Copyright© 1999 by School Services of California, Inc.

December 3, 1999

Senate Republican Leaders Propose
Broad-Based Education Reforms

Senate Republican leader Ross Johnson (R-Irvine) and Senator Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga) unveiled their party's education reform package at a press conference in Sacramento the week of November 30. The State Senate Republican leaders proposed a sweeping package of education reforms that included reducing class size in high school, sharply cutting college tuition, expanding school safety programs and providing additional higher education financial aid.

Senator Johnson was quoted as saying, "These proposals not only make sense, but they are essential if we are to invest in the future of our young people."

Senator Brulte called the plan to cut University of California and California State University resident student fees in half "not only a sound investment, but middle-class tax relief for California families who are struggling to finance their children's education." The Republican plan did not include reducing student fees at community colleges.

Under the Republican proposal, UC fees would drop to $1,715 a year from the present $3,429. Students at CSU would pay $714 from the present $1,428.

The Republican proposal comes on the heels of news that the state's revenue picture is looking very bright for the near future. According to the Republican leaders, students and their parents in the past have had to share the burden during financial hard times. Now that the economy is thriving, the Senate Republicans believe that it's only fair that the state provides a helping hand to those students - particularly from lower and middle-class families.

The Senate Republican education reform proposal is the first salvo of many to come from state legislators that will surely include Democrats at some point as they negotiate with the Governor in creating a 2000-01 State Budget.

Key elements of the Republican education plan include:

• Providing $1.5 billion in ongoing funding to cover expected growth in student population, achieve education equalization and fund a cost-of-living adjustment. Unknown at this time if any of these funds would be earmarked for community colleges.
  
• Provide $412 million to pay for immediate tuition reductions at UC and CSU.
  
• Increase the state's funding for financial aid through the Cal Grant program.
  
• Reduce class size in grade 10 and 11 to help assure literacy in reading and writing for high school graduates - estimated cost is $142 million.
  
• Increase school safety funding by $179 million beyond the $100 million provided in the current year's budget.
  
• Increasing by $25 million the Charter School Loan Fund created in 1996 for charter school startup loans.

The Republican leaders noted that these proposals would exceed the estimated Proposition 98 guarantees. However, these proposals are at the top of the agenda for 2000-01 according to Senator Johnson, who stated, "since the Governor has made education his top priority, we look forward to making additional progress toward his goal in a bipartisan spirit of cooperation."

Do you think this is a game of political "one-up manship"?

-- Arnold Bray