ShareThisChildren in frigid areas have "snow day" school closures. Could students across sunny California face "budget days" in bad fiscal times?
Gov. Jerry Brown and school officials warn that shutting down school one month early -- 20 instructional days -- is a real possibility for the next school year without an extension of higher taxes. Some see Hawaii, which slashed 17 days in 2009-10, as an example that drastic measures are possible.
But significant hurdles remain to imposing a monthlong closure in California, particularly getting approval from teachers unions and lawmakers. Republicans suggest that Democrats are raising the possibility as a scare tactic.
In the past two years, most California school districts have reduced their schedules below the 180-day calendar that was standard here in the previous decade and remains the norm nationwide.
No legislative proposal exists, but Orange County Superintendent of Schools William Habermehl said his 27 districts are talking about the option, whether it means a shorter school year or four-day weeks.
The Corona-Norco Unified School District in Riverside County already reduced its school year to 175 days, the state minimum.
"As terrible as it might be, I would advocate for a shorter year with a quality school program rather than a longer year and a decimated program that has morale at its all-time low," Corona-Norco Superintendent Kent Bechler testified at the Capitol last month. "I think a 160-day school year is not out of the question."
The Democratic governor is expected to outline deep cuts to address the remaining $15.4 billion deficit.
The California Legislative Analyst's Office estimates that eliminating each five-day school week statewide would save $1 billion.
So far, districts plan to rely more on larger class sizes and eliminating bus transportation to save money next year, among other solutions. Any school-year changes would have to be bargained with employee unions.
The discussion comes as President Barack Obama has challenged states to move in the opposite direction, expressing concern that U.S. students are losing ground to their counterparts around the world.
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said he opposes any effort to shorten the school year: "Our competitors in the global economy -- Japan, Singapore, Finland, China -- have 200, 220 school days."
In 1998, California adopted a 180-day school year standard, up from 175.5 days, relying on a revenue boost as the state emerged from recession.
In 2009, California allowed districts to reduce the instructional year to 175 days to save money. Most districts initially held off, as 81 percent said they remained at 180 days in 2009-10, according to a survey by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.
But by this school year, a majority had resorted to cutting class time, with only 42 percent retaining the full 180 days.
Few expect the state to require that districts cut 20 days. At most, lawmakers and Brown would allow districts to decide for themselves whether to cut.
Hawaii returned to a 178-day year in 2010-11, and lawmakers approved a bill with a new 180-day standard for 2011 through 2013.
(Contact Kevin Yamamura at kyamamura(at)sacbee.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com)
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