Federal funds for school districts

Re “Much ado about funding,” Editorial, July 8

The Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center is a school within the Los Angeles Unified School District. As you report, it has been a center of life, education and economic development in Watts for more than 40 years and will continue to be. Recently, I tried to get extra federal funding for the LAUSD through what is referred to as an earmark. The $1 million, if granted, would allow the center to offer an additional course in entrepreneurial skills for next year. In some years, my request has been approved; in others, it has not. In fact, most earmark requests in Congress are denied.

It is not as simple as your editorial suggests. I would gladly remove my name from this outstanding school if doing so would result in funding. But there is no guarantee that the extra money would be awarded even then.

As a member of Congress, I work hard to make sure that federal funding for school districts is maximized so this center and other area schools can best serve our students and communities.

Maxine Waters

Washington

The writer represents California’s 35th District in the U.S. House.