| For students planning to attend a CSU in 2010-11, the current budget cuts will have a direct affect. As it stands, without approval of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed fiscal budget, CSU Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Jeri Echeverria said they will be forced to raise tuition and cut enrollment by 40,000 students.
Assessment of CSU Enrollment and Tuition Problems
To date, CSUs are in trouble. With spring 2010 enrollment having closed, fall 2010 enrollment has skyrocketed. CSU University Chancellor Charles B. Reed reported fall enrollment totaling 266,000 so far, "a 53 percent increase over the same time last year, and a 127 percent increase in the number of applications from community college transfers", said Reed. As far back as November, Reed announced that many students will not be admitted into CSUs’ 2010 fall semester, regardless of qualifications.
Most students that did not file their application by November 30, 2009, will not be accepted due to CSU lack of funds – some who applied before November 30 will not be accepted as well, said Reed. He did not give the criteria for selection. In a CSU public affairs announcement, Reed said that despite knowing enrollment restrictions are a bad idea, he was left with no other choice.
Requested Federal Help for California's Education Crisis
In a January 8 press release, Governor Schwarzenegger announced his proposed budget for the fiscal year 2010-11, which he said addresses a “19.9 billion dollar hole that we must fill in the next 18 months.” If filled, budgets for education will include the restoration of last year’s education funding levels.
In a July 24, 2009 press release, President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan introduced Race to the Top Fund, a $4.35 billion national competition to advance school reform. The RTTTF buttresses the American Recover and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) – a plan requiring detailed education reform proposals to in turn provide approximately $100 billion for education.
Eligible applicants (states) of RTTTF must submit proposals that mimic ARRA’s education reform areas, giving an overview of future improvements in testing standards, acquiring more effective teachers and principals, building student data-tracking systems, and turning around their lowest-performing schools. The competition will take place in phases (California submitted its application in the first phase, January 19, 2010).
First-phase applicants will be reviewed and selected finalists for the next round announced in February. Suggested award grants have been decided according to state size and range anywhere from $20 million for small states to $700 million for states with a larger student populace.
Schwarzenegger’s Explanation of the Fiscal Year 2010-11 Budget and RTTTF's Education Benefits
For the California’s Fiscal Year 2010-11 Budget Proposal, a total of 8.5 billion dollars in spending cuts have been proposed, but none of them are in education, said Schwarzenegger in his January 8 press release. “When it comes to cuts, let me make one thing clear. Our state, our economy, and our future is so dependent on education that, as far as I’m concerned, we must protect education,” said Schwarzenegger.
In its entirety (meaning early learning, K-14 and higher education – college), this is Schwarzenegger's explanation of the proposed budget's education benefits:
Proposition 98 guarantee (a proposition that forces California to distribute 40% of the general funds for schools). Schwarzenegger said, “That equates to $50 billion dollars being set aside for early learning, elementary, and high schools.”
For higher education, Schwarzenegger said the budget will fund a $225 million dollar increase. “It is my hope that with this funding level we can avoid any further fee increases," said Schwarzenegger.
When RTTTF was introduced, Duncan explained it as a competition aiming to boost school reform, reward high standards, and excel the nation's schools. Schwarzenegger encouraged this by saying it was a great opportunity to put education priorities back on top, secure teachers’ jobs and ensure all students a premium education.
CSU Financial Realities With and Without Federal Help
As it stands, not only CSUs but all California schools from early learning and K-12, to post-secondary education are looking at heavy budget cuts: enrollment cuts, employee cuts, furloughs, closing of schools, tuition increases, among other things. Reassuring as Schwarzenegger’s proposed promises are, the fact is, nothing has been approved or finalized.
In addition, and despite Schwarzenegger's claim of a $225 million increase for education, a closer look at the 2010-11 fiscal budget shows many, many financial cuts in education and does not match last year's budget numbers. Furthermore, although the RTTTF applications are detailed, the actual pathway to success is not included leaving many unanswered questions fo ... |
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