Historical Perspective of Funding Per Student

To place funding for K-12 and higher education into a historical perspective, we have compared funding per student for K-12 schools and the three public higher education segments from 1979-80 through 1999-00, adjusting for the effects of inflation over this 20-year period (see Figure 2). As the figure shows, per student funding for each segment, after adjusting for the effects of inflation, is at or near their highs over the past 20 years.

Funding Effort

Figure 3 provides another perspective on inflation-adjusted funding over time for K-12 and higher education. The figure shows the percentage of 1979 funding that K-12 and higher education have received over time per K-12 enrollment and per 18-to-24-year old. It indicates that funding effort for the two groups tracked fairly closely through 1993-94.

Since that time, however, funding per 18-to-24-year old has outpaced funding per K-12 enrollment. Growth in higher education funding per 18- to-24-year old reflects, in large part, the significant increase in college participation among the college-age population. The figure also suggests that the level of public subsidy for both K-12 students and college-age adult, after adjusting for inflation, has increased over the past 20 years.

Below we describe how Proposition 98 allocates state funds for K-12 and community college programs.

Proposition 98

The voters enacted Proposition 98 in 1988 as an amendment to the California Constitution. That act, which was later amended by Proposition 111, establishes a minimum funding level for K-12 schools and the California Community Colleges. Proposition 98 also provides support for direct educational services provided by other agencies, such as the state's special education schools and the California Youth Authority. Proposition 98 funding constitutes over three-fourths of total K-12 funding.

The minimum funding levels are determined by one of three specific formulas. Figure 4 (see next page) briefly explains the workings of Proposition 98, its "tests," and many other major funding provisions. The five major factors involved in the calculation of each of the Proposition 98 "tests" include: (1) General Fund revenues, (2) state population, (3) personal income, (4) local property taxes, and (5) K-12 ADA.

Figure 4

Proposition 98 at a Glance

Funding "Tests"

Proposition 98 mandates that a minimum amount of funding be guaranteed for K-14 school agencies equal to the greater of: A specified percent of the state's General Fund revenues (Test 1), or The amount provided in the prior year, adjusted for growth in students and inflation (Tests 2 and 3).

Test 1--Percent of General Fund Revenues--Approximately 34.5 percent of General Fund plus local property taxes.

Requires that K-12 schools and the California Community Colleges (CCC) receive at least the same share of state General Fund taxes as in 1986-87. This percentage was originally calculated to be slightly greater than 40 percent. In recognition of shifts in property taxes to K-14 schools from cities, counties, and special districts, the current rate is approximately 34.5 percent.

Test 2--Adjustments Based on Statewide Income--Prior-year funding adjusted by growth in per capita personal income.

Requires that K-12 schools and the (CCC) receive at least the same amount of combined state aid and local tax dollars as was received in the prior year, adjusted for statewide growth in average daily attendance and inflation (annual change in per capita personal income).

Test 3--Adjustment Based on Available Revenues--Prior-year funding adjusted by growth in per capita General Fund.

Same as Test 2 except the inflation factor is equal to the annual change in per capita state General Fund revenues plus 0.5 percent. Test 3 is used only when it calculates a guarantee amount less than the Test 2 amount.

Other Major Funding Provisions

Suspension

Proposition 98 also includes a provision allowing the state to suspend the minimum funding level for one year through urgency legislation other than the budget bill.

Restoration ("Maintenance Factor")

Proposition 98 includes a provision to restore prior-year funding reductions (due to either suspension or the "Test 3" formula). The overall dollar amount that needs to be restored is referred to as the "maintenance factor."

Because the factors change during the year, the minimum guarantee under Proposition 98 also changes. Any additional amount needed to fund any increase in a previous year's guarantee is referred to as Proposition 98 "settle-up" funding. Because the Legislature chose to appropriate funding for Proposition 98 significantly above the minimum in the current year, increases in the calculated minimum guarantee will not necessitate an increase in the appropriation level.

Proposition 98 Allocations

Figure 5 displays the allocations of Proposition 98 funding for K-12 schools and community colleges. The overall increases for Proposition 98 in the current year, based on revised estimates in the proposed budget, are $41.9 million.

Figure 5
Proposed Proposition 98 Allocations
1998-99 and 1999-00 (Dollars in Millions)
	1998-99			1999-00 Proposed	Change From 1998-99 Revised
	Budget Act	Revised	Change
Proposition 98 "Test"	Test 3	Test 3	--	Test 2	--
K-12 Education
Amount	$31,271.6	$31,318.6	$47.0	$32,806.6	$1,488.0
Share	89.4%	89.4%	--	89.4%	--
Community Colleges
Amount	$3,616.3	$3,612.7	-$3.6	$3,807.4	$194.7
Share	10.3%	10.3%	--	10.4%	--
Other Agencies
Amount	$88.4	$86.9	-$1.5	$85.3	-$1.6
Share	0.3%	0.3%	--	0.2%	--
Totals, Proposition 98	$34,976.3	$35,018.2	$41.9	$36,699.3	$1,681.1

The budget proposes $36.7 billion for Proposition 98 in 1999-00. The shares allocated to the three components remain similar to the 1998-99 revised shares. Proposition 98 funding issues are discussed in more detail in the K-12 education introduction and community college sections of the Analysis.