Before an overflow crowd of more than 350 concerned educators, parents, students, school board members and administrators, State Senator Joe Simitian brought the budget news direct from Sacramento on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 to the board room of the Palo Alto School District.

At this “Education Update,” Simitian proclaimed the word of the day to be “uncertain” to describe Governor Brown’s budget proposal released in early January. He acknowledged that the size of the crowd who came to hear his report was an indicator of the concern the community has for education funding.

Senator Simitian represents California’s 11^th state senate district, which includes 931,349 people from 13 cities across San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Although the majority of the audience was from Santa Clara County, there were a good number from San Mateo County. There was even one man visiting from Sweden, and several concerned grandparents, too. To the students in the audience, Simitian quipped, “By the power invested in me by the state of California, I hereby convey extra credit to all the students in the audience.”

Where Will the Funding Come From?

The uncertainty in the Governor’s budget proposal revolves around where the funding will come from. The Governor is proposing a temporary $7 billion tax increase that will be put forth to the voters through a ballot initiative. The taxes would include an increase in the sales tax and income tax on top wage earners. If that initiative passes in November, there will be a 10-11 percent increase in funding for K-14 education. If it fails, there will be a 5-6 percent ($4.8 billion) cut to education programs and services that are already reeling from a 20 percent reduction in funding over the last several years of budget cuts.

Weighted Student Formula Means the Money Will Follow the Student

The Governor is also proposing the introduction of a weighted student formula as a way to simplify what Simitian calls the “Winchester Mystery House of public school finance.”

“Every year, ‘rooms’ are added on to this house,” he said, “making it difficult to navigate.” With a weighted student formula, the Governor would eliminate most of the categorical programs and all their regulations, replacing it with a formula that gives school districts a certain amount of money per student, with more money per student going to those who are disadvantaged or English language learners.

“School districts are going to want to know, ‘What does this mean for us?’” Simitian said. “The answer will vary from one district to another and there will be winners and losers.” Although all districts will be freed from many of the restrictions and complicated reimbursement requirements placed on them by categorical programs, those with many disadvantaged students will most likely benefit from this new formula while those with few will not. Simitian also noted that the weighted student formula does not take into account cost of living differences from one part of the state to another.

Home to School Transportation Cuts Spawn Outcry

Simitian noted that the trigger cuts that went into effect in January, eliminating home to school transportation around the state, have caused an outcry from parents and school districts, particularly in rural areas. With no transportation provided, many families who must travel an hour or more to get to school in some areas are at a loss for a way to get their children to school. He noted that the state legislature is already looking at ways to restore this funding.

What Will Happen to Transitional Kindergarten?

Simitian said he “saved the best for last” in his education update presentation. “Have any of you heard of transitional kindergarten?” he asked, provoking laughs from the audience. He went on to describe how his bill, the Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010, moving up the date for students starting kindergarten to September 1 instead of December 2 became law, but now the Governor is proposing eliminating funding for the transitional kindergarten program, which would provide a year of education prior to kindergarten for students who would have been eligible for kindergarten in years past. He noted that 125,000 students across the state are now in limbo, and it would take a change in the law to deny these students services.

“Transitional kindergarten is law,” he said. “Absent a change in law, the funding is there. “ He said he thinks the legislature will address this issue.

For now, the state legislature budget committee, the legislature and the Governor will delve further into the Governor’s proposal and negotiate. In May the Governor will release the May revision to the budget. There could be many changes to his proposal between now and then, and when the budget is finally approved, sometime after the May revision.