| It is no secret that California has taken the recession | | | | money. |
| on the chine. Along with the rest of the Nation, | | | | Per-pupil spending for K-12 schools fell 4 percent last |
| California public schools are falling under severe | | | | year and would be slashed another 8 percent under |
| financial stress as districts slash education spending | | | | Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget for |
| and drain federal stimulus money that staved off deep | | | | 2010-2011, according to the state Legislative Analyst's |
| classroom cuts and widespread job losses. School | | | | Office. |
| districts have already suffered big budget cuts since | | | | The fear in California, especially in districts like San |
| the recession began two years ago, but it stands to | | | | Francisco public school district, is that such budget cuts |
| get worse, a lot worse, as states run out of stimulus | | | | will have a greater impact on those schools found in |
| dollars. | | | | more economically challenged areas. Also worrisome |
| Such budget shortfalls could mean more teacher | | | | is that education funding shortages in some districts will |
| layoffs, larger class sizes, smaller paychecks, fewer | | | | reverse trends where Hispanic and black students had |
| electives and extracurricular activities, and decimated | | | | been closing the achievement gap with their Asian and |
| summer school programs. | | | | white classmates. Schools in wealthier areas |
| The situation is particularly ugly in California Public | | | | predominantly populated by white and Asian students |
| Schools, where school districts are preparing for mass | | | | have the ability in many instances to raise money |
| layoffs and swelling class sizes as the state grapples | | | | through special local taxes and assessments leading to |
| with another massive budget shortfall. | | | | greater inequality. |
| In the San Francisco public schools, the district a $113 | | | | According to an Associated Pres article, more and |
| million budget deficit over next two years and is | | | | more districts in California are likely to lay off middle |
| preparing to lay off hundreds of school employees and | | | | school guidance counselors and cut music and art in |
| raise class sizes as a result. | | | | elementary school. Many schools laid off close to 10% |
| According to an Associated Press article, the Obama | | | | of its staff over the last 12 months according to one |
| administration's $787 billion federal stimulus package | | | | report and most districts have no choice but to |
| provided roughly $100 billion for education, including $54 | | | | consider more layoffs and even bigger class sizes this |
| billion to stabilize state budgets. In October the White | | | | year. |
| House said the stimulus created or saved 250,000 | | | | The problem is at a crisis level. Californians have been |
| education jobs. | | | | dealing with a dysfunctional state government and are |
| But many states have used most of their stimulus | | | | suspicious. The lawmakers in Sacramento appear |
| money, leaving little choice but to make budget cuts in | | | | reluctant to make common sense cuts outside of |
| the coming fiscal year. | | | | education, and cannot agree on a budget that might |
| In California, school districts have already laid off | | | | take education out of limbo. It is not entirely fair to say |
| thousands of teachers, increased class sizes and | | | | that California does not have an income problem as |
| slashed academic programs. But state officials are | | | | the recession has hit the world’s 8th largest |
| warning the worst is yet to come because the state | | | | economy very hard. |
| has already handed out most of its $6 billion in stimulus | | | | |