California Education Reform Introduction Proposition 98 Schwarzenegger Proposals Initiatives Key Websites Public Opinion Reports and Studies Newspaper Articles See also the related Hot Topic: California Spending Limit Proposals August 2005

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Introduction

With California facing a year-end budget deficit of $6.7 billion in fiscal year 2005-06 lawmakers are trying to find solutions to the state's financial problems. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a $111.7-billion state budget in early January that cuts several prominent programs including healthcare and transportation. Arguably, the most controversial cut is the governor's plan to scale back payments owed to the school system by $2.5 billion. Education makes up 40% of the state budget, and is currently protected from cuts by the state Constitution under voter-passed Proposition 98. The education cut has angered school groups who agreed to a funding cut last year in exchange for a promise that there would be no future cut to funding. Those supporting the cut point to the fact that the governor has also proposed a 3.93% cost of living allowance for education in his budget proposal. As a result the schools will be getting slightly more money this year than last.

In addition to the cut in the education budget, Schwarzenegger is proposing that teachers should receive pay raises based on merit and not on tenure as is currently the case. California is near the bottom in terms of student achievement according to studies by several prominent think tanks released in January. The merit pay notion has caused an out-cry among education activists who say that merit raises would be disastrous due to the difficulties in putting the program in place and possible discontent amongst teachers. Proponents say that it will create accountability in the classroom and lead to better educated students.

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Proposition 98

The Proposition 98 guarantee consists of three "tests" that are designed to adapt to the state's economy during different economic trends and conditions.

1. Test 1 has only applied in one year, 1988-89 after Proposition 98 was passed. It guaranteed schools the same share of General Fund revenues that they received in fiscal year 1986-87. The revenues made up approximately 40 percent. The percentage guaranteed was changed to reflect an increase in local contributions to school funding after the property tax shift that transferred local property tax revenues from counties, cities, and special districts to K-14 education.
   
2. Test 2 mandates that K-14 education is to receive the same amount as the previous year adjusted to changes in school enrollment and per capita personal income.Test 2 is designed to keep school funding in pace with inflation and economic growth. It applies only in years when the state is experiencing strong revenue growth.
   
3. Test 3 mandates that schools shall receive at least as much as they received from state and local sources in the prior years adjusted for school enrollment growth and any change in per capital general fund revenues plus 0.5 percent. It applies only when the percent change is less that the percent change in state per capita personal income. Test 3 guarantees schools an increase in funding not below the increase provided to all general fund programs on a per capita basis. The test only applies in years of weak revenue growth.

Proposition 98 can be be suspended by the legislature for a single year with a two-third's vote. In the case of suspension, the proposition includes a provision that declares that there will be an increase in school funding when the economy is strong again. This is to make up for the amount lost during the suspension. The legislature can also allocate Proposition 98 money to individual programs through the budget process and legislation. Traditionally, proponents of the proposition have tried to limit the number of programs covered as a way to keep the core funding in place. Proponents of many individual programs work to be included under Prop. 98 as it offers funding that is not open to non-education programs.

The California Senate suspended Proposition 98's minimum guarantee for 2004-05 with SB 1101. The bill proposed a targeted suspension level of $2 billion less than would have been required under normal funding. Given the General Fund revenue growth predicted in the budget the state would have to provide an additional $1.1 billion in the current year to make up for funds not given in 2004-05 fiscal year.

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Background Reading

"Proposition 98: an Introduction," California Budget Project Quick Hit, July, 2000.
California Budget Project

Salzman, Ed.
"Pupil power: [Proposition 98, November 1988]," Golden State Report, Aug., 1988.

California. Legislative Analyst's Office.
The 1991-92 Budget: Perspectives and issues. Sacramento, CA, 1991.
see: "Major issues facing the legislature," p. [143]-157.

California general election, 1988 (Nov.8), Proposition 98, school funding initiative : campaign ephemera and newspaper clippings.
See IGS library, call #: f 91 00146.

Goldfinger, Paul M.
Revenues and limits: A guide to school finance in California. Sacramento, Calif. : School Services of California, 1999.

Proposition 98: a Primer. Sacramento, Calif.: Legislative Analysts Office, Feb. 2005.

