The Sword of Damocles hanging by a horse hair over the heads of the legislators in Sacramento is about to drop come Feb. 1. The two choices have been to increase revenue and/or cut programs/spending in order to dig us out of the grave we starting digging when we passed Proposition 13 over 30 years ago. If I begin from the premise that K-12 education is over 40 percent of the state budget, then education, along with all other state-funded programs, must share in the pain.
Pierluigi Oliverio, in his most recent SJI post, is right on target with his assertion that our lives will feel like a roller-coaster ride in 2009. Unfortunately, public education (K-12) has been on a Big Dipper-like roller-coaster ride since the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978. In Sunday’s SJ Merc, the editorial board opined that the Governor’s new plan for the state’s $41 billion deficit “deserves full consideration.” In addition the Editorial Board writes that the plan “chops” too many billions from K-12 education. Any plan that cuts K-12 education while we maintain an educational system that places us at 46 out of 50 states per-pupil spending should be dead on arrival.
The pain inflicted by more cuts to an already significantly under-funded system must only be superficial cuts where the scab heals quickly.
In these economic emergency conditions there are some reductions that can be made without sacrificing our future. Eliminate all state testing for 2nd-grade students. No Child Left Behind accountability begins in 3rd grade. If you can eliminate the state testing this spring legally, in its entirety, do so.
Our current school year is 180 days, much too low in a global comparison. Yet 10 or more years ago we had a school year for students of 172 days. Temporarily reduce the school year back to 175 days. A one-week reduction in the school year is already in the Governor’s proposal. The reduction of five days will not inflict irreparable harm, however we need to look at increased future funding to get the school year up to 200 days when we are not in crisis.
Increase class size from 20 to 24 students on a temporary basis in grades K-3. Generally California has the highest class sizes in the country, but we are in an economic crisis. Smaller classes make sense, yet the data demonstrate little achievement gain from lower class sizes. However, I know as a former teacher the difference of four students per class makes a tremendous difference in the time you can devote to each learner.
After we emerge from the budgetary crisis we are in we must begin to get California education back on a steady track. Even though I know this is not a popular notion, we must find a way to increase funding per pupil to at least the nation’s average. Once we do we must never allow the roller-coaster yearly funding model we now have return. Our children deserve it. We pay for what we get. What do you think?
Joe,
I truly hope that your column is not going to be a weekly plea for funding. But, if it is, let’s keep it factual and eliminate tired old saws and emotional invocations.
Saying “… public education (K-12) has been on a Big Dipper-like roller-coaster ride since the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978,” is entirely incorrect. If anything, Proposition 13 had the effect of stabilizing funding, as property taxes were fixed in terms of annual percentage increases.
If what you really meant to say was that politicians could no longer muster a simple majority to increase any and all manner of taxes, you’d have been correct.
I don’t know about other SJI readers but, when I read nonsense like this, I lose all faith in the individual’s future writings.
Did anyone read Dan Walters’ column in the Merc today?
Arnold wants our redevlopment money for his own stadium plan in Los Angeles.
What a girly man!
How is throwqing more money at a broken, dysfunctional system a good idea? It is not as important how MUCH money we throw at California’s eduction system, but rather how we SPEND that money and other resources should be the true measure.
According to US Census data, the District of Columbia ranks third in per-pupil spending at $13,446, yet ranks dead-last in student achievement rankings. Georgia increased their per-pupil expenditures by 139.7 percent—the largest percentage increase of any state over two decades—but yet still ranks 45th in academic achievement. South Carolina increased expenditures by 137.1 percent and is ranked 43rd.
California’s education system is a bloated, inefficent and ineffective collection of over-paid administrators, under-paid educators, and an entrenched lobby organization in Sacramento with surprisingly deep pockets, a firm grip on legislative leaders and a fundamental unwillingness to advocate for anything that even remotely would go to support the growth in educational standards and general well-being of the children they supposedly are there to defend.
Spending advocates should start focusing on what matters, and stop trying to raise taxes in a futile attempt to buy academic achievement.
Until our schools seriously focus on raising standards and expectations, eliminating education fads, encouraging greater parental involvement, controlling spiraling labor costs, and prioritizing our available resources in the classroom (where it matters most), tax increases should not even be considered.
Greg #1: I completely agree. When I read a column like this, it gives me less and less incentive to keep up with this site. Just look at the recent columns, it’s getting ridiculous.
As far as this column goes, if we can’t have an honest discussion about education, let’s talk about something else.
I don’t need to read the never ending (and obviously wrong) arguments about not enough funding, class sizes, etc.
#4- Disappointed said, “As far as this column goes, if we can’t have an honest discussion about education, let’s talk about something else.”
We don’t need a credible columnist to have a serious conversation on this topic. We are bright enough to do it ourselves. Please join in and lets do exactly that!
Mark G. raises some very valid points. Our educational system needs a serious over haul from top to bottom. To keep asking for more money to be thrown into an endless well, with no accountability on the part of top administrators, and no verifiable proof that the money they are already getting is being used properly, and is producing good results is ridiculous. Every teacher, or instructor I know hates the system they work for. They too want to see change.
I have a friend who teaches at SJSU. I was absolutely shocked to find out what is going on there. Students, who don’t show up for class, cannot be kicked out of a class as long as they turn in their homework, and take exams. That is just wrong on so many levels. Students who enroll and rarely show up to class deprive students who really want to learn the opportunity of getting into the class because the class, on paper at least, shows it is full. Also, these low paid instructors giving written exams or homework assignments must pay for copies out of their own pockets. Most students don’t have textbooks so they photo copy chapters to work from. So where is their tuition money going?
I have friends who teach grade school and high school as well. The stories I’ve heard make my hair stand on ends. It seems attendance is closely guarded by the higher ups not because they really care about students getting an education, but because every absence losses them money. They too don’t have books, or parents have to come up with money for everything from books, to lunch money.
