Posted on 02/04/2012 7:55:24 AM PST by SmithL
When teachers unions and education groups backed Proposition 98 nearly a quarter-century ago, they told voters it was "a well-thought-out plan for California's schools to once again be among the very best in the nation."
But as public schools pack more than 30 students into kindergarten classrooms, cut a week of instruction and shutter campus libraries, education advocates wonder to what extent Proposition 98 has served its purpose.
The state ranks among the worst in students per teacher and spent 12 percent below the national average per pupil even before the recession. Compared to their high-water mark in 2007-08, K-12 schools and community colleges will receive 12 percent less in state and local funding this year.
"It certainly doesn't appear as if education has been treated as a favorite child over the last few years when you look at all the cuts," said veteran schools lobbyist Bob Blattner.
The law, approved in 1988, is complex enough that watching a video tutorial by the Legislative Analyst's Office feels like upper-level college work. The measure is designed to ensure that K-12 schools and community colleges receive about 40 percent of state revenues, as well as increases for growth in taxes and student enrollment.
Proposition 98, and a revision in 1990, allow for a safety valve in bad fiscal years. California can cut schools as long as it vows to send enough money to districts in the future. Though it may be of little comfort to families with children in schools now, the state eventually owes about $10.4 billion more to education.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
and spent 12 percent below the national average per pupilHow much did they spend per pupil, if you only count students who are in this Country legally?
Hello, Teachers’ Unions. It does not have to do with MORE MONEY for your retirement funds and your union thugs.
Third world people, third world results.
That’s a good question, but there are more important questions that we should be asking:
1.) How many California “students” are illegal aliens?
2.) How many of those “students” do not speak English?
3.) How much money was wasted on educating illegal aliens?
4.) Why the hell are we wasting money on the education illegal aliens?
They shouldn’t be here, nor should we be wasting resources on them. Their miserable performance on standardized tests are a major factor in why California schools are rated at the bottom of all 50 states.
Diversity is not a strength. It is a leach that is sucking this nation dry.
“...The state ranks among the worst in students per teacher and spent 12 percent below the national average per pupil even before the recession....”
Note the “metrics” used by education dullards.
I’ll bet some good teachers, some good discipline and NO UNIONS would turn out some good students.
And, liberal idiots, spending per student and quality are not two necessarily correlated qualities.
Oh, forgot, education degree. Trying to actually determine correlation would be beyond your simple uneducated minds.
1.) How many California students are illegal aliens?
2.) How many of those students do not speak English?
3.) How much money was wasted on educating illegal aliens?
4.) Why the hell are we wasting money on the education illegal aliens?”
5. How many CA “teachers” regard English as a second language?
6. How many CA “teachers” are members of LaRaza and MECHa and are CA Education Association or Federation of Teachers members?
7. How many CA “teachers” regard English as a foreign language?
8. How many CA “teachers” can write coherent sentences in English?
You cannot teach what you do not know.
Also, we know comparing by states that more education spending doesn't equal better quality. If it did, DC would be ranked #1.
Separately, private schools spend less, charter schools also often spend less as well, and both get better results.
money does not equal good schools, especially when ‘sex-ed’ starts with pre-k pornography
Your list is much better than mine. I agree completely. And, furthermore, if you can replace the word “teachers” with the following and it would still be a valid question:
- lawmakers
- politicians
- judges
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