Schwarzenegger Proposals

In his Jan. 5th, 2005 State of the State address, Gov. Schwarzenegger spoke of his plans to reform California's education funding. His plan held Proposition 98 at the same amount detailed in the 2004-05 budget. The plan would not reimburse education funding that was suspended by SB 1101 during the last budget. Withholding the 04-05 funding along with the lower funding level for 2004-05 would save the state approximately $2.2 billion over 2005-06. With the revenue growth estimated in the budget, Proposition 98 funding would increase 6.1% over the fiscal year. Specifically, the budget provides $1,650 million for a 3.93% Cost-of-Living-Adjustment and $395 million for a .79% growth in school enrollment. As part of the governor's proposal, school districts would be required to fund contributions to California's Teacher Retirement System instead of the state.

On Mar. 16th, Gov. Schwarzenegger announced his support of the California Live Within Our Means Act which mandates spending limits across the budget, including education. The act is viewed by many analysts as softer on spending limits then his previous proposal. The act would eliminate the operation of Test 3 and maintenance factors guaranteed through Proposition 98. It would also require the payment of outstanding obligations for any years prior to 2004-05 to be paid within 15 years and would convert the 2005-06 outstanding maintenance factor to a one-time obligation that is required to be paid within 15 years.

For additional information, see "Provisions Related to Proposition 98 Funding" in The California Live Within Our Means Act, Fiscal Analysis Initiatives. Sacramento: Legislative Analysts Office, Mar. 17, 2005.

Merit Pay

On March 16, Gov. Schwarzenegger endorsed The Excellence in Teaching Act, which would tie teacher raises to merit. His plan would entail a switch from the current tenure system to one based on merit raises. The current system is based on the number of higher education units and years of teaching experience across the board. Under Schwarzenegger's plan, individual school districts, in cooperation with their local bargaining units, would determine how to gauge teachers' performance and award raises.

Critics suggest that Schwarzenegger's teacher merit plan will be hard to implement given the difficulty of drawing up fair and relevant criteria to ascertain merit. They also say it would be hard to enforce a merit based system. Proponents of the idea say that it will force schools to hold teachers accountable for their work and will encourage teachers to work harder. They suggest that a merit-based system would create a better level of student achievement. California currently ranks near the bottom of educational attainment according to recently released RAND study.

• In addition to the widely publicized budget cuts and merit pay proposals, the Governor also proposes several other initiatives in his budget.
• He wants to take $362 million from different school categorical programs and use the money for professional development and teacher credentialing under one block grant.
• Schwarzenegger also wants to create a new California Local Education Accountability Reform pilot program which would place school resources under the control of each individual school site. The governor says the program will encourage the participation of teachers and parents in decision making.
• He also proposes to create a new program for charter schools that would provide supplemental funding not available to charter schools previously.
• Finally, Schwarzenegger proposes that the State Board of Education should be allowed to form "leadership teams" to manage schools that have failed to meet the standards of state and federal law.

On March 1st, Gov. Schwarzengger formally endorsed the Put the Kids First Act, a proposal authored by Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia (R-Cathedral City). The plan would raise the amount of time new teachers must wait before they are covered by job protection rules from two years to five years. The proposal would also allow school boards to fire any teacher who received two consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations. March 1st marks the deadline Schwarzenegger gave the legislature to address the concerns he made in his state of the state speech. However, the governor spoke only of the new tenure initiative and not the more controversial merit bay and budget cap proposals he focused on in January. The governor's office says Schwarzenegger is hoping to work with lawmakers on his merit pay proposal. The Put Kids First Act needs 373,816 signatures to qualify for the ballot. Gov. Schwarzenegger has not officially called for the special election he promised in January although he has until Mid-June to do so.

Read Legislative Analyst's Office report of Feb. 16th on the Put the Kids First Act.

Impact

Schwarzenegger's school reform proposals came as a shock in Sacramento where the education lobby had depended upon the governor's promise not to cut funding in 2005. Under the deal struck with Schwarzenegger (see "Education Funding Background", Governor's Office Press Release, Jan. 8 2004), schools were to get $2.2 billion in 2005-06 and a promise of no further drain on education funding. Under the governor's reform proposals, a third of the increase would be eliminated. Proponents of the Schwarzenegger agenda say that the governor is actually increasing the amount spent on education, with a boost in state funding from the 2004 average of $7,012 per student to $7,374 per student. Along with federal, local and other funds, funding in California will actually stand at over $10,000 per student for the first time in state history.

