By: Assembly Member Luis A. Alejo

As Californians, we all want to achieve the American dream of happiness, success, home ownership and economic prosperity. A cornerstone of achieving that dream is a quality public education.

While the state has focused on improving school curriculum and funding equity, a factor that continues to be overlooked is the quality of school facilities.

As of 2013, there are 6.2 million students enrolled in California's K-12 public school system, including 3.3 million Latino students. The California Senate Office of Research recently released a comprehensive report that provided a great overview on issues and challenges faced by the Latino population, especially as it relates to educational needs.

Many of the educational issues identified are ones the California Latino Legislative Caucus is working to resolve, such as closing the academic achievement gap, addressing high school graduation rates and other problems impacting our children's access to a quality public education.

Gov. Jerry Brown has recognized these challenges and demonstrated strong leadership when he signed into law "The Local Control Funding Formula" — a historic school funding measure. It replaced California's overly complex and inequitable finance system for K-12 education to ensure schools receive the appropriate resources to serve students.

As we continue to institute reforms and programs to provide our kids a first rate education, the biggest looming threat to our effort is the condition of school facilities. Whether the need is construction of a new school or the modernization of a dilapidated school, our kids cannot learn in unfavorable school conditions.

There are billions of dollars in school facility needs throughout California, and half of that need is in districts represented by members of the Latino Legislative Caucus.

For years, the state has played a leading role in funding school facilities. Since 1998, the state and local districts have partnered in a program that offers matching funds to leverage the local dollars required for projects.

Much like the Local Control Funding Formula addresses instructional equity, state facility bond funds are needed to ensure equal opportunity for high quality school facilities.

These facilities also play a vital role in our communities by providing learning environments equipped with technological advancements to develop career pathways. It is critical that this fast growing segment of our population obtain the skills to compete for jobs.

This successful partnership is now threatened. The program is virtually depleted, and the state has not passed a state bond since 2006.

That is why I and so many other members of the Latino Legislative Caucus strongly support asking voters to approve a new round of state funding for school facilities.

AB 2235 by Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) and Assemblyman Curt Hagman (R-Chino Hills) would place a School Facilities Bond measure on the November 2014 ballot -- if it's approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Brown. This is a critical measure that must happen now.

To help all California students succeed and to ensure educational facilities are safe, healthy and up to the task, our state must continue to uphold its obligation to help build schools. Placing this demand entirely on local districts is not an option. It could result in massive social justice in minority and low-income areas that can't afford the whole cost of modern facilities.

Please join me in supporting this critical effort by contacting your local legislator and Gov. Brown to encourage their support of AB 2235 and give voters the opportunity to approve new funding for schools.

Luis A. Alejo, D-Salinas, represents the 30th Assembly District, which includes part of Santa Clara County, is is vice chairman of the Latino Legislative Caucus. He wrote this for this newspaper.