Occidental College Cites the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund in Their Discussion of Education in Los Angeles, CA

Even though Governor Brown's new budget (which includes $12.5 billion in cuts in multiple areas) attempts to protect education, the LAUSD budget faces a $268 million deficit for 2011-12 and an $891.1 million deficit for 2012-13.

According to a statement issued on Jan. 10 by LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines, the governor will go to voters in June and encourage them support a vehicle and income tax increase to alleviate the overall deficit. If voters reject this proposal, the State will cut $2.2 billion from public education across the state, with LAUSD's portion anywhere from 10 to 20 percent ($220 to $440 million).

When the district opted for earlier budget cuts in 2009, the school board proposed a parcel tax to help supplement the education budget to prevent further decline. According to the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund, the parcel tax would have allowed schools to levy a $100 per year tax on every parcel of taxable property that receives a separate tax bill within the District. Voters ultimately rejected the tax, which would have specifically supported the arts programs and preserved custodial positions.

Within LAUSD, there is an incredible disparity with regard to income distribution and the distribution of resources among schools. Considering the size of the District, it is inevitable that there will exist a wide range of incomes within it. However, in Los Angeles, the income distribution is starkly geographically divided.

The contrast in median incomes between neighborhoods on the Westside and the Eastside is startling. According to professor of Urban and Environmental Policy Susan Steckler and Adam Garcia's publication "Affordability Matters," the median household income in the Bel Air community is $139,885, while the median income in Westlake is $14,054. Schools inevitably reflect their community's resources.

LAUSD students have the right to attend better schools within the district, but this isn't feasible for every student and doesn't address the problem.

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