A deal on schools, but other fights

From CalMatters K-12 education reporter Carolyn Jones:

As the Legislature hammers out its state budget this week, education advocates are waiting to learn the fate of Proposition 98, the decades-old funding mechanism for California’s public K-12 schools and community colleges. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed lowering the minimum amount of money guaranteed to schools by Prop. 98 and making up the difference by borrowing from the general fund. The California Teachers Association, California School Boards Association and other education advocates say the maneuver will protect funding this year, but could lower it dramatically in future years. 

Last week, Newsom and the teachers union struck a compromise that shrinks the Prop. 98 cut from $8.8 billion to $5.5 billion, but negotiations with the Legislature are ongoing. 

• Troy Flint, spokesman for the California School Boards Association: “There are several unappealing options, all with disadvantages.”

Prop. 98 is a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 1988. It establishes minimum funding for California schools, based on a complicated set of formulas roughly equalling 40% of the state’s general fund. Prop. 98 money pays for schools’ day-to-day operational expenses, including staff salaries.

Newsom has said he wants to protect schools — and some of his signature programs, such as community schools — from budget cuts. In the past few years, California has gradually boosted its per-pupil spending, going from the bottom tier nationwide to above the national average. It’s an accomplishment he’s likely to tout in any future campaigns. 

Lowering the Prop. 98 minimum is not likely to affect students this year, but could lead to teacher layoffs and program cuts in future years if state revenues fall flat and enrollment continues to decline. Any budget cuts could compound schools’ struggles to help students catch up academically after the pandemic.

• Rob Manwaring, senior policy and fiscal advisor for the nonprofit advocacy group Children Now: “Our schools need more resources, period. While the governor’s most recent proposal may be the best alternative right now, it seems counterproductive to bring this much uncertainty to local school budgets.”

More on the budget: Other key parts are also still undecided as the Legislature faces a midnight Saturday deadline to pass at least a placeholder spending plan while negotiations with Newsom continue. A final deal isn’t expected until later this month.

And various interest groups are trying to make their case for state money. On Tuesday, Service Employees International Union members from across California rallied at the state Capitol to call on lawmakers to reject cuts to safety net programs.

Tuesday night, the 40,000-member Child Care Providers United held a candlelight vigil at the Capitol to call for higher pay and more child care spaces. Last year’s budget deal gave raises to child care workers, but the governor’s current proposal would pause funding toward a goal of 200,000 subsidized child care slots by 2026, with 11,000 at stake in the negotiations.