California’s teachers unions are rallying for pay raises and expanded benefits while test scores show that students are falling further behind in critical subjects. The California Teachers Association (CTA) is leading a statewide bargaining effort, insisting on increased funding despite little progress in student achievement.
The latest test scores indicate that just 35.5% of students are proficient in math, while fewer than 31% meet science standards. English proficiency sits at 47%, but these numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, state education spending has soared, increasing by more than $25 billion in recent years.
Enrollment in California’s public schools continues to decline, with 360,000 students leaving since the start of the pandemic. Even as fewer students attend public schools, districts are still receiving high levels of funding, leading to questions about whether taxpayers are getting any real return on investment.
Unions argue that teacher shortages and difficult working conditions justify salary increases, but opponents counter that ineffective teachers should not be rewarded with automatic raises. They point to declining student performance as evidence that more accountability is needed in how teachers are compensated.
A growing number of parents and education advocates are calling for pay structures based on merit rather than longevity. They argue that rewarding successful educators and replacing underperforming teachers would improve student outcomes without simply throwing more money at the problem.
While unions pressure local districts for more pay, struggling schools continue to show little improvement. Parents and taxpayers are left wondering when the focus will shift from funding demands to actual student learning.
