Southern California school districts spend big, but student outcomes have barely budged

At least 32 school districts, including Los Angeles and Anaheim, have joined the California Teachers Association’s latest effort to extract more money from taxpayers. The “We Can’t Wait” campaign, endorsed by United Teachers Los Angeles, demands more funding for smaller class sizes, additional counselors and mental health professionals, and other spending.

“It’s no surprise that public schools are underfunded throughout the state,” claimed Anaheim Union High School District trustee Jessica Guerrero.

In reality, new Reason Foundation research shows that taxpayers are getting a poor return on their investment in California’s public schools, and the last thing those schools need is more money. Between 2002 and 2023, the state’s public school funding increased by nearly 79%, rising from $14,