The School Deadlock

California Assembly Republicans are holding up state budget negotiations until they get more money for suburban and rural school districts. Their argument that suburban and rural schools now share many of the problems faced by large urban districts is correct, but their solution asks too much. They want to use most of any uncommitted education money to catch up. State education officials are working on new formulas that would help equalize spending but also recognize legitimate big-city needs. That will take time, but it seems the better approach.

Much of the approximately $17-billion state public school budget will pay for basic costs of educating children and accommodating growth in enrollment. Between $400 million and $430 million will be left after the basic costs are covered.

Under the 1976 California Supreme Court Serrano decision, the state also must move toward ensuring that all school districts receive equal amounts of money for each student. There is apparent agreement among education officials and legislators that about $150 million of the remaining funds should be spent on continuing implementation of the Serrano decision. Districts like Alhambra, Glendale, Garden Grove and Santa Ana would share the Serrano allocation, as would Los Angeles schools.

Still unresolved is the question of how much of the remaining $300 million should go to what are called categorical aid programs, such as extra help for districts to transport handicapped students, improve programs for low-income students, pay for special help for students who speak little or no English and promote school desegregation. Assembly Republicans think the formulas for special programs should be rewritten so that suburban and rural districts get most of the money.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Bill Honig agrees that suburban and rural districts should get more of this money, but not all of it and not as quickly as the Republicans want to get it. He thinks half of the money should go to the special programs, using more up-to-date formulas. Another $110 million would be invested in reforms such as smaller classes; $40 million would pay cost-of-living adjustments for other special programs. Honig also thinks that funds earmarked for desegregation programs should remain separate, partly because courts would not look with favor on their being mixed with funds for redistribution.

There is no question that changing population patterns have put new financial strains on suburban and rural districts. But urban districts have critical problems as well. The state will have enough money this year to address some of the needs of all sides only if all sides compromise on the question of how much money is required and how quickly the needs can be met.