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The Big Squeeze: How Pension Costs Threaten Educational Equity

PACE & Pivot Learning April 19, 2019
Read the Report
The impact of underfunded pension funds

A new report from Pivot Learning finds that California’s unfunded pension costs threaten educational equity.

California’s chronic underfunding of teacher pensions is pushing school districts into financial distress, forcing them to make painful cuts that will increasingly harm both the state’s teachers and its most vulnerable students, according to a report released today by Pivot Learning.

The Big Squeeze: How Unfunded Pension Costs Threaten Educational Equity paints a vivid picture of a state in crisis — a state where school districts are having to choose between making their pension contributions and providing current teachers and students with the resources they need.

The report finds that in order to offset the costs of required and growing contributions to the state’s unsustainable pension system, California school districts are increasing class sizes; cutting enrichment opportunities like art, music and after-school activities; reducing counseling and health supports; and making other compromises that stifle learning.

The Big Squeeze finds that the solution isn’t to take away pensions or slash benefits, but to increase state revenues and enact strategic policy changes so that public education is adequately and equitably funded.

Press Coverage of The Big Squeeze

June 10, 2019 San Francisco Chronicle | Open Forum: Unfunded pensions are hurting California students and teachers

May 3, 2019 Brookings | California’s pension debt is harming teachers and students now—and it’s going to get worse

May 2, 2019 Culver City Observer | Pension Costs Creating State-Wide Fiscal Crisis

May 1, 2019 The Orange County Register | With a growing 100k pension club, California’s pension problem only gets worse

April 27, 2019 Lompoc Record | Dan Walters: School spending popular, taxes not so much

April 27, 2019 Santa Maria Times | Dan Walters: School spending popular, taxes not so much

April 27, 2019 Santa Ynez Valley News | Dan Walters: School spending popular, taxes not so much

April 25, 2019 Politico’s Morning Edition | Report Roll Call

April 25, 2019 Daily Breeze | School spending popular in California, taxes not so much

April 25, 2019 Daily Republic | CALmatters Commentary: School spending popular, taxes not so much

April 25, 2019 GVWire | Walters: School Spending Popular, Taxes Not so Much

April 25, 2019 Inland Valley Daily Bulletin | School spending popular in California, taxes not so much

April 25, 2019 Los Angeles Daily News | School spending popular in California, taxes not so much

April 25, 2019 Longbeach Press-Telegram | School spending popular in California, taxes not so much

April 25, 2019 OC Register | School spending popular in California, taxes not so much

April 25, 2019 Pasadena Star-News | School spending popular in California, taxes not so much

April 25, 2019 Redlands Daily Facts | School spending popular in California, taxes not so much

April 25, 2019 San Gabriel Valley Tribune | School spending popular in California, taxes not so much

April 25, 2019 The Press-Enterprise | School spending popular in California, taxes not so much

April 25, 2019 Whittier Daily News | School spending popular in California, taxes not so much

April 23, 2019 Politico | Report: Rising school pension costs consume funding for at-risk students

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“ The students who stand to lose the most are those who already need the most. ”

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This report was published in partnership with Policy Analysis in California Education (PACE).

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