Cuts to state education budget

Nanette Asimov
Saturday, January 10, 2009

What's at stake: Five fewer days of school next year are among the cuts proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to save $5.2 billion from schools, community colleges and preschool budgets this fiscal year and next. Immediately, the governor would eliminate cost-of-living increases for all education programs and defer or reduce other payouts to save $2.1 billion. Another $3.1 billion would be slashed next fiscal year (which begins July 1) by offering just 175 days of school and axing the High Priority Schools program for low-scoring schools, among other things.

Reaction: The proposed cuts "will be catastrophic," said David Sanchez, president of the California Teachers Association. "It's like the governor wants to maintain all the requirements and penalties for schools without providing schools with the funding they need to succeed." State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell called the proposal "devastating." Community colleges would get money for a 3 percent growth in enrollment. Community College Chancellor Jack Scott said the budget "would provide the basic resources needed to keep the doors open."

This article appeared on page A - 6 of the San Francisco Chronicle