Ending the California dream - Christopher Newfield,Stanton Glantz, San Francisco Chronicle

The governor's budget proposes to bring two-year cuts to 25 percent of the already-depleted state general fund support for the University of California, along with similar cuts at the California State University stems, at community colleges, and at least 10 percent in our badly trailing K-12 public school system. What do such cuts mean? All other things being equal, 25 percent cuts mean 25 percent fewer courses for more students or a 25 percent increase in the size of courses that remain. Students will learn 25 percent less, and take 25 percent longer to graduate. Because 25 percent of four years is one year, college will now only deliver three years of learning in four more costly years.