California's public schools released a report that shows an
increase in stress levels even as they must reduce staff levels. The state's
university system, too, revealed that continued funding cuts are damaging the
Golden State's ability to provide an affordable higher education to its students.
What stresses does the public school system face?
The Oakland
Tribune cited an increase of children living in poverty. Cases in point are
children attending the Oakland school district. Between 2007 and 2010, the
percentage of children living below the federal poverty level increased by 8
percent, reaching 33 percent. This figure points to stress factors the schools
face when working with youngsters to succeed academically, which include the
local unemployment rate and budget cuts due to the state's deficit. "They
try to teach an increasing number of children in poverty with fewer employees
and a continual threat of cutbacks," the report notes.
How have budget cutbacks affected per-student spending?
California public schools have reduced per-student spending
to fall $2,856 to $3,000 below the national average.
How much does California spend on public education?
The California Department
of Education notes that between 2010 and 2011, the statewide total cost of
education equaled $46,278,595,991, which averaged $8,323 per student. Ten years
before, in the 2000 to 2001 school year, the total annual expenditure was
$36,825,458,699, which came to $6,360 per student. The Silicon
Valley Education Foundation crunched the numbers and found that California
currently occupies the 47th place when it comes to per-student spending in the U.S.
Why do legislators keep cutting education budgets?
California faced a $27 billion budget deficit last year. To
balance the budget, the governor made spending cuts across the board, including
education.
What is the governor doing to re-establish funding to
California's public schools?
Gov. Jerry Brown has drafted a controversial $9 billion tax
hike proposal, which voters will likely see on the November ballot. The Sacramento
Bee highlights that schools worry about actually getting the measure to
pass, which has led school districts to favor austerity measures and layoffs over
budgeting with money that is not yet in their coffers. Although Gov. Brown
encourages school districts to factor in the tax hike money, administrators
instead ask for permission to "shorten the school year without penalty
below the current 175-day minimum."
Do budget worries only affect K through 12 schools?
No, higher education also faces budget cuts. The Associated
Press notes that the University of California is planning to implement a 6
percent tuition increase in the fall, unless the state supplies $125 million
for the 2012 to 2013 school year. In addition, there is talk of a "double
digits" mid-year tuition hike, if the governor's ballot measure fails.
Sylvia Cochran is a Los Angeles area resident with a firm
finger on the pulse of California politics. Talk radio junkie, community
volunteer and politically independent, she scrutinizes the good and the bad
from both sides of the political aisle.