Education activists, however, raise the point that costs are rising so rapidly that the additional funding will have little impact. More importantly, they say, school districts will now be forced to fund California's teacher retirement system instead of the state. This could result in districts having to renegotiate teachers' contracts which could involve time-consuming and expensive conflicts with teachers unions. Educators are even more alarmed that Schwarzenegger is proposing a spending cap that would weaken the constitutional protections offered under Proposition 98.

The merit pay proposal has also proved controversial. Some educators believe that it will improve the system, closing the achievement gap between more prosperous communities and the economically disadvantaged. Others criticize the proposal on grounds that merit raises would be hard to set in place, difficult to enforce, and will cause resentment and division among school staff. Some educators also believe that California's education code prohibits the state's approximately 310,000 teachers in K-14 public schools from being judged only on the basis of merit. Individual cities and counties outside the state have attempted merit pay in past with varying degrees of success. Proponents of the system point to areas such as Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Colorado's Denver and Douglas Counties as examples of successful school merit systems. However, no city, county or state has attempted to install a merit based system on the scale that Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed.

When Schwarzenegger endorsed revamping the tenure system with the Put Kids First Act, he added fire to school groups and others opposed to the governor's education reform proposals. Critics claim that requiring teachers to work five years before they can receive tenure will result in fewer teachers and that government should focus on better facilities, smaller class size and better materials and equipment. Proponents of the plan argue that school children suffer from bad teachers who are given tenure for life after a relatively brief evaluation period.

Opposition

As Gov. Schwarzenegger began to raise money to push his education reform initiatives in March, the California Teachers Association and other teachers groups mounted resistance. Teachers unions financed several television ads claiming the governor betrayed his promise to California education. Many teacher's advocates also staged public protests. The Governor's administration responded with ads of their own, paid for by the California Republican Party in which they defended the education plan. Despite this, the Governor began to change the focus on his education reforms. While his proposals on merit pay stills stands, the governor has focused more closely on the tenure issue in March and April. The Governor still supports the California Live Within Our Means Act, which would alter Prop. 98 funding. However, the Governor retreated from his proposal to reform California public employee pensions which would force teachers to switch to 401(k) style plans. Speculation has grown over his intentions with education reform. Some analysts believe that the governor will scrap his proposals in light of lower approval ratings, below 50% in some polls. California teachers groups have vowed to fight the Governor until the budget is due this summer. The California Teachers Association members will vote in June on whether to increase dues to combat the Governor's reform agenda. The smaller California Federation of Teachers has already raised dues for the last two years.

Revised Budget

Gov. Schwarzenegger proposed a revised budget on May 13, 2005, which would provide an additional $3 billion in school funding from the current fiscal year. With the state experiencing $3.9 billion in increased revenues for the current and coming fiscal years, some analysts believe the governor was able to restore some of the cuts he pressed in his January proposal. Critics say that the revisions are not enough to meet funding minimums and claim that schools are actually being under-funded by $3.2 billion. Proponents of the Governor's plan say that the new revisions invests more in education than ever before. Other changes from his January proposal include $175 million for smaller classes in schools performing in the bottom third in test scores, $18.2 million for healthier food in school breakfast programs, $49.5 million in grants to schools for merit pay in poorly rated schools and $500,000 in a one-time payment to start training programs for high school coaches to curb the use of performance-enhancing drugs by school athletes.

Initiatives

Efforts to enact education reform are currently underway through ballot measure channels, including the following:

Initiatives

California Office of the Attorney General.
Initiative Measures, Active: "The California Live Within Our Means Act"
Submitted by William Huack, Received Jan. 14, 2005.
See: "The California Live Within Our Means Act", Fiscal Analysis Initiatives. Sacramento: Legislative Analysts Office, Mar. 17, 2005.

California Office of the Attorney General.
Initiative Measures, Active: "The Excellence in Teaching Act."
Submitted by Tony Strickland, Received Jan. 13, 2005.
See: "The Excellence in Teaching Act," Fiscal Analysis Initiatives. Sacramento: Legislative Analysts Office, Feb. 22, 2005.

