Governor reneges on education promise

Ridgecrest Daily Independent: Our View:

"Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Our View - Governor reneges on education promise

By the Daily Independent Editorial Board
Tuesday, February 8, 2005 2:16 PM PST


It's official Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has become another politician who promises the world to get elected and once in office changes course.

The governor's proposed budget would cost California schools $2.3 billion Schwarzenegger promised them last year.
Last January, the governor said he would fully restore school funds this year if education groups would accept a one-time $2 billion cut in the money they were owed under Proposition 98.

The voter approved measure sets minimum state funding levels for schools.

The governor has said the state's financial condition has forced him to break the deal with educators.

What message does this send to voters. Should the state's financial crisis continue, what will prevent the governor from reneging on his promise to local governments not to raid their coffers, under Measure 1A?

Meantime, the governor plans to pick more fights with teachers by eliminating the state's contribution to their retirement program.

It won't help that shortage of money is only one of many obstacles facing California schools.

Two comprehensive reports out recently, a study of California by the Rand Corp. and a state-by-state comparison by Education Week, underscore the crisis facing California schools.

In terms of achievement, California's fourth-graders were ranked 40th in the nation in math and 44th in English in scores on a nationwide test.

California schools have other problems.

Its per-pupil spending was also 44th in the nation and according to Educ"