Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/635847
Top 10 States in Per-Pupil Spending encouraged to see the governor use his proposed state budget and revenues generated by Prop. 30 to continue paying back schools from the years of devastating cuts — especially those serving our most at-risk students." Heins says that Prop. 30 funds are being used to restore art, music and PE programs, reduce class sizes, hire more counselors and nurses, prioritize student learning over testing, and make it easier to attend a California college. But he notes that an Education Week report released in January still ranks California a dismal 46th in the nation in per-pupil funding. "We are moving in the right direction now, but with Prop. 30 set to sunset at the end of 2018, it's critical that we continue our investment in all California students by temporarily extending the tax increase on the wealthiest Californians," Heins says. "Otherwise, beginning in 2019, we could create a $5 billion sinkhole in annual funding for schools and colleges. at's $5 billion less each year for lowering class sizes, providing a well-rounded education, supporting teacher development, and keeping libraries open." e governor's spending proposal now heads to the Legislature for review. In mid-May, Gov. Brown is scheduled to release a May Revision, an updated budget proposal that will be based on newer estimates of revenues and expenditures. e release of the revision will accelerate legislative deliberations in advance of the June 15 deadline for lawmak- ers to send the governor their budget version. e state constitution gives the governor until June 30 to sign the budget bill into law. In the months ahead, CTA representatives will be working with Gov. Brown and the Legislature to maximize funding for K-14 schools. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Prop. 98, approved by voters in 1988, guarantees a minimum level of funding to be spent on K-14 education. The 2016-17 budget plan pegs the Prop. 98 funding level at $71.6 billion. Prop. 98 Guarantee in Billions $72.00 $70.00 $68.00 $66.00 $64.00 $62.00 $60.00 $58.00 $56.00 $54.00 2013–14 $58.90 2014–15 $66.30 2015–16 $68.40 2016–17 Proposed $71.60 State Per-Pupil Expenditures, Adjusted for Regional Cost-of-Living Differences (2013) Rank (2013) Vermont $18,853 1 Alaska $18,565 2 New York $17,291 3 Wyoming $17,256 4 New Jersey $15,511 5 Connecticut $15,340 6 New Hampshire $14,502 7 Maine $14,310 8 District of Columbia $14,087 9 Rhode Island $14,071 10 Education Week's annual "Quality Counts" report, released in January, found California ranked 46th compared with all other states in per-pupil spend- ing. The report analyzed 2013 data, which was the latest available. Each state's figures were adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences. California's adjusted figure for 2013 was $8,216 — or $3,451 below the national average and $10,637 less than Vermont's, the highest in the nation. For the past seven years, California has consistently ranked near the bottom of the chart. California $8,216 46 34 cta.org