Tim,
I think first the question should be why there was a need for Prop 98. That need arose from the elimination of a stable funding base for schools after Prop 13 passed. Before Prop 13 (And I'm not saying that Prop 13 was not needed for home owners, I'm saying property taxes provided a more stable funding base) schools had a more stable, more predictable funding base. After Prop 13 school funding became part of the general fund of the State. The State general fund is much more subject to wide swings due to the economy. Prop 98 was passed to once again try and provide a predictable, stable funding base. Yes 98 provides a minimum and I welcome a debate on what the maximum should be.

Prop 98 certainly has had some unintended consequences. One of them is a section that states whatever you spend this year becomes the floor for spending next year. As a result, whenever the elected legislators want to spend a few extra bucks on the schools, they realize that it will affect school funding forever. Hence, they tend to only spend the minimum required.

Interestingly, at the request of a bipartisan group of state leaders, four private foundations are spending $2.6 million to search for ways to restore California public education to national excellence. The full article can be read at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/31/BAGD3I1AAP1.DTL. Another article can be found at http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14237177p-15057976c.html.

The purpose of the study, funded by private foundations, is to answer three questions:
-- How do the current school finance and governance systems work?
-- How can existing education resources be better used to improve student achievement?
-- How much more is needed to allow students to meet the goals set for them by the state?

California traditionally has determined how much it will budget for education each year, then decisions are made by the Legislature and local school districts about how best to spend that money.

A key portion of the study will take a different tack, analyzing how much money is needed to provide a quality education for each student - not necessarily how much the state can afford.

I look forward to the results.

Jerre,

I agree, I am looking forward to hearing the results as well. Sounds like the blog is generating some heat!

Tim

How come no one brings up Serrano v. Priest when talking about school funding?

We seem quick to blame prop 13 or prop 98, but we never even acknowledge legal challenges that have affected state funding mechanisms.

Does anyone believe or agree that the property tax system funding is inherently unequal?

Scott