The Tuesday, November 2, 2010 general election is pivotal to our future and California's future!

80 state assembly, 20 state senate, 53 congressional, 1 senatorial, 8 statewide offices are up for election this year. Including county, city, school boards and special districts seats.

Find a candidate who believes we must invest in education and in California's future!

• Visit SmartVoter.org
• Learn more about the candidates running
• Consider contacting the candidate's campaign and ask "Does the candidate believe we must increase investment in education for California's future?"
• If they answer YES, then consider getting involved in their campaign

Florida Public University Tuition Jumping 15% - It's official: Most undergraduates at the University of Central Florida and the state's 10 other public universities will be paying 15 percent higher tuition in the fall. The state university Board of Governors, meeting at UCF in Orlando on Friday, gave final approval to the universities' individual requests for hikes — the maximum percentage allowed by state law. Orlando Sentinel

Regents May Fire First Warning Shot - “Show us more money,” UC’s leaders seem to be saying, “or we’ll make some radical changes that your constituents won’t like very much.” Since regents are appointed to 12-year-terms, they will not have to face furious voters if those changes come; the politicians would have to. Ventura County Star

California State University Trustees Raise Fees by 5% - California State University students will see their fees go up 5 percent this fall – and could see them jump again in the middle of the school year depending on the outcome of state budget negotiations in the Legislature. Fresno Bee

Community Colleges Cutting Back on Open Access - But for students and professors at overstretched colleges, these are hardly the best of times. With state financing slashed almost everywhere, many institutions have cut so deeply into their course offerings and their faculty rosters that they cannot begin to handle the influx of students. In some parts of the country, the budget stresses are so serious that the whole concept of community colleges as open-access institutions — where anyone, with any educational background, can enroll at any point in life — is becoming more an aspiration than a reality. New York Times

San Francisco College Won't Take Cuts Lying Down - There's no particularly pleasant way to talk about California's budget crisis, but it has inspired some positive thinking at City College of San Francisco. Make no mistake: The two-year commuter campus, saddled with an $18 million cut in state funds last year and an expected shortfall as high as $12 million next year, faces an uphill climb. USA Today

Viewpoints: Master Plan for Higher Education is Alive and Well - Fifty years ago, California made an unprecedented promise: There would be a place in college for anyone who wanted it. It was the first time that any state in the nation, or any nation in the world, had made such a bold commitment: California would throw open its doors of high-quality, low-cost higher education to all. The Golden State would feed the minds that would make it an economic powerhouse and, in the process, create a global model. Sacramento Bee

California Universities Consider Adopting the T-Word: Tuition - Since 1960's master plan for public higher education, which had the goal of tuition-free schooling for all, the word has been eschewed in favor of "fees." But recent realities argue for a change. Los Angeles Times

UC Panel: Call Student Fees 'Tuition' - Student fees should be called "tuition," a University of California panel is recommending, marking a possible end to a decades-long refusal to use the word in California public higher education. While the recommendation by the Commission on the Future may seem trivial, the change would signal a philosophical shift for the 10-campus university. San Jose Mercury News

Study: UC, CSU Should be Accepting More Students - California must educate more people, said Hans Johnson, the researcher who wrote the report. The institute has predicted that California will be short 1 million educated workers by 2025 unless the state's colleges and universities pick up the pace. Daily Democrat

SF State Students Brace for Tuition Hike - The California State University system may raise student fees by 10 percent next semester. Chairman Herb Carter told the Chronicle that CSU trustees may go against staff recommendations -- raising fees by 5 percent -- to make sure that tuition won't have to be raised a second time this year. SF Appeal

CSU Students Deserve a Break from Fee Increases - The Legislature's deadline to finalize a budget is June 15. California is broke, so no one is expecting the Legislature to meet that deadline. But California State University trustees have decided they aren't going to wait around for the bad news. They have scheduled a vote next week to raise student fees by 10 percent in the fall. The increase would increase the basic price of a year's education to $4,429, excluding other mandatory fees. San Francisco Chronicle

Cal State Considers Fee Hike to Counter State Funding Cuts - Fees for undergrads and business grad students would go up by 5%, and fees for doctoral education students would go up 10%. The plan would also eliminate the cap on nonresident tuition. Los Angeles Times

