SACRAMENTO, Calif. 鈥� As California schools face losing $4.8 billion in funding under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger鈥檚 2008-09 budget proposal, they are struggling with poor performances and graduation rates.
To help resolve a $14.5 billion state budget shortfall, Schwarzenegger recommended significant cuts to several state programs and departments. The proposed cuts are the largest ever recommended for the state鈥檚 public schools and include the suspension of Proposition 98, a voter-approved initiative that guarantees a minimum amount of funding for public schools and community colleges.
Teachers, school organizations, students and many politicians throughout the state oppose the proposed cuts. Some students have staged school walkouts in protest.
鈥淭he governor鈥檚 proposed budget is a giant step backward for our students,鈥� says David A Sanchez, president of the 340,000-member California Teachers Association. 鈥淚t鈥檚 disappointing and ironic that in the proclaimed 鈥榶ear of education鈥� the governor is talking about cutting billions from our public schools and decimating our minimum school funding law.鈥�
The proposal could have a significant impact on funding for the 2008-09 school year and school districts are considering consolidating campuses and eliminating programs to stay within budget.
The Pasadena Unified School District would face a 10 percent budget reduction under the proposal, according to district officials. Superintendent Edwin Diaz says the cuts would cause a significant disruption for reform efforts at Pasadena schools.
鈥淭he time and resources required to identify budget cuts is a distraction that limits our ability to focus on improving instruction and becoming a more effective organization,鈥� Diaz says. 鈥淎ll of the ongoing work to improve efficiency and identify cost savings may now serve only to mitigate the impact of state budget cuts rather than enabling us to increase the level of resources for schools and students.鈥�
The budget cuts are difficult but necessary to decrease the state deficit and stabilize the budget without raising taxes, according to the governor鈥檚 office.
Schwarzenegger says reform is needed to fix the budget system that does not link revenues with spending.
鈥淲e are facing a very tough situation, but with tough times come historic opportunities,鈥� Schwarzenegger says. 鈥淚 am convinced the Legislature will help turn today鈥檚 temporary problem into a permanent victory for the people of California by joining me to enact true budget reform.鈥�
Sanchez says the state鈥檚 schools should not be forced to foot the bill for legislative missteps.
鈥淥ur students didn鈥檛 create this budget crisis and their education shouldn鈥檛 be ransomed to solve it,鈥� Sanchez says.
While budget talks continue, Schwarzenegger introduced a program to improve outcomes at districts that fail to meet the No Child Left Behind Act, which will make the state eligible for $45 million in federal funding.
The program targets 97 districts that have not complied with NCLB for the last five years. It will address each district individually under four levels of intervention: intensive, moderate, light and other.
Schools in need of intensive intervention will be analyzed to determine what corrective actions need to be taken. Potential changes could occur with school personnel, a receiver could be appointed, students could be transferred to different schools, and the district and curricula could be restructured.