Things were already bad.
And that was when there was a chance of an election in June that would extend existing taxes. Now it seems they are really, really, really bad. Some in the world of public education call the situation, "tragic."
Gov. Jerry Brown's initial budget included deep cuts -- and extending taxes -- but with taxes seemingly off the table, the entire budget shortfall of $26 billion will come through cuts. The current outlook could have California's 112 community colleges dealing with an $800 million funding reduction, which is almost double what they had braced for in Brown's original budget.
That could now mean slashing thousands of classes and enrolling 400,000 fewer students next fall. For those students who do enroll, they will feel the budget crisis reflected in their tuition. Currently, students pay $26 a unit. Under the new plan, it will be $36 a unit, or potentially even higher.
California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott said the funding cuts, under either scenario, would be a tragedy.
"Students seeking to transfer to Cal State and the University of California will be denied access. Those students unable to get into Cal State and UC and who desperately need to get into a community college will be denied, as well as those who are out of work and are coming to us for retraining," Scott said.
Scott went on to say that while the schools are doing the best they can, they simply "will not be serving the needs of students or meeting our education goals."
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Officials at Long Beach City College say they will be forced to reduce their enrollment back to 1999-2000 levels at a time when demand "has never been greater." Those cuts translate to cutting 222 courses, turning away 1,000 full-time students and losing more than 30 staff positions.
Some in educations say that this crisis at the community college level could mean many bright young students will leave the state to get their education.
