Copyright© 1999 by School Services of California, Inc.
Reinvesting in California Schools Act - Good or Bad
for California Community Colleges?
The California Teachers Association (CTA) is attempting to qualify an initiative for the November 2000 ballot which, if passed would require the state to raise per-pupil spending in California to the national average, for K-12 schools, with an increase phased in over a five-year period.
California ranked 40th in per-pupil spending in the 1997-98 school year, according to the latest figures available from the National Education Association, the nation's largest teacher union. According to an analysis by CTA, California spends about $1,000 less per student than the national average. According to the State Department of Education, the state currently is spending about $6,400 per pupil.
The CTA proposal would not require the Legislature to raise taxes to meet the initiative's goal. However, the measure would allow lawmakers to raise taxes to reach the national average with a simple majority vote, rather than the two-thirds margin the state constitution currently requires. In addition, the measure would bar legislators from taking money from other state programs to pay for the school increases.
Governor Davis, who did not support a "national average" plank during his campaign, has not taken an official position on the proposal, at this time. He has indicated, however, that he fears the school funding measure is too expensive and would take a massive tax hike. CTA is developing a campaign to gain the Governor's support and hopes to gather enough signatures by next spring to qualify the measure for the November ballot.
Good or Bad for Community Colleges?
The CTA proposal also contains a provision that would require the state to provide an additional $200 million a year to the community colleges and public four-year institutions.
It is unclear at this time what impact the CTA proposal will have on Proposition 98 funding if approved by the voters. It is assumed that the state would still be obligated to meet the minimum funding requirements of Proposition 98 for K-14 schools. However, in the case of community colleges, the legislature and/or Governor could decide to simply provide community colleges with the bare minimum of Proposition 98 revenues and no more than $200 million over that amount. Thus, community colleges could potentially see no significant increases in funding over prior years.
According to the Chancellor's Office, revenue per student for California community colleges is $2,000 below the national average in funding when compared to other states. Community colleges received less funding per student than all other segments of public education in California in the last State Budget.
To SSC's knowledge, the California community college system was not contacted to get its approval or support for the proposed $200 million in additional revenues for public higher education institutions.
The community colleges have submitted budget proposals that total more than $500 million to be included in the State Budget for fiscal year 2000-01. It is perhaps over-optimistic to believe that if the system received revenues approaching its $500 million request, the legislature and/or governor would commit to $200 million.
The CTA initiative has a long way to go before becoming the law of the land, but whether or not it will be good or bad for community colleges - you will have to make the call.
-- Arnold Bray