Fellow Conservative,

California public schools are BROKEN.

I recently asked Californians to let me know how school closures in our state have affected their families and especially their children.

The responses submitted on fixcaschools.com were both overwhelming and tragic, and I am more determined than ever to fix our broken system and get our teachers and kids safely back into classrooms.

Here are some of the words that California parents used to describe their children’s experience with distance learning:

Inadequate.

Unacceptable.

Disaster.

Heartbreaking.

Here is just a small sample of the submissions my team has received:

“I STRONGLY DISLIKE IT! IT HAS BEEN A JOKE! It is REALLY hurting our kids. My straight A daughter is failing her classes, and has developed depression, for which she is now on medication."

"The mental toll this is taking on my daughter is huge ... she has almost completely given up on her education and her dreams."

"My youngest has gone from a well-rounded, well-adjusted, social and happy child to an anxiety-ridden, child that cries every day over online schooling and begins to panic at the thought of more changes."

"My child is not thriving in distance learning and she absolutely hates it. Some days are good and some days are heartbreaking."

"As a mother that works hard to provide the very best for my children, I have never felt so powerless in my children's lives before the school made the ultimate choice to not reopen schools with no intention of compromise. My children are suffering and I know I am not the only one with this story. Someone has to do something … NOW. Not in the fall. NOW."

Across the board, our kids are not thriving. They are underperforming. They are depressed and unmotivated.

More young people than ever are seeking mental health care — and those are just the ones who are lucky enough to have parents at home willing to care for them in this way! It’s impossible to know how many students are silently suffering because they no longer have face-to-face time with their teachers and friends.

Up and down the state, parents agree that schools and teachers are essential, and that we need face-to-face, in-person learning for our kids to thrive.

Many are frustrated that other states have figured it out, but Governor Newsom refuses to even lay out a plan to get California schools open. Yet he allows private schools to remain open, where he sends his own four young children.

Californians are sick of the hypocrisy, and they are sick of being forced to sacrifice their kids. I’m right there with them, which is why I am running for governor.

If your family has been directly affected by the draconian school closures in California, please submit your story on fixcaschools.com.

Please also forward this email to anyone you know who is also struggling with distance learning due to California school closures.

And please know this: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You are not alone in this, and help is on the way.

We are going to take back our state, and make it a place where kids and families thrive once more.

Thanks for sharing your stories,
Kevin Faulconer