The following are summaries of governors’ budget requests for precollegiate education and highlights of proposals that rank high on the states’ education agendas. Final legislative action on state budgets will be reported in the months ahead.
ALASKA
Governor:
Steve Cowper (D)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$2.3 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$597 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$575 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+4 percent
Highlights
Governor proposes constitutional amendment to set aside for education up to 40 percent of future earnings from state’s oil-revenue endowment.
School aid one of few areas targeted for increase in total budget, held level over all due to economic conditions.
COLORADO
Governor:
Roy Romer (D)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$2.45 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$1.01 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$961 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+5 percent
Highlights
Governor seeking to establish up to 20 “creativity schools” that would be freed from compliance with state rules to conduct restructuring experiments. Plan does not require legislative approval.
Governor also backs continued implementation of new school-finance formula, additional funding for preschool program for at-risk children.
HAWAII
Governor:
John Waihee (D)
FY 1990-91 proposed state budget:
$4.3 billion
FY 1990-91 proposed K-12 budget:
$951 million
FY 1988-89 K-12 budget:
$793 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+20 percent
Highlights
Governor backs decentralizing nation’s only state-run school system; options include locally appointed or elected school boards.
Also proposes greater parental choice; creation of state fund to upgrade school facilities; providing preschool for all eligible children by year 2000.
KENTUCKY
Governor:
Wallace G. Wilkinson (D)
FY 1989-90 total state budget:
$6 billion (Approved May 1988)
FY 1989-90 K-12 budget:
$2.8 billion
Highlights
No regular session this year.
Governor to call special session on school reform. Seeks to create system of experimental “benchmark” schools, financial rewards for high-achieving districts.
Key lawmakers support increased funding to implement fully previously adopted reforms, including teacher pay raises, class-size reductions.
MASSACHUSETTS
Governor:
Michael S. Dukakis (D)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$13.5 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$1.84 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$1.8 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+2 percent
Highlights
Governor proposes $120-million increase in aid to cities and towns, $58-million increase in equal-education opportunity grants for FY 1989 and 1990.
Will seek legislation to create statewide open-enrollment program, drug-free school zones.
MONTANA
Governor:
Stanley Stephens (R)
FY 1990-91 proposed state budget:
$808 million
FY 1990-91 proposed K-12 budget:
$314 million
FY 1988-89 K-12 budget:
$364 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
-14 percent
Highlights
Budget officials say proposed reduction in state aid due primarily to declining enrollment.
State under court order to revise school-finance system. Governor suggests spending limits in wealthy districts, distributing teacher-retirement funds through equalization formula. Five other proposals introduced in legislature.
Legislature to consider requiring elementary-school districts to offer kindergarten. Similar bills defeated in past five sessions.
NEVADA
Governor:
Bob Miller (D)
FY 1990-91 proposed state budget:
$3.8 billion
FY 1990-91 proposed K-12 budget:
$670.6 million
FY 1988-89 K-12 budget:
$540.9 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+24 percent
Highlights
Governor proposes teacher pay raises, new office to coordinate services for at-risk children, providing kindergarten statewide, smaller class sizes in early grades, appointment of “drug czar.” Would be funded in part by raising mining industry’s taxes.
Legislature required to vote within 40 days of start of session on voter-approved referendum to impose tax on corporate income; revenues earmarked for education.
NORTH DAKOTA
Governor:
George A. Sinner (D)
FY 1990-91 proposed state budget:
$1.1 billion
FY 1990-91 proposed K-12 budget:
$426.9 million
FY 1988-89 K-12 budget:
$408.8 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+16 percent
Highlights
Governor proposes $80-million “excellence” program; half of funds earmarked for districts. To qualify, districts would have to raise teacher pay to state average, provide them with cost-of-living hike; adopt state-suggested core curriculum; participate in state testing program. Funds could be used for telecommunications; consolidation expenses; studies of student achievement, curriculum; special education; administrative costs. Implementation subject to approval of related tax increases.
Governor supports bill to reduce number of districts from 296 to 48. Also supports merging state departments of vocational education and public instruction; education-department proposal to change weighting factors in school-aid formula.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Governor:
Carroll A. Campbell Jr. (R)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$3.28 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$1.35 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$1.28 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+5 percent
Highlights
Budget prepared by state panel that includes governor, treasurer, comptroller general, chairmen of Senate finance and House ways and means committees.
Governor proposes that districts whose students meet minimum levels of achievement on state tests be freed from compliance with numerous state regulations.
Also supports allowing counties to assume more debt to pay for school construction; creation of panel to study problems of at-risk children.
Legislature also expected to consider: school-construction funding; early retirement for teachers; denying driver’s licenses to dropouts.
VERMONT
Governor:
Madeleine M. Kunin (D)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$586 million
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$179 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$167 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+7 percent
Highlights
Governor’s proposals include funding to implement new statewide assessment program; teacher profes4sional-standards board; grants to districts to improve school leadership.
Governor also requests 24 percent increase in child-care funds, and $250,000 to improve training of providers; technical help for businesses considering providing child care.
State board requesting additional $5.6 million for special education, to pay for placements in out-of-state residential facilities.
WYOMING
Governor:
Mike Sullivan (D)
FY 1989-90 state budget:
$1.43 billion (adopted March 1988)
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$262.6 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$204.6 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+28 percent
Highlights
K-12 budget prepared annually by education department, is not included in state’s biennial budget.
Department recommends $50-million tax hike. Would cover expected $27-million shortfall in school-foundation program in FY 1990, restore funds cut from FY 1989 budget. Governor opposes tax plan, supports using money from state general fund to cover anticipated shortfall only.
Legislature expected to address following issues: district consolidation; student testing; improving collection of mineral taxes.