One year after declaring 2008 “The Year of Education,” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a $3 billion reduction to K-12 education in California to deal with a state budget deficit that has surpassed $15 billion. As a result, the loss of revenue translates into a staggering $350 million cut for the LAUSD during the 2008-09 school year, which threatens the academic future of its nearly 700,000 students. 

In spite of the sizable budget deficit, the Los Angeles Board of Education approved the District’s 2008-09 provisional budget while sustaining classroom programs, enhancing student safety and generally preserving teacher jobs in the upcoming school year.  (The LAUSD is expected to approve its final budget later this summer once the Governor and State Legislature approve the State budget and school funding is secured). 

From day one of the budget process, this District has worked very hard to minimize impacts of the budget cuts on the classroom. These were very difficult decisions to make, but the LAUSD is satisfied with the thorough and thoughtful process taken by District leaders and staff to ensure that classroom programs would be preserved