California Office of the Attorney General.
Initiative Measures, Active: "The High Quality Classrooms Act (Version 1)"
Submitted by Roberta Johnson, Received Jan. 10, 2005.
See: "The High Quality Classroom Act", Fiscal Analysis Initiatives. Sacramento: Legislative Analysts Office, Feb. 17, 2005.

California Office of the Attorney General.
Initiative Measures, Active: "The High Quality Classrooms Act (Version 2)"
Submitted by Roberta Johnson, Received Jan. 11, 2005.

California Office of the Attorney General.
Initiative Measures, Active: "The Education Funding Protection Act (Version 1)."
Submitted by Roberta Johnson, Received Jan. 10, 2005.
See: "The Education Funding Protection Act", Fiscal Analysis Initiatives. Sacramento: Legislative Analysts Office, Feb. 16, 2005.

California Office of the Attorney General.
Initiative Measures, Active: "The Education Funding Protection Act (Version 2)."
Submitted by Roberta Johnson, Received Jan. 10, 2005.

California Office of the Attorney General.
Initiative Measures, Active: "Put the Kids First Act".
Submitted by Bonnie Garcia, Received Jan. 10, 2005.
See: "Put the Kids First Act", Fiscal Analysis Initiatives. Sacramento: Legislative Analysts Office, Feb. 17, 2005.

California Office of the Attorney General.
Initiative Measures, Active: "Fairness for Public Charter Schools Act".
Submitted by Bonnie Garcia, Received Jan. 10, 2005.
See: "Fairness For Public Charter Schools Act," Fiscal Analysis Initiatives. Sacramento: Legislative Analysts Office, Feb. 16, 2005.

California Office of the Attorney General.
Initiative Measures, Active:"More Money For Kids Act".
Submitted by Bonnie Garcia, Received Jan. 10, 2005.
See: "More Money For Kids Act", Fiscal Analysis Initiatives. Sacramento: Legislative Analysts Office, Feb. 16, 2005.

For updates to this list, go to Active Initiatives provided by the Office of the Attorney General.

Baldassare, Mark.
PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on the California State Budget. San Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, May 2005.

Baldassare, Mark.
PPIC Statewide Survey: Special survey on education. San Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, April 2005.

"Schwarzenegger Approval Ratings Drop Sharply," Survey and Policy Research Center, San Jose State University, Apr. 7, 2005.

"Voters narrowly back governor's legislative redistricting plan; Some initial support for other Schwarzenegger reform proposals; Broad disapproval of a special election if it costs $50-$70 million," Field Poll, Release 2153, Feb. 24, 2005.

"Special survey on the California State Budget," San Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, January 2005.
See page 10, Special Elections and Political Reforms, for polling on education funding reform.

Reports and Studies

School Finance in California and the Proposition 98 Guarantee. Sacramento: California Budget Project, April 2005.

Governor's budget-related reforms: Proposition 98. Sacramento: Legislative Analysts's Office, Mar. 2, 2005.

2005-06: An overview of the governor's budget. Sacramento: Legislative Analysts's Office, Jan. 12, 2005.

Carroll, Stephen J., et al...
California's K-12 public schools: How are they doing? Santa Monica: Rand Corporation, Jan. 2005.

California's 2005 K-12 Education Primer. Los Angeles, Calif. : Reason Public Policy Institute, 2005.

Gledhill, Lynda.
"Superintendent, union sue over money pledge: they say governor owes $3.1 billion under Prop. 98," San Francisco Chronicle, August 10, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Halper, Evan.
"Democrats Propose Income Tax Hike: New rates aimed at rich Californians would close budget gap and bring more money to schools," Los Angeles Times, June 1, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Halper, Evan.
"Spending Plans Fall Victim to Politics: Democrats appear set on killing budget items that might win the governor points with the public," Los Angeles Times, May 31, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Bluth, Alexa H.
"Schools increasingly used as stage for political agendas," Ventura County Star, May 30, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Mendel, Ed.
"Funding for schools may drive ballot, budget fight: Differing data put California in middle, at bottom of states," San Diego Union-Tribune, May 29, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Bluth, Alexa H.
"Onstage at schools: Political theater: Some warn that children shouldn't be props; others see visits as educational," Sacramento Bee, May 29, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

