California school districts would get $100 million to help build housing for their teachers under proposed legislation from a Bay Area lawmaker. Assemblyman Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) said the state’s housing affordability crisis has made it hard for districts to attract and retain qualified teachers. In the Bay Area, Los Angeles and other high-cost regions, the problem is home and rental costs, Thurmond said in a release, and in rural areas, the issue is a lack of available housing, His Assembly Bill 45 would allow school districts to receive state money to partner with developers to build teacher housing. “When educators are forced to live outside of the community they serve, they are severely limited in their ability to participate in many after-school programs, establish crucial parent-teacher bonds or respond to localized student needs, all factors in providing an enriched learning environment for students,” Thurmond said. Districts in Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties already have district-sponsored teacher housing, and San Francisco is considering a plan, according to Thurmond’s office.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 16, 2017 20:43 UTC