As California’s schools face a $4.8-billion cut in government money and possible layoffs of as many as 20,000 teachers, librarians, nurses, and others, parent are setting up fund-raising groups to raise money for their children’s public schools, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Since 1978 public-school districts have had related charities to help parents give money for music classes and field trips. However, private donations are now being used to help cover education basics, the paper reports.

Janet Berry, president of the Davis Schools Foundation, says, “Public education is free, but an excellent public education is not free at this point.”

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