Revenue Forecasts and Realities: State Cuts, Student Consequences
The state’s economic forecasters had some good news and bad news for lawmakers on Friday. The good news: the economy seems to have turned a corner. The bad: revenues won’t be recovering for a while. From the Denver Post:
Colorado’s budget shortfall has grown another $40 million, reaching a projected $600.6 million for the fiscal year that ends in June, state economists said today. And the state is now facing what appears to be closer to a $1.5 billion shortfall for the next fiscal year, which starts in July, an increase from previous estimates that put the budget gap at $1 billion to $1.3 billion.
Ed News reports on what that may mean for K-12:
Reductions in state support for K-12 schools in 2010-11 may be larger than previously proposed, based on new state revenue predictions issued Friday. Additional cuts could be between $65 and $70 million.
Such new cuts would be on top of $354 million in proposed cuts that already amount to a statewide average cut of about $440 per student. And that cut follows years of Colorado’s comparative K-12 funding decline, to $1,397 below the national average.
These cuts aren’t academic, but will have real and immediate impact on Colorado’s students, as numerous press accounts demonstrate:
In Littleton:
Reducing staff by the equivalent of 58 positions, more than 6.5 percent at all levels. The move carries the impact of increasing teaching time and class size and potentially cutting instruction time in art, music and physical education, among other implications.
In Pueblo:
At a special meeting, Pueblo County School District 70 Superintendent Dan Lere laid out a list of ways the district could balance its budget in the face of rising costs and declining revenue. Cutting school days, closing schools and wage freezes were among the ideas to close the $4.9 million deficit.Lere led off the discussion with a proposal for a four-day week . . .
And in St. Vrain:
Closing schools, increasing class size and implementing transportation fees are some options St. Vrain Valley School District officials are considering in light of next year’s possible $11 million funding cut.“We have to put everything on the table, given the amount of money we’re talking about,” superintendent Don Haddad said during a Board of Education study session on Wednesday.
St. Vrain school board president John Creighton summed up the situation: “We’ve made the choices that this is the kind of state we’ve chosen to live in.”
It cannot be repeated enough, however, that Colorado can still choose a different path.
Related posts:
K-12 possible cuts
I am an educator with 27 years experience. I have also been an administrator responsible for 2,000 students and a $2 million budget. Most of my years were spent in Texas.
At the Texas Music Ed Assoc. Convention held in Feb annually, the Texas All-State Choirs, Orchestras, and Bands are finalized and perform with anationally-known director at the convention in San Antonio in the Gonzales Convention Center Auditorium for 3,000 school officials, community members, and parents.
TMEA has taken a SAT-score survey every year for the past 20+ years. The results speak perfectly and clearly why music should never be cut from any school budget. The Texas Avg. SAT score is approx. 935. The average All-State Choir student’s SAT score is 1,175. The avg. All-State Band SAT score is 1,330, and the avg Texas All-State Orchestra student’s SAT avg is 1,240. This is proof that a program of music study and performance over a 7-year JH and SrH period helps to raise test scores. Every year, the average SAT scores of these three student groups are almost always the same. Research proves that long-term group music study not only raises test scores across the board, but also provides students with increased self-confidence, a heightened sense of commitment and responsibility, strong sense of teamwork, cooperation, and respect. It also helps students gain a life-long appreciation for the Arts and improves time management.
There is no other curriculum that offers a student body as many great opportunities for learning and growth than MUSIC. It would be a travesty to cut music study from any school day curriculum. In fact, many schools in Texas push students hard to participate in an extra-curricular and a co-curricular activity for these reasons plus the proof that students involved in group activities after school tend to stay out of trouble. Strong, large music programs should be encouraged so that a goal of 50% or more of a high school’s population should be enrolled in a music program of some kind. A wise principal is one who recognizes the true value of music programs in the school and should do everything possible to promote participation in all music group areas.
And what about the revenue side?
Obviously, Colorado is facing extremely challenging economic times. However, our children are the future of Colorado’s economy. The magnitude of proposed cuts to our schools will have an impact on quality of the education our kids receive. All revenue options to minimize cuts must be considered. Individual and corporate tax exemptions, deductions and loop holes should be scrutinized and reconsidered. After all, what’s at stake is the future of our children and state.
Couldn’t agree more
If we’re trying to make sure that everyone is sharing in the sacrifice, why would we ignore revenue options while taking more dollars out of K-12 (despite Amendment 23) every time the revenue projections go south? These cuts are short-sighted and, I fear, irreversible. Our leaders should take every step possible to minimize them
I agree
Well said!