Davis eyes $1 billion for school computers

Surplus proposal also calls for more English-language classes for students, parents

SACRAMENTO – With a huge budget surplus floating over the state, Gov. Davis will propose spending $1 billion to buy and maintain as many as 700,000 computers for California schools and to beef up English-language classes for students and their parents, administration officials said.

The two education proposals, outlined Sunday, are a small part of the state’s expected $12 billion budget surplus the Legislature and Davis will haggle over during the next month. Lawmakers must approve the 2000-01 fiscal year budget by June 15.

The governor’s computer-buying spree would add a sixth taxpayer-funded program to help public schools buy and maintain technology. Already, the $164 million Digital High School program, started by former Gov. Pete Wilson and four other federal and state grants, gives schools $233 million a year in computer technology money.

In his January budget plan, Davis said he would add $200 million to buy computers and train teachers how to use them. Now Davis wants an additional $400 million for the programs – despite a warning by the state’s legislative analyst to junk the whole thing and find a more efficient way to get computers in schools.

“Simply providing computers to a school often is not an efficient use of state resources,” the analyst said. “Technology has to be implemented in a comprehensive way.”

Davis also wants to significantly increase the amount of money spent on English training in California schools, in which about 80 languages are spoken. Under Proposition 227, which ended bilingual education in California in 1998, only $50 million was set aside for English classes in kindergarten through fourth grade.

The governor wants to increase total state spending on the classes to $400 million, and invite all public school students through 12th grade and their parents to participate.

That’s enough money, administration officials said, to serve 795,000 students and parents in voluntary English programs at public schools and in libraries during the summer and intersession breaks, after school, and on Saturdays and evenings.

“One of the important things in a child’s literacy is their parents’ literacy,” Assembly Education Chairwoman Kerry Mazzoni, D-

San Rafael, said Sunday. “So this is a very wise thing to do.”

Mazzoni also said the new computers and specialized CM-ROM programs could be key to helping some struggling students, “as opposed to putting a bunch of kids in a classroom in summer school going over and over” classes they’ve already failed.

Computer for every 8 students

Combined with his spending proposals in January, Davis’ latest plans would bring to $1 billion the state funds designated for computers and English programs.

Lawmakers and education lobbyists in Sacramento also were pleased with the extra cash Davis proposed to buy computers. Despite its reputation as the technological center of the universe, California provides only one computer for every 15 students.

If approved by the Legislature, Davis’ plan would bring the ratio down to one computer for every eight students. Although schools generally like to get money without strings attached, they welcomed the announcement.

“There is still a gap in schools up and down the state when it comes to technology,” said Kevin Gordon, a lobbyist who represents school finance officials. “Obviously the governor is certainly entitled, given all the money he has put in discretionary spending this year, to try to target special-needs areas, and one of those is California’s standing in computer technology.”

Although Davis has said he wants to get private businesses involved in public projects, he did not approach California’s huge and influential computer industry about donating equipment to the schools or even selling it at a reduced rate.

Under the proposal outlined Sunday, the state would negotiate to buy up to 700,000 computers for $700 each, or 350,000 higher-end models at $1,500 each. The computers would be shipped to schools and maintained with $50 million Davis wants to provide. Another $50 million would go to train teachers on how to use the equipment.

But the legislative analyst has problems with the computer-buying program.

When Davis first proposed increasing computer spending in his January budget, the analyst recommended eliminating the program and instead spending the

money on a new statewide loan fund from which schools that wanted to buy computers could get interest-free loans.

No incentive for wise use

Because Davis isn’t requiring schools to match state funding, the analyst said, there is no incentive for them to use the computers wisely. Under the Davis plan, most every school gets the computers, whether or not buying computers is the district’s highest priority.

The analyst also said the state is doing a poor job of tapping into a federal program to improve technology and Internet connections. The so-called E-Rate program gives California schools $252 million a year, but the analyst said the state could do much better.

The governor’s office said the computer purchases would be made according to priorities. The first machines would go to schools that don’t offer Advanced Placement courses, which are an important component for students who want to get into a four-year college. Davis’ main goal is to allow students in rural and low-income areas to take AP tests by computer.

“The schools that are in the most critical need are certainly going to be first in line to get the hardware,” said spokeswoman Hilary McLean.



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