[Opinion].
"School budget scenario just plain silly," Ventura County Star, May 29, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Skelton, George [Opinion].
"Californians Aren't Wild About Schwarzenegger or His 'Reforms'," Los Angeles Times, May 26, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Halper, Evan; Shields, Nicholas.
"Thousands Protest Budget Cuts: Teachers, nurses and others rally in L.A. and Sacramento to urge the governor to back off his funding decisions and cancel a special election," Los Angeles Times, May 26, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Folmar, Kate; Hull, Dana.
"What lies behind the education battle," San Jose Mercury News, May 26, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Chance, Amy.
"Governor put self in bind in school funding dispute," Sacramento Bee, May 25, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Gladstone, Mark.
"Governor: No promises broken on funding for state's schools," San Jose Mercury News, May 18, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Delsohn, Gary.
"Governor: No school fund pledge: He says education leaders are lying about a budget deal to restore $2 billion this year," Sacramento Bee, May 18, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Hill, John.
"Revision sets stage for fight: Governor says key areas funded; critics fault spending on schools," Sacramento Bee, May 14, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Zaragoza, Luis; Wykes, S.L.
"Governor's plan short on funds, educators say," San Jose Mercury News, May 14, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

"Schools: The proposal," San Francisco Chronicle, May 14, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Halper, Evan; Helfand, Duke.
"Governor Offers Plan to Reduce Class Size: Schwarzenegger's $174-million proposal faces resistance from some educators," Los Angeles Times, May 13, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Gledhill, Lynda.
"Governor's allies drop teacher pay initiative: Merit proposal was 'lagging': 3 other measures still in play," San Francisco Chronicle, May 7, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Drucker, David M.
"Unions quit pension talks: Groups pushing for end to all of governor's reform agenda," Los Angeles Daily News, May 5, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Delsohn, Gary.
"Schwarzenegger hands in first petitions," Sacramento Bee, May 5, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Zaragoza, Luis.
"Teacher merit pay debate: California in a rush, Denver more deliberate," San Jose Mercury News, May 4, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Martin Mark; Gledhill, Lynda.
"Special election push costly for governor, foes: No holds barred in effort to win public support for initiatives, counter-initiatives," San Francisco Chronicle, May 4, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Drucker, David M.
"Scott accused of backpedaling," Los Angeles Daily News, May 3, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Hull, Dana.
"Initiatives take aim at tenure, wage system," San Jose Mercury News, May 3, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Furillo, Andy.
"Ballot drive called a success: Three measures will qualify for a special election, governor says," Sacramento Bee, May 2, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Weintraub, Daniel.
"What we have here is a failure to communicate," Sacramento Bee, Apr. 28, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Yamamura, Kevin.
"Perata open to tax for schools: The Senate Democratic leader says the state should match U.S. average for education spending," Sacramento Bee, Apr. 27, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Mendel, Ed.
"Senate leader pushes for boost in school funding," San Diego Union-Tribune, Apr. 27, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Martin, Mark.
"Tax increase proposed for state school funds: As governor drops in polls, Democratic leader takes him on," San Francisco Chronicle, Apr. 27, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Walters, Dan [Opinion]
"Schwarzenegger's another captive of the workers' comp tar pit," Sacramento Bee, Apr. 20, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Furillo, Andy.
"Combat pay' instead of teacher merit pay? Governor's team and Democrats may find common ground,"
Sacramento Bee, Apr. 20, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Lou, Linda.
"Action urged to restore funding: Groups say the governor is going after money that voters intended for schools," Press Enterprise, Apr. 14, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Skelton, George.
"The Governor Owes Schools an Apology - and $2 Billion," Los Angeles Times, Apr. 14, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Benson, Clea.
"Teachers put governor in the corner: Unions are spending millions to rip Schwarzenegger proposals," Sacramento Bee, Apr. 13, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Drucker, David M.
"Arnold's poll plans assailed: Parties rap teacher-pay, budget proposals," Daily News of Los Angeles, Apr. 12, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Herdt, Timm.
"Unions team up to fight initiatives," Ventura County Star, April 11, 2005
NewsBank (UCB)

