California’s largest teachers unions are demanding higher salaries and more benefits, even as student test scores show little improvement and struggling schools continue to fail students. The California Teachers Association (CTA) is leading a statewide bargaining campaign, pushing for raises despite stagnant academic performance and declining enrollment.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the average teacher salary in California is $101,084, with an additional $30,000 in pension contributions. Yet, the Nation’s Report Card reveals that only 29% of fourth graders in the state are proficient in reading, and just 35% are at grade level in math. These numbers have remained nearly unchanged since 2009, despite a dramatic increase in education spending.

The state has poured billions into the education system, with K-12 spending jumping by a third since 2019 and more than doubling since 2009. Meanwhile, student enrollment has plummeted, with 360,000 fewer students in California public schools since the pandemic began. Many families have opted for homeschooling or moved out of the state entirely, frustrated by ongoing school closures and underperformance.

Unions negotiated significant pay increases during the influx of federal COVID relief funding, but as that money runs out, districts are now struggling financially. Some schools are considering staff layoffs, while others are being forced to consolidate or close altogether.

Despite these financial challenges, unions continue to push for more compensation. Critics argue that if teachers are not effectively educating students, taxpayers should not be expected to meet their demands for higher pay. Many parents and education advocates have called for pay structures based on performance rather than tenure, ensuring that only the most effective teachers are rewarded.

While teachers unions claim their demands are necessary to improve education, the reality remains that California schools are underperforming, and students are the ones paying the price.