The following is a summary of governors’ proposed education budgets for fiscal 2001. The figures for the state budget and for precollegiate education spending include money for state education administration, but not federal, flow-through dollars. Estimated enrollment reflects the state’s projected public school enrollment for 2000-01, unless otherwise noted. Depending on the state, figures may or may not include prekindergarten spending and enrollment.
ALASKA
Governor: Tony Knowles (D)
FY 2001 proposed state budget: $2.4 billion
FY 2001 proposed K-12 budget: $702 million
FY 2000 K-12 budget: $707.9 million
Percent change K-12 budget: -0.8 percent
Estimated enrollment: 132,000
Highlights:
•Governor’s spending plan, which he is calling a “children’s budget,” would expend less on education than last year, mostly because of declining enrollment.
•Budget would redirect $7.5 million originally earmarked for regular school operating aid to expand a school improvement program known as the Quality Schools Initiative, which pays for districts to align curriculum with state standards, among other purposes. Funding for the initiative would rise from $16 per pupil to $52 per pupil.
•Governor proposes expanding an early-childhood health program, toughening oversight of child-care centers, raising spending on foster care, and increasing funding for the university system.
CONNECTICUT
Governor: John G. Rowland (R)
FY 2001 proposed state budget: $12.3 billion
FY 2001 proposed pre-K-12 budget: $1.84 billion
FY 2000 pre-K-12 budget: $1.76 billion
Percent change pre-K-12 budget: +4.5 percent
Estimated pre-K-12 enrollment: 555,000
Highlights:
•Among governor’s handful of proposed adjustments to the biennial budget passed last year is a $34 million electronic network—paid for by the state’s budget surplus—linking K-12 and higher education institutions with businesses and a new digital library. Some of the money would pay for wiring schools to use the network, but the allocation would not affect the pre-K-12 budget.
•Mr. Rowland proposes giving families an annual tax credit worth up to $500 to help offset the cost of private school tuition.
•State’s charter schools also would see their per-pupil state allocation edge upward—from $6,500 to $7,000 a year—under governor’s proposed budget adjustments.
GEORGIA
Governor: Roy Barnes (D)
FY 2001 proposed state budget: $14.42 billion
FY 2001 proposed pre-K-12 budget: $5.47 billion
FY 2000 pre-K-12 budget: $5.02 billion
Percent change pre-K-12 budget: +9 percent
Estimated pre-K-12 enrollment: 1,440,000
Highlights:
•Governor proposes $3 million to create an office of education accountability, which would administer a new statewide accountability system and monitor student performance for all levels of education in the state, pre-K through higher education.
•Mr. Barnes also wants to use $30 million from the settlement between states and the nation’s tobacco companies to put a nurse in every school.
•Governor proposes increasing from $1,694 to $3,375 the amount the state spends per student for students served by alternative school programs, for a total of $13 million.
HAWAII
Governor: Benjamin J. Cayetano (D)
FY 2001 proposed state budget: $5.11 billion
FY 2001 proposed K-12 budget: $1.24 billion
FY 2000 K-12 budget: $1.22 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +1 percent
Estimated K-12 enrollment: 182,000
Highlights:
•Hawaii is in the second year of a two-year budget. In his supplemental budget, governor proposes spending an additional $2.7 million to continue implementing state’s content and performance standards, as well as a student assessment program.
•Governor also wants to spend $4.4 million to hire more regular education teachers who are trained to teach special education students in their classrooms
•Mr. Cayetano proposes $7.9 million to help comply with a consent decree that requires the state to improve mental-health services for special education students.
IDAHO
Governor: Dirk Kempthorne (R)
FY 2001 proposed state budget: $2.9 billion
FY 2001 proposed K-12 budget: $1.23 billion
FY 2000 K-12 budget: $1.16 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +6.0 percent
Estimated enrollment: 245,800*
Highlights:
•In his second budget since taking office, Gov. Kempthorne proposes $2.5 million to create a loan program to finance school facility improvements.
•Governor also wants to spend $500,000 on a new grant program to help districts offer students options such as distance learning and evening courses. Program’s details are not final.
•Mr. Kempthorne also proposes $40,000 to develop a state test for reading instructors.
*Enrollment is for 1999-2000 school year.