Nicholas, Peter and Salladay, Robert.
"Gov. Making a Quiet Retreat: Schwarzenegger is publicly upbeat about his agenda, but political realities have tripped up his bold proposals for revamping government," Los Angeles Times, Apr. 10, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Halper, Evan.
"Battle Escalates Over Education Spending," Los Angeles Times, Apr. 3, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Thompson, Don.
"Prison reforms said to offer future saving, but report warns of short-term costs," Ventura County Star, Apr. 1, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

[Opinion]
"Calcified system: Merit should trump seniority in teacher pay, San Diego Union Tribune, Mar. 28, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Burrell, Jackie.
"Merit pay proposals sparse in details: Tying teachers' pay to students' test scores has worked in Denver, but could cost $2.2 billion here," Contra Costa Times, Mar. 20, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Drucker, David M.
"Unions carry funds to fight," Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Mar. 20, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

[Opinion]
"E-mail altercation: A merit pay head butt: The governor believes in it. Two teachers chime in," Los Angeles Times, Mar. 20, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Schrag, Peter.
"If school funding system is wrong, what's right?" Sacramento Bee, Mar. 16, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Asimov, Nanette and Gledhill, Lynda.
"Keeping Your Word," San Francisco Chronicle, Mar. 15, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Burrell, Jackie.
"Petition drives gear up in state for special-election measures," San Gabriel Valley Tribune (West Covina, CA), Mar. 14, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Elias, Thomas [Opinion].
"Governor could retreat, compromise next on nurses, education," San Gabriel Valley Tribune (West Covina, CA), Mar. 12, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

[Opinion].
"Governor's plan won't work," Monterey County Herald, Mar. 11, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Saillant, Catherine and Alvarez, Fred.
"Hands Off Education, 500 Tell Gov.: State schools chief is a featured speaker at a rally in Ventura against Schwarzenegger's reneging on a vow not to withhold funding," Los Angeles Times, Mar. 11, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Finch, Jake.
"Trustee says merit pay idea unworkable," Ventura County Star, Mar. 8, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Castruita, Rudy M. [Opinion].
"Broken promises on state education," San Diego Union-Tribune, Mar. 7, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Martin, Mark.
"Political group sets state for special election: Schwarzenegger supporters to raise funds for 2 initiatives," San Francisco Chronicle, Mar. 1, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Furillo, Andy.
"Ballot plans get a boost: A business group backs pension shift, teacher tenure issues," Sacramento Bee, Mar. 1, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Kasler, Dale.
"Governor's plan could erode CalPERS clout," Sacramento Bee, Feb. 28, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Bluth, Alexa H.
"School-funding guarantee faces uncertain future: Education advocates say the governor's proposed changes would gut Prop. 98," Sacramento Bee, Feb. 21, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Mendel, Ed.
"Governor's plan for Prop. 98 could hold major impact," San Diego Union-Tribune, Feb. 12, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Martin, Mark and Gledhill, Lynda.
"Governor fires 4 members of teachers retirement panel: They opposed Schwarzenegger's pension proposals," San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 11, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Marimow, Ann E.
"Governor attacks teachers' 'false' ads: Educators angry over broken deal," San Jose Mercury News, Feb. 10, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Marimow, Anne E.
"Radio ads force governor to defend education plan: Spurned teachers union taps into public's keen interest in schools", San Jose Mercury News, Feb. 9, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Drucker, David M.
"Leading state democrat urges prop.98 overhaul," Los Angeles Daily News, Feb. 9, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Gledhill, Lynda.
"Simple' budget plan actually quite tricky," San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 2, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Weintraub, Daniel.
"Governor should reach higher in education reform," Sacramento Bee, Feb. 1, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Walter, Dan.
"Education numerology emerges as a major wedge issue for 2005," Sacramento Bee, Feb. 1, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Burke, Mary Jane.
"Overriding Prop. 98: As good as the governor's word?" San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 1, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Fuller, Bruce.
"Overriding Prop. 98: Schwarzenegger's PTA problem," San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 1, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Weintraub, Daniel.
"Governor gets dose of reality in new survey," Sacramento Bee, Jan. 30, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Yost, Phil.
"Confront governor on the state's abysmal schools," San Jose Mercury News, Jan. 30, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Rojas, Aurelio.
"Teacher union attacks budget," Sacramento Bee, Jan. 29, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Skelton, George.
"Public's renewed focus on education could teach governor a lesson," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 27, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Merl, Jean.
"Starving' Schools Need Tax Hikes, O'Connell Says: State education chief criticizes governor's proposed withholding of promised funds: High expectations require more money, he says," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 25, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Sturrock, Carrie.
"Schools chief wants $2.3 billion owed by state," San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 25, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Campbell, Tom.
"Finding the will to limit spending," San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 25, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Wildermuth, John.
"Expect governor to be taught a political lesson," San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 23, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Marelius, John.
"Redistricting plan's impact is uncertain: Governor backs bill calling for changes before '06 vote," San Diego Union-Tribune, Jan. 23, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Rau, Jordan.
"Reform plan would give more control to schools on spending: Senate leader wants to end dozens of state programs that allot funds for specific purposes," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 23, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Chorneau, Tom.
"Assembly speaker blasts governor's proposed budget," Ventura County Star, Jan. 21, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Weintraub, Daniel [Opinion]
"Governor caught in a trap set by his own promises," Sacramento Bee, Jan. 20, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Skelton, George.
"Amid broken promises, many begin to doubt Schwarzenegger," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 20, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

