This article originally appeared in the January-February 2000 issue of the Children's Advocate newsmagazine, published by Action Alliance for Children.

PROPOSITION 20: California State Lottery, Allocation for Instructional Materials

Prepared by Jean Tepperman

This measure would require that school districts spend half of any growth in lottery revenues on textbooks and instructional materials.

Arguments for

• California is experiencing a severe textbook shortage.
• California ranks 47th out of the 50 states in per-pupil textbook spending.
• More than half of California teachers surveyed say they do not have enough books for students to take home for homework and study.
• Two out of five teachers said they waste class time doing activities to make up for the textbook shortage.
• Lottery money was intended for school districts to use on one-time costs such as computers and textbooks, but many districts spend lottery funds for ongoing costs like salaries.
• This initiative would continue local control over spending the lottery money that school districts currently receive. The amount reserved for textbooks would only be half of any revenue over the amount received in the 1997-98 fiscal year.
• This initiative would guarantee a stable, ongoing source of funds for textbooks without raising taxes.

Supporters: For campaign information call Schoolbooks for the Children, c/o Assemblymember Tony Cardenas, (916) 319-2039.

Arguments against

• Prop. 20 would reduce local school districts' ability to spend lottery money on other one-time expenditures, such as science equipment, computers, reading workshops, or safety and security measures, which may be more needed in a particular district than new textbooks.
• This initiative is unnecessary because the state budget already provides ongoing funding for textbooks. In addition, a new state program is providing $1 billion for textbooks over the next four years.
• This measure takes control away from local school districts and gives it to the state.

Opponents: Presidents of the California Teachers Association, Association of California School Administrators, and California School Boards Association. For campaign information call No on Prop. 20 c/o Assemblymember George House, (916) 319-2026.