Public Policy. The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) does research on a wide range of issues such as higher education, water policy, and environmental concerns. Using the PPIC site, examine a major policy issue and tell what you learned.
Public Policy (Education).
The state of California has in recent times witnessed a drastic decline in higher education. This is partly due to reduced funding of the higher institutions by the state and also changing state priorities due to economic hardship. By the year 2025, about forty percent of jobs in California will require a bachelor's degree for employment (Reed 2008), also, all over the nation more than 60 percent of new jobs will need some form of higher education for gainful employment. Though there is an increased demand for higher education in the state, government participation through funding has been on the decline for about ten years. Rates of enrolment at the University of California and the California state university have fallen by about twenty percent in the past five years. Also, the enrolment rate among the state's best high school graduates have dwindled from around 67% to 55%. These are not unconnected with the governments reduced funding of the sector due to the economic problems. Hence, California's universities and public colleges had to employ strategies to keep them afloat. They resorted to cutting courses, programmes, student services, laying off teachers and other administrative cuts. Also, practices to restrict the number of students offered admission were introduced. The most astounding of the measures was the monumental increases in tuition fees. However it is believed that an increased funding for the higher education sector will reverse this appalling trend. If the current enrolment trend is not arrested, it has been projected by PPIC that the state will be short of about a million short of skilled workforce.
Education. Describe some of the challenges facing California’s system of elementary and secondary education. In what ways are these problems a political issue?
Education in California is a major public policy issue and a monumental topic for public discourse. Schooling in the state is either through the government owned public schools or privately owned schools. The state has over a thousand school boards that deal with the elementary education and the secondary education. There are some districts that handle just elementary grades (K-6) while the others take care of kindergarten through (K-8). Elementary and secondary education in California is most times seen as one long stretch. Government officials nicknamed it the ''K-12'' as it involves kindergarten to K-12. The most interesting fact is that the state of California devotes forty percent of the state budget to K- 12. Several policies and propositions have had tremendous effects on the outlook of education in the state. In 1988, ''Prop 98'' was established. It established the present funding for secondary education and elementary education in the state. It is also referred to as ''K-14'' because the California Community College system was included. About twelve years afterwards, public education in the state received another rude shock when public schools were asked to reduce their class sizes. School districts were asked to reduce their class sizes in K-3 to twenty and also for secondary schools in relation to science subjects. This act alone piqued many who strongly believe that science is the bedrock of technology and technology is the future of the world. This led to a drastic shortage of teachers in the state as low income communities are unable to attract and retain quality teachers in their employ. Of particular note is the fact that since 1974, only one of the five governors that had served the state sent his children to public schools. This shows to a large extent the level of confidence the executives have in the public schools. The above problems are political issues because they form a recurring point during each electioneering campaign. Also, they are issues dwelled upon repeatedly by the public as they affect their lives greatly.
Higher Education. Explain California’s system of public higher education. Is it a good idea to make college available to all people who are interested? Is it practical?
Like the elementary and secondary school education in California, the higher education segment's fortunes are also dwindling in recent years. Though higher education consumes a big chunk of the government’s budget. The master plan for higher education that was developed in 1960 is the state's roadmap for higher education. The plan advocates a system of community colleges which are free and open to all and sundry who can benefit. Over the years, these community colleges have being the mainstay of higher learning in the state. The community college system has a total of 110 colleges which enrols close to 3 million students. The state has 72 college districts and each has an elected board of trustee. They keep churning out professionals for the state in the field of nursing, law enforcement, fire protection and child development. Hence, almost all households have students in such colleges. The state does not provide enough funding for the system equally.
Most of the courses in the colleges are taught by poorly paid teachers on a part-time basis. The colleges now charge high tuition fees to make ends meet. California state university is the second largest system of higher education in the state. The university offers four year degree courses, master’s degrees, some professional degrees and doctorates in some fields. The California state university is run by a board of governors that are appointed by the legislature and the governor. The University of California is the other public higher education institution in the state. The school focuses majorly on research and graduate education. Education is a fundamental human right of every individual, irrespective of tribe, race, colour, religion and political affiliation. The government owes all her citizens quality education to safeguard their future. With proper planning and goal driven policies education for all is practical and realistic.
The State Budget. What would you propose we do to achieve a balanced budget with stable funding for important state priorities? Should we raise taxes, and if so, what kind of taxes? (Notice I included online resources with differing perspectives on this topic.)
The state of California is still in the process of climbing out of the economic doldrums caused by the recession. The budget is in deficit and the government is saddled with the task of balancing the budget. Personal income tax provides the greatest input to the general fund revenues, which is followed by sales and use tax while corporate income tax comes in third. Income tax plummeted because a large number of Californians lost their jobs during the recession. Also, massive corporate tax breaks granted companies by the legislature in 2008 reduced the states revenue. Coupled with the fast growing population of the elderly and the old in the state. To achieve a balanced budget, a little tightening on the belly is required, a temporary tax increase is introduced, and there should be temporary revenue introduction and also some spending cuts introduction. Spending reductions will be expected in the areas of health and human services as the amount spent in servicing these segments are huge.
Taxation is a way of increasing the states revenues and also a way of balancing the budget. A progressive Personal income tax can be introduced as California's tax system is regressive with lower income earning households paying more local and state taxes than the higher income earning households. Also, corporate income tax should be introduced as just 9.8% is remitted to the general fund revenues.
References
California Budget Project http://www.cbp.org/pdfs/2012/120203_Budget_Chartbook.pdf
Hans Johnson Defunding Higher Education 'What Are the Effects on College Enrollment'? Public Policy Institute of California (2012)
George Gatsil California Politics
