One year ago, California’s students sacrificed $2 billion in
ongoing cuts to help balance the state budget. They did so because
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promised that schools would receive
their fair share of any additional state revenues and that they
would be spared cuts in the future years.
Editor,
One year ago, California’s students sacrificed $2 billion in ongoing cuts to help balance the state budget. They did so because Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promised that schools would receive their fair share of any additional state revenues and that they would be spared cuts in the future years. The governor is quoted as saying, “Education is the key to every future success for our state. This Proposition 98 funding will be restored as required by law and our agreement. Today, I am making that promise to our teachers and students.”
The governor’s 2005-06 budget proposal breaks the promise he made to California’s schools and takes even more money away from schools next year and in future years. He’s breaking his word even though state revenues are actually higher than when the agreement was made. In the last several years alone, California schools have suffered more than $9.8 billion in cuts. This means school closures, increases in class sizes, and layoff of teachers and administrators. The cutbacks threaten ongoing teacher training projects, and they make it nearly impossible to maintain small class sizes.
When California voters passed Prop. 98 in 1988, the goal was to protect schools and students from harmful budget cuts and ensure a minimum funding level for education in this state.
A recent study by the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation notes California’s academic standards are the highest in the nation. The foundation reports California is one of only three states in the nation to receive an “A” in both English and mathematics.
However, California ranks 44th in the nation in per-pupil funding. While California holds its schools and its students to the highest expectations, the governor’s proposals would cut California’s spending even further this year, suspend voter-approved Prop. 98 and then eviscerate what’s left of the proposition with a new, debilitating Constitutional amendment.
The voters, students, parents, educators, business leaders and all of our future generations call on Gov. Schwarzenegger to honor his promise to protect Prop. 98 and help restore California’s schools to greatness.
Peter Gutierrez,Assistant Superintendent, Hollister School District
