12/09/04 Press Release

Education community calls on governor and Legislature to honor the education budget agreement

December 9, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sacramento — Schools lived up to their part of the agreement with the governor and the state Legislature. Now it's time for the Legislature and the governor to live up to their part — that was the message from education leaders today at a telephone news conference hosted by the statewide Education Coalition.

Schools have suffered $9.8 billion in cuts over the last four years and according to the Education Coalition, further losses would be devastating to a state education system that is already severely underfunded. These cuts include a $2 billion reduction in Proposition 98 money owed to schools under the state Constitution — which the education community agreed to in order to help the state ease its budget deficit.

"Our students and public schools sacrificed this year with the promise that if the economy improved, they would get their fair share of any additional revenues," said Barbara E. Kerr, president of the California Teachers Association. "We expect the governor and the Legislature to honor that agreement. Our students are counting on it."

The Coalition detailed how withholding an estimated $1.4 billion owed to schools this year would have a debilitating impact on students and programs now and well into the future. Most of the $9.8 billion in cuts will never be repaid and because future education budgets are based on the dollars appropriated the previous year, the withholding of funds for even one year means long-term losses for schools.

"This is about more than just honoring a deal, schools have a desperate need for these dollars," said Dr. Kerry Clegg, president of the California School Boards Association. "So much so that just last week more than 1,000 elected school board leaders from throughout the state signed letters to the governor and their local legislators urging them to honor their commitment to California's schoolchildren by appropriating the $1.4 billion owed to schools."

The nearly $10 billion already owed to schools could dramatically increase class-size reduction funding in California, put a highly qualified teacher in every classroom and provide all schools with updated books and materials, according to Jack O'Connell, California Superintendent of Public Instruction, as well as fund music, art, transportation and other programs being trimmed from local district budgets across the state.

Carla Niño, PTA's President added, "California is still $500 below the national average in per pupil funding, yet we have the highest educational standards in the nation and the most diverse student population to educate. That doesn't add up. We've got to do better if we want our children to have the resources they need to achieve and compete in a 21st century global economy."

Coalition participants included Barbara E. Kerr, President, California Teachers Association; Dr. Kerry Clegg, President, California School Boards Association; Jack O'Connell, California Superintendent of Public Instruction; Carla Niño, President, California State PTA; John Anderson, President, California County Superintendents Educational Services Association; Mary Bergan, President, California Federation of Teachers; Bob Wells, Executive Director, Association of California School Administrators; Rick Pratt, Assistant Executive Director of Governmental Relations, California School Boards Association; and Kevin Gordon, Executive Director, California Association of School Business Officials.

Supporting documents:

Over $9 Billion Cut from Education Since 2001-02 (Chart)
K-12 Reductions 2001-02 through 2004-05 (Chart)
$1.4 Billion More for Education Means… (Chart)
Education Coalition Position Paper

For more information or to schedule an interview with any members of the Education Coalition, please contact Mina Fasulo at (916) 669-3240, Sandra Jackson at (916) 325-1550 or Steve Hopcraft at (916) 457-5546.