State education officials respond to Schwarzenegger's State of the State Address

Here's the press release from the California Department of Education:

SACRAMENTO - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today responded to Governor Schwarzenegger's 2010 State of the State address:

"I was encouraged today to hear Gov. Schwarzenegger say in his State of the State address that he plans to protect education funding in his proposed budget for the coming year. I applaud him for making public education a priority, and for recognizing that the future economic well-being of our state is dependent upon a well-educated, highly skilled workforce. Our schools are still dealing with the effects of $17 billion in cuts made in the last budget cycle. Many vital school programs across the state have been cut back or eliminated all together. We cannot afford to backslide further. The key to expanding our economy is education. We need a well-qualified workforce to fill the green technology, biotechnology, and other sector jobs that the governor is promoting to boost our economy.

"I look forward to seeing the details of the governor's budget when it's released within the next few days, and I hope it's a budget that does in fact protect our schools and our students."

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott today commented on Gov. Schwarzenegger's State of the State address. "Gov. Schwarzenegger's vision that California will no longer spend more money on prisons than it does on higher education is one that holds great promise," said Chancellor Scott. "Wisdom and common sense remind us that tipping the scales back in favor of fully funding education means that fewer Californians will land in a prison cell and we will reduce costs associated with larger prison populations."

Chancellor Scott continued, "I am encouraged by the governor's statement that he will not propose additional cuts to education in 2010-11. This year the California Community Colleges received an 8 percent cut. This cut had very severe consequences. The governor's commitment to protect education is a welcome relief for college faculty, staff and students.

"I am also optimistic the governor's efforts to obtain a fair share of California's federal taxes will prevail. With a united front, there is much state leaders can do to ensure Congress and the Obama administration revert back to the Clinton era when California received 94 cents on every tax dollar from the federal government. I will do what I can to help this effort. In February I will travel to Washington D.C. and ask members of Congress and the White House to help fund community college programs that service our returning war veterans, train workers in emerging green and health care technologies, and provide an open door to anyone seeking an education."

And here's the response from Lillian Taiz, President of the California Faculty Association:

"We are gratified that the governor has heard our message that California's system of public higher education is a vital resource that must be funded and cannot sustain further cuts.

Our organization is ready to work with the Schwarzenegger administration to ensure that California's public higher education system continues to be the engine of the state's economic growth.

Hundreds of thousands of students rely on the CSU for educational, professional and economic advancement. A re-investment in public higher education after the recent devastating budget cuts is a signal to California that our message is right: the CSU is the Solution.

We sincerely hope that the details of the governor's budget proposal will match his remarks."