Addressing California's School and University Building Needs: Alternatives to Proposition 1D

Publication Date: September 2006

Publisher: Reason Foundation

Author(s): Lisa Snell

Research Area: Education

Type: Brief

Coverage: California

Abstract:

Many California children continue to languish in deteriorating and overcrowded classrooms in spite of the fact that in the past decade California has made a massive $95 billion investment in K- 12 and higher education infrastructure. Proposition 1D would continue this trend with another $10.1 billion education bond. Yet, the proposition offers no help for the school children who are stuck with deteriorating schools, not because of a lack of funding, but because of the highlyregulated school construction process and the ineptitude of school district facility programs. It is time to revamp the school construction process in California. Regulations should be streamlined, local districts should take the primary responsibility for their school facilities needs, the districts should utilize the cost saving benefits of public-private partnerships, and the work should be performance-based to ensure that school districts build schools on time and on budget.