Californians Say Schools Underfunded (CA)

April 29, 2010

Most Californians believe the state’s economic crisis has left public education inadequately funded, leading to concerns that schools will continue to suffer with fewer teachers, larger class sizes and fewer instruction days, according to a report released Wednesday.

The Public Policy Institute of California surveyed about 2,500 residents statewide for the report "Concern Rises Over Impact of Budget Cuts on Public Schools."

According to the survey, 62 percent of Californians believe there is not enough state funding going to their public schools, while 26 percent believe there is just enough, and 6 percent believe schools have more than enough.

When asked how they feel about some potential ways schools may deal with decreased funding, 73 percent of Californians said they are very concerned about teacher layoffs. Fifty-nine percent are very concerned about class sizes getting bigger. Fifty-six percent are very co ncerned about having fewer days of school instruction. And 49 percent are very concerned about elimination of after-school and summer programs.

"At a time when Californians are looking for reforms that will improve student achievement, more Californians are seeing the direct effect of the state’s budget problems on children, teachers, and resources in their local schools," says Mark Baldassare, president of the Public Policy Institute.

The report also concluded that residents are more worried about education funding than at this point last year.

The group did not release survey results by county, or how many of the respondents came from Orange County.
Locally, the county’s 27 school districts have announced this spring they plan to cut a combined $368 million and eliminate more than 2,500 jobs. School districts will finalize teaching layoffs on May 15.

"Schools simply can’t deal with any more cuts," county Superintendent William Habermehl said. "I think people are beginning to understand that education has taken more than its fair share of funding cuts when compared to other departments."

Alicia Tang, a parent at Sierra Vista Middle School in Irvine, said she agrees with the results of the survey.
"People can’t really ignore any longer that the education quality in California has taken a drastic hit because of funding losses," she said. "The best way to get California out of this economic recession is to have strong schools to produce an educated workforce."