Teachers often times take money out of their own pockets to pay for things the school should be providing, and they have to deal with classes that are too large, and students that don’t speak English well. The ones who don’t speak English well make it difficult for the kids who do, and the circle of how to give each student what they need is never ending.
How can we expect our next generation to get good jobs, and keep up with technology if we aren’t even educating them on the basics? My question is, where the hell is all this taxpayer, and other funding going?
Joseph,
Thanks for your important thoughts about education. I, for one, look forward to reading your comments about the current challenges in education children in California. While some might be tired of repeated pleas for funding, these days the economy and budget cuts are the biggest challenge schools face.
Your short term solutions, particularly eliminating 2nd grade testing and increasing class size, are definitely needed in these difficult times. Without such solutions, local school districts will be decimated by the cuts being proposed in Sacramento. Regardless of the problems with the statewide structure, local school districts are where children are actually educated, and each child only has one chance to get what they need.
Mark G (#3) argues against increaasing funding for schools at the same time as he decries “under-paid educators.” Well, since teachers make up over 75% of local school district budgets, there is no way to increase their pay without more money. No reduction of the other 25% would be enough to pay teachers what they are really worth. It’s simple math, such as that taught in our schools.
Joseph, I hope that you are sharing your thoughts with our legislators so they can fight for the extra flexibility that will help school districts survive these tough budgetary times.
How about we start by eliminating a layer of “oversight?” Do we really need organizations at the federal, state, county and local levels? We could do with fewer bee-watcher-watchers and use the money saved to drive educational improvement and accountability. Either the federal or state organization should be gutted.
Pat,
You’re on the right track. I’d question too the wisdom (NOT!) of having so many school districts in our valley. I understand that at least one of them has only one school… can you imagine that?!
For the life of me, I can’t understand why the legions of educational “experts” never talk about things like this. They instead prefer to chew on that thirty year old Prop 13 misconception.
Mark (#8): Of course, I see all the other raised in your post. And I agree with some of them. In particular, I agree that we have too many separate school districts and too many layers of oversight, as pointed out by other commenters. However, those larger structural issues require long term fixes. In the meantime, the cuts that will come from Sacramento will be directed at individual school districts, where kids have one shot at getting their education. Those individual districts are already operating bear-bones, after the past decade of cutting. It will be devastating for those districts to absorb the proposed cuts.
As for teacher salaries, I exaggerated a bit. The number I use includes benefits and also includes other employees (classified) in the schools such as secretaries, custodians, health clerks, food service people, maintenance people, etc. (Nobody can argue that any of those functions are extraneous.) Most districts, when you include all those people, have salary/benefits that exceed 75% of their budgets. I was making the point that talking about cutting administration and other expenses isn’t going to make a dent in the problem as long as more than 80% of the budget is in employees and proposed cuts are on the order of 5-10%.
As for finding the data, check out http://www.ed-data.org. San Jose Unified has total salary and benefits of exactly 75% of their total budget. Cupertino Union, considered the best district in Santa Clara County, has total salary and benefits of 84% of their budget. In reality, since a porition of their budgets are in restricted categories, such as capital, their personnel budget is a higher percentage of discretionary funding.
Joseph,
Will you be replying to your readers’ entries? Doing a “hit piece” (on Prop. 13) followed by your silence serves no purpose.
Greg et.al.,
I wrote my post to promote dialogue about how public education could share in the state budgetary crisis without harming a system already in peril (e.g. 40% drop out rate for Latino youth). We do not have equity in the system or a funding model that creates stability. No matter how you want to criticize the problems they remain intractable.
Only David addressed the specific proposals I rasied for contributing to the reduction of the state deficit. No doubt money is not the singular answer nor have I said that. Thirty-three school districts in one county is not an economy of scale. Far too many duplicative services exist.
Yet, as I can share from my experiences as a life long educator, teacher, principal, and now school board member having the largest class sizes in the nation, 50th or near last for all states in students per counselor, librarian and administrator has not shown how Californians value their children. We can and must do better. Please show me the ways and solutions to address this enormous problem.
I think a longer school year with a year around calendar should be on the table at some point. Assessment that is more meaningful than fill in bubble tests is critical too. The Golden State use to have the best model of public education in the country. We no longer due in large part due to the insidious nature of how Proposition 13 has played out. Palo Alto Unified spends over $13,000 per student and Gilroy Unified spends around $7,000. Do you not think this is a serious problem of equity? The wealthest children with the best chance for life success getting the better teachers and most money spent to educate them with public dollars. This is a matter of equity to me.
How do you address these issues Greg? Negative opining is not an answer. We must work together to find solutions before we lose another generation of children.
Joseph Di Salvo
David –
If all you got out of my post was that teachers are underpaid, than I would suggest the education system has already failed to provide you with the skill of reading comprehension. Perhaps you should consider taking some time to go back and finish that GED.
Since you bring it up however, I am curious to learn what data you used to identify 75% of all local school district budgets going to teacher salaries? I just looked it up and discovered that Santa Clara Unified reports approximately 42% of their budget going to teacher salaries. San Jose Unified approximately 41%. Los Angeles Unified approximately 41%. The state average for local school district budgets is roughly 43%. This data comes from individual district annual reports and the state board of education. What resources are you using?
I actually don’t mean to argue for more money to teachers per se. They do a very important job for the community, but they didn’t get into the job for the money, and if they did, I question their logic and wonder if they are mentally fit to teach our children. The main issue here is that the system is dysfunctional, broken and corrupt. Throwing money at such a system is a waste of valuable resources and will cotniune to be until those truly concerned with the well-being and education of our youth take a firm stand and demand the changes required to move our education system forward.