Cal State, UC to get stimulus aid

California’s education leaders on Saturday lauded the release of $3.1 billion in federal economic stimulus funds for education, which includes more than half a billion dollars for hard-pressed colleges and universities.

The state’s universities are facing budget-related enrollment cutbacks, higher fees and class reductions in the fall, and officials said they hoped some of the most painful cuts could be avoided. But lawmakers and educators who attended a morning news conference in Long Beach emphasized that the state’s education system -- both K-12 and higher education programs -- still faces formidable challenges.

“You can almost compare this to a blood transfusion to a very sickly patient,” said state Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles). “But this is triage and only addresses a portion of the problems we face.”

Cal State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed and UC President Mark G. Yudof spoke at the news conference and applauded the arrival of the stimulus funds, which will total about $537 million for colleges and universities. But they provided few details of how the money will be used, and it is uncertain whether the funding will help stave off deep cuts already ordered to meet state-imposed budget cutbacks.

The Cal State system, for example, is $600 million below its operational needs for its 2009-2010 budget, noted spokeswoman Clara Potes-Fellow. Even with the stimulus funds, the system will have to reduce student enrollment by about 10,000 next year and cut classes. And next month, the Board of Trustees will consider whether to increase student fees by as much as 10%, she said.

But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who addressed the gathering at Long Beach’s Cabrillo High School, said he was hopeful that the funding will help prevent layoffs and protect reform efforts.

“We all know that schools are hurting, teachers are receiving pink slips and universities are turning students away,” Schwarzenegger said. “My mission is to shield our kids from the full brunt of the economic crisis.”

School districts and the state college and university systems can begin applying for the funds immediately through the state Department of Education website. The state will be able to apply for additional stimulus money in fall, but that is contingent on potentially revising state education standards and improving outcomes in areas such as dropout and graduation rates and student and teacher attendance, said state Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell.

About $2.6 billion of the stimulus funding is slated for K-12 schools.

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carla.rivera@latimes.com