Report: California Schools Stressed for Doing More With Less

California's two million students in its 30 largest school districts face feel the stress related to how the national economic affects there everyday, a report from EdSource details.

The Mountain View-based research group identified eight "stress factors" based in three surveys conducted by them in 2011 and 2012.

"In November, Californians are likely to be voting on two tax initiatives intended to provide more funds for the state's schools. But most voters have no way of objectively assessing the extent of the challenges facing these schools," said , executive director of EdSource and lead author on the report. "We hope this report can help fill that gap."

Among the reports findings:

• Twenty-two out of 30 districts have fewer counselors
• More than one-third of the districts ended up laying off some 2,000 classroom teachers for the current school year. (Neither the Los Altos School District nor the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District ).
• Twenty-six out of 30 districts serve more free and reduced-price meals than in 2007-08. Across the state, 57 percent of students qualify for subsidized meal programs, a 6 percentage point increase since 2007-08.

The San Jose Mercury News noted that the report could help voters with information come the November elections, since two measures have been proposed that would raise billions for schools. If not, the stress students and schools face would likely continue.

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