[Opinion].
"Officials Launch Salvos at Gov.'s School Budget," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 19, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Wiener, Jocelyn.
"Teachers wary on risk, rewards of merit pay," Sacramento Bee, Jan. 18, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Chorneau, Tom.
"Powerful school lobby challenges governor over budget cuts," San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 17, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Delsohn, Gary.
"Factions voicing doubts on deals: Education leaders are the latest group to question whether the governor's word can be trusted," Sacramento Bee, Jan. 16, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Mendel, Ed.
"2 new initiatives would aid school funding," San Diego Union-Tribune, Jan. 14, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Helfand, Duke.
"Group Seeks Easier OK for Tax Measures: A proposed initiative would help schools raise funds by allowing hikes in property taxes if 55% -- rather than 66.6% -- of the voters approve," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 13, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Zarogoza, Luis and Bartindale, Becky.
"Education advocates plot budget strategy," San Jose Mercury News, January 12, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

[Opinion]
"The lessons learned: In the early '80s, an era of educational reforms was launched. Some have proved worthwhile," Orange County Register, Jan. 12, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

[Opinion] Schrag, Peter.
"The school fixers: Once again, the kids come last," Sacramento Bee, Jan. 12, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Harper, Evan and Vogel, Nancy.
"Broken System' Budget Unveiled: Schwarzenegger keeps his promise not to raise taxes, but at the expense of healthcare, schools, transportation and welfare benefits," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 11, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Burrell, Jackie.
"Education: Present pain for future gain: Plans pare fund increase, violate deal, officials say," Contra Costa Times, Jan. 11, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

DiMassa, Cara Mia and Rubin, Joel.
"Teachers Unions Blast Governor's Merit Pay Plan: Some educators call proposal untenable, costly. Others say it may help attract instructors," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 10, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Werner, Jocelyn.
"Teachers react to merit-pay proposal: Dismay greets governor's positions on school issues," Sacramento Bee, Jan. 9, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Kolber, Michael.
"Schools may sue state for funds," Sacramento Bee, Jan. 8, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Sturrock, Carrie.
"Merit-basing teachers' pay faces resistance: Governor's proposal raises questions on funding and evaluations," San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 7, 2005.
San Francisco Chronicle

Moore, Jean Cowden.
"Teachers ask: Who decides on merit, how?," Ventura County Star, Jan. 7, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Halpar, Evan.
"Education Budget on Hit List: Governor will propose cutting $2.2 billion. Angry educators blast him for reneging on last year's agreement to protect school funding," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 6, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Herdt, Timm.
"Study shows schools are in crisis," Ventura County Star, Jan. 4, 2005.
NewsBank (UCB)

Richard Rothstein.
"Merit pay won't work: Why pay for performance is a bad way to compensate teachers," School Spending, 2000.
School Spending

Kelly, Carolyn.
"Making merit pay work: Why schoolwide bonuses and knowledge - and skill-based pay are good ways to compensate teachers," School Spending, 2000.
School Spending

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Prepared by the staff of the IGS Library. Send comments to igsl@uclink.berkeley.edu.