Education is largely a public endeavor in California, and many of us have been fortunate enough to reap these rewards. We benefited from low teacher-to-student ratio and paid very little for our college education compared to the costs today; we were incredibly fortunate. And with this great fortune comes great responsibility. Today, nearly 60 percent of the students in California attending K through 12 schools qualify for free and reduced-price lunch programs. Our state’s public colleges and universities enroll 85 percent of low-income students, yet many of these students fail to graduate because of the rising costs of higher education. By investing in our schools, we our investing in our state’s future as the lifetime earnings of a college graduate are significantly higher than a high school graduate, and a college degree is a pathway out of poverty.
By 2025, it is projected that California will have a shortfall of 1 million college graduates. It is critical we increase educational outcomes today to meet the demands of tomorrow’s economy. If we don’t, incomes and tax revenues will decline and more Californians will depend on public assistance. Vote yes on D and L.
— Andrea Devitt – San Luis Obispo
— Andrea Devitt – Cuesta College Counselor
— Andrea Devitt – SLO
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2014.
