SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell issued the following statement today regarding the approval by California voters of a statewide school facilities bond and numerous local school bonds:

"I am extremely pleased that voters continue to support California students by voting to approve Proposition 1D and the majority of local school bonds in this election. Proposition 1D will provide funding to build career technical education facilities, relieve overcrowding, and modernize obsolete classrooms. California voters have told us time and again they want our students to learn in an environment that is clean, safe, and up-to-date. I want to thank everyone for this important investment in our future.

"In a clear show of support for public education, voters approved 54 school bond measures representing more than $6.6 billion in local school construction and modernization funds. Approval of these local bonds gives districts the ability to seek matching funds from the State of California for the construction of essential new classrooms and improvement of existing school facilities."

On Tuesday, 54 out of 70 local communities approved general obligation school construction and modernization bonds that required at least a 55 percent approval rate. Of those, 35 received approval margins between 55 percent and 66.6 percent. O'Connell is the author of the voter-approved initiative that lowered the approval threshold to 55 percent, down from a minimum of two thirds (66.6 percent), allowing more communities to raise funds for local school construction projects.