Initiatives focus on learning

On the ballot for California’s June 6 primary election are
two propositions aimed at changing the quality of education in
California, though many debate their ability to make an effective
change.

Proposition 81 would raise $600 million in taxes to build and
revamp state libraries.

Proposition 82 would fund preschool for all 4-year-olds in the
state.

The goal of Proposition 81 is to establish libraries as a center
of learning for the entire community, especially young students who
need a place to get help with homework or hang out after school,
said Les Spahnn, a spokesman for Yes on 81.

But groups who oppose higher taxes criticize the proposition for
looking for funds in the wrong place.

“A “˜no’ vote forces free-spending politicians
to cut welfare for illegal aliens to pay for our libraries,”
said Thomas Hudson, executive director for the California Taxpayer
Protection Committee in his “con” statement for the
California primary election ballot measure summary.

But Spahnn said the situation is not so simple.

“It’s far more complicated than that. Libraries
cannot simply obtain funds reserved for welfare and use it,”
Spahnn said, adding that this means the proposition is important to
obtaining the necessary funds for library improvements.

Both propositions involve increases in taxes, but not for
everyone.

Proposition 82, if passed, would fund preschool by taxing
individuals who make more than $400,000 a year and couples who make
more than $800,000 a year. Under these guidelines, less than 1
percent of the population would be taxed.

Because the proposition also requires preschool teachers and
aides to meet higher qualifications, it sets aside $700 million for
state colleges ““ $500 million to train teachers and $200,000
in financial aid for those teachers, said Nathan James, a spokesman
for Yes on 82.

“The initiative in general is a huge opportunity to
improve the education system as whole,” James said, because
preschool increases children’s chances of being able to read
by third grade, which consequently increases their chances of
graduating from high school.

He said studies show that if preschool education were made
available to 10,000 more Los Angeles children, 3,200 would be saved
from dropping out of high school.

But some politicians who agree that preschool can benefit the
state’s education system have decided to vote
“no” on Proposition 82.

They say the initiative limits the power of the Legislature and
arguing that existing preschool programs should be improved before
new ones are introduced.

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, initially
supported the proposition, but upon further analysis, withdrew his
support in a letter to Proposition 82 campaigner Carl Reiner.

“The initiative pays more per pupil for a three-hour
educational program than many K-12 schools are able to pay for a
full school day,” he wrote. “Our first priority must be
serving the needs of K-12 students.”

Even if the state were to support preschool education, UCLA
School of Law Professor Daniel Lowenstein said funding the
preschool initiative through a proposition is inefficient, because
the Legislature cannot change any part of the proposition after it
is passed.

In order for anything to be changed, he said it would have to go
to a public vote again.

“It usually is not a good idea to use the initiative
process to commit substantial sums of money for a particular
purpose,” he said.

“Budgeting decisions should be left to the Legislature,
which unlike the voters is in a position to balance different
spending needs against one another.”

Kathy Fairbanks, a spokeswoman for No on Prop 82, said there are
already preschool programs, such as Head Start, aimed at helping
low-income children, and the state should be focusing more on
programs like that instead of creating a giant preschool
bureaucracy.

Requests for absentee ballots must be postmarked by 5 p.m.
today.

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