Threats to education

A Legislative Analyst’s Office report presented a sober outlook for the future of California’s public education.

Lower-than-forecast state revenues are expected to trigger automatic cuts that mainly affect the state’s education system. These reductions were built into the latest budget agreement to guarantee that the deficit would not increase.

The automatic cuts fall into two categories according to the severity of the deficit. The first is a $600 million reduction that includes $100 million for the University of California (UC) and the Cal State (CSU) systems each. This will also impact services for people with disabilities and state aid for libraries and child care. The second wave of cuts will be up to $1.4 billion in cuts to K-12 schools, which could translate into a shorter school year and the elimination of school buses.

The actual amount of the cuts is yet to be determined, although it is known that these will again impact students, who have already taken a beating from the continuously increasing costs of their studies.

It is already unacceptable that the poorest and most vulnerable people have been shouldering the burden of the crisis. However, it is even more unbelievable that California’s future is being sacrificed, negatively affecting the academic opportunities for young people.

We flatly reject the Republican idea that there are still more cuts to be made, since this will further damage our state’s fabric. It is necessary to realign tax priorities in order to increase the state’s revenues.

When school days are being cut, the issue is not excessive spending. What it involves is a failed legislative political system that is unable to make the necessary sound decisions and is undermining California’s future by sacrificing its public education.