K-12 budget cuts in california Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

K-12 budget cuts in california - Research Paper Example The people of the state feel as though their voices should be heard if budget cuts are needed and where would be the best possible place to cut. In the case of California budget cuts in regards to k-12 education this is not so. The majorities of the people are not in favor of the proposed budget cuts and are not afraid to say so. Voices are heard from newspapers, newsreels, high offices and education systems themselves. Why are budget cuts proposed? Where do the deciding factors come from? In who’s best interest? These are the underlying questions to the foundation of this paper. Proposed state budget cuts are looked upon as evils by the people. Budget cuts means jobs lost, jobs lost means hard times, unwanted struggles and hopeful prayers. Budget cuts means some organization that has served the people will not be able to do so any longer in the original capacity. Budget cuts are often times proposed in place of tax increases. Although tax increases would usually only affect t he higher income families. The government relies on the state’s elected leaders to lead during the time of economic downturn and budget cuts. The deciding factors in budget cuts are sometimes based on the efficient use of the remaining and less spending of the variables involved. In the state of California one of the areas involving budget cuts is in education. Specifically covered here will be grades k-12. Education budget cuts mean massive layoffs for teachers among other educational expense loss, such as purchasing of books. The impact and acceptation of the budget is described here in an article from Targeted News Service (2011), Despite positive economic messages surrounding President Obama's recent State of the Union address, America's 14,000 school districts will remain vulnerable for the next half decade. Nationally, forty states currently project budget gaps totaling over $140 billion for the next fiscal year. Even worse, states will have to try to fill the gaps with nearly $40 billion less in federal stimulus funds than they had last year--creating what many officials are calling the "ARRA cliff," the sudden loss of billions of dollars in federal money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Looking even further down the road, twenty-four states already face a combined gap of $66 billion for fiscal year 2013. When it comes to schools, these gaps are significant because state dollars account for almost half, 48.3 percent, of K-12 education funding. In California, the budget picture is grim. The state faces ongoing structural budget gaps of over $20 billion a year through 2014, with debt levels currently topping out over $25 billion for this fiscal year. Governor Brown's proposed budget slashes higher education funding by over $1 billion, or nearly 20 percent, and his promise to avoid cuts to K-12 education hinges on a tax extension vote in June. If voters reject the tax extension, school districts could face an additional $4 to $5 bill ion in cuts before classes begin. All of this comes on top of the 14.5 percent hit K-12 funding has taken since 2007. Listed above are the hard facts the state of California is facing. Are the budget cuts necessary because the government failed in its duties or is the state? For either answer there are individuals who have come up with answers on how to prevent future cuts in areas that are desperately needed. The dropout rate is not decreasing, the need for our