basically, they had to cut anything that wasn't essential.
Parents did not want all these programs to go away so they started creating education foundations. Today there are education foundations all over all over the state. The purpose of these nonprofit organizations is to raise money from parents, businesses, and other local sources that they then grant to our schools to make up for the budget shortfall. Without our Education Foundation (and our Home & School Clubs), our schools would have to cut programs because there simply isn't enough funding.
Parents did not want all these programs to go away so they started creating education foundations. Today there are education foundations all over all over the state. The purpose of these nonprofit organizations is to raise money from parents, businesses, and other local sources that they then grant to our schools to make up for the budget shortfall. Without our Education Foundation (and our Home & School Clubs), our schools would have to cut programs because there simply isn't enough funding.