Racing for the bottom
Public schools simply cannot tolerate governor’s proposed budget cuts
By Ed Honowitz 03/27/2008
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed his 2008–09 budget in January, stating, “We don’t have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem.” Within minutes, legislators lined up for the media to declare that new taxes are off the table and the only way to address the latest state fiscal crises was to inflict painful, across-the-board cuts, including another multibillion-dollar cut to public schools.
All Californians who support public education should reject this one-sided notion. As school districts statewide begin laying off thousands more teachers and staff, it is imperative that Californians focus on the facts.
Statewide, reading scores are up 25 percent and math scores have increased 17 percent in the last four years. Numerous studies confirm that California’s K-12 academic and performance standards are among the most challenging in the nation. Our students and schools have been making progress. However, progress cannot continue with another massive funding decrease.
Previous budget cuts have resulted in the largest class sizes in the nation and the fewest counselors, librarians and nurses per student. According to studies from Education Week, even before these proposed cuts, California spent $1,900 less per student than the national average, placing us 46th out of 50 states in per-pupil funding. We currently spend less per student than Mississippi, while New York spends 75 percent more per child than California.
More money is not the sole solution to improve our public schools. But we cannot ignore the impact of the budget rollercoaster that causes districts to spend significant time and money trying to adjust to California’s inadequate, illogical school funding system. California’s schools have the most Byzantine, complex budget process found in either the public or private sector. Often funds are tied up in programs with no demonstrable link to student achievement. Last year’s adequacy studies commissioned from Stanford University by the governor and Legislature concluded that California’s school finance system is an underfunded, irrational, overly complex burden on local educators.
It’s time that leaders in Sacramento act to ensure the future of our state, instead of continuing tax loopholes for yacht buyers. State leaders must recognize that increased stable revenues must be part of the solution. Are we willing to invest in our future workforce to ensure our economic competitiveness? Even Ronald Reagan raised taxes to pay for needed services.
California was once the leader in education in this nation. Our K-12 system and state colleges were world-class. California benefited from that investment in education for decades. Today we are again cutting school funding to make up for tax reductions created by the governor and Legislature several years ago. It is immoral to design a state budget that is only solvent in boom times and relies on cuts to services for children when the economy slows.
Now is the time for state leaders to show the courage and political will to redesign the funding system and provide adequate resources to address the needs of our students and our future workforce.
Ed Honowitz is a member of the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education.
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