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The Foothill-De Anza Community College District would see significant benefits from the budget that was released Jan. 10 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, which includes $130 million to equalize funding among California's community colleges as part of an overall 11.6 percent increase over current-year funding.
"The Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees applauds the inclusion of equalization in the governor's 2006-07 budget and will advocate tirelessly for its approval by the full legislature," said board President Betsy Bechtel. "We appreciate the support our local delegation has shown for equalization." The board has named equalization a top legislative priority in recent years and in 2004 and 2005 approved resolutions advocating its funding.
Fifty-seven of California's 72 community college districts, including Foothill-De Anza, are currently underfunded relative to other districts due to an inequitable funding formula that has been in place for decades. Districts are funded at widely varying rates per full-time student, ranging from a low of about $3,500 to a high of more than $8,100. Foothill-De Anza is funded at a rate of $3,717 per student. Full equalization funding this year would bring underfunded districts to within 90 percent of the state average, which is half the national average for community colleges.
"Equalization dollars will help reduce the funding gap and enhance Foothill-De Anza's ability to provide educational excellence and opportunity to our students," said Chancellor Martha J. Kanter. "Community colleges are the gateway to higher education for the vast majority of Californians. Over the last two years, equalization funding has been used at Foothill-De Anza and other districts to increase the number of classes necessary for transfer to four-year institutions as well as for degrees and certificates in various career pathways."
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