Governor Keeps $366 Million for CSU System in State Budget - When Governor Schwarzenegger revealed his revised California 2010-2011 budget earlier this month, it retained his proposal to add $366 million in funding to the California State University (CSU) system. Significant cuts were made in the CSU budget last year and $305 million of the proposed funding would restore the lost money. The remaining $60.6 million is intended to increase enrollment in the system’s 23 campuses. Mustang Daily

Cuts Lead to Smaller Fresno State Freshman Class - Reeling from state budget cuts, Fresno State and many other California State University campuses adopted their toughest-ever admission deadlines for fall 2010. The projected result: the smallest freshman class at Fresno State since fall 2006, despite a record 14,541 applications. Fresno Bee

Summer School Stuffed - "We estimated 140,000 students were turned away this academic year," said California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott on Thursday. "I'm hearing that on some college campuses thousands of students are on waiting lists for school. And in some colleges, students have camped out overnight in order to get into summer classes." The Signal

Tough Summer for California Community College Students, Officials Say - Los Angeles City College in East Hollywood has canceled all summer courses, and the other eight campuses in the city college  system -- Valley, Pierce, West Los Angeles, Southwest, Harbor, Trade Technical, East Los Angeles and Mission -- are expected to offer reduced class schedules, officials said. Valley College has already announced that all its summer classes are full. Los Angeles Times

Students for California's Future: News

March 24th - April 5th, 2010

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Student Loan Overhaul Approved by Congress - Ending one of the fiercest lobbying fights in Washington, Congress voted Thursday to force commercial banks out of the federal student loan market, cutting off billions of dollars in profits in a sweeping restructuring of financial-aid programs and redirecting most of the money to new education initiatives. New York Times

'It's Anti-Democratic' - Students and professors alike spoke of reforming the legislative budget-making process, where California is one of three states that require a two-thirds majority to pass a budget. Glendale News Press

State universities tap student fees for unintended projects - UCLA is using some student money for Pauley Pavilion; Cal State Sacramento is using such money to cover a bad investment. Los Angeles Times

Students opt out of California - Out-of-state universities and for-profit schools are becoming more appealing to California students because of California State Universities’ reduction in enrollment. The Orion

We Can't Afford to Be Quiet About the Rising Cost of College - Students today, however—even those who hold two part-time jobs—fall tens of thousands of dollars into debt, a burden that limits their career choices. Dropping out for social activism brings competitive disadvantage. The speedup of academic pressures dries up discretionary time that used to go to dreaming and exploring. Campuses are crowded with scrambling multitaskers for the most part too busy to protest the pace. Meanwhile, increases in the cost of college exceed inflation every year, intensifying the squeeze. The Chronicle of Higher Education

Ruskin to Hold Community Meetings on Higher Education - Assemblyman Ira Ruskin plans to host three community meetings in the coming weeks to gather residents' feedback on an ongoing review of California's 50-year-old Master Plan for Higher Education. Silicon Valley Mercury News

Median Tax to Restore Higher Education: $32 - The UC regents are expected later this spring to remove the word "public" from the schools it examines when setting the price for attending professional school, opening the door to even faster tuition increases. This one-word change will move another step toward fully implementing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's vision, articulated in the 2004 "Compact on Higher Education," to privatize UC and CSU. San Francisco Chronicle

Even as Costs Rise, University of California Remains a Bargain - Alexander Dobranic, an undergraduate politics major at the University of California, Santa Cruz, is not taking math this spring. But he knows when numbers — like the tuition and fee increases that have led to protests and vandalism on U.C. campuses this winter — don’t add up. New York Times

University of California Commission Considers the 'FUTURE' - coins number of big ideas - Declaring a fiscal emergency, University of California experts Tuesday proposed a set of financial remedies that would alter the cost, size, shape and business practices of the world-renowned educational system. Their ideas, presented to a meeting of the university's Commission on the Future at UC San Francisco's Mission Bay center, included simple administrative efficiencies and controversial measures such as three-year degrees, online education, increased slots for out-of-state students, greater private fundraising and further fee increases. Silicon Valley Mercury News

SJSU Planning for Layoffs, Fee Hikes and Fewer Students - Braced for reduced state support, San Jose State University is planning early summer layoffs, boosting fees and shrinking next fall's incoming classes. Silicon Valley Mercury News

Sacramento March for Education - 8,000 students, faculty and staff marched in the state's capital on March 22 to fight budget cuts to education. People traveled from all over the state to participate. Socialist Worker

The March in March State Hornet Coverage - On Monday, students from across the state marched from Raley Field to the Capitol to protest against fee increases and budget cuts to higher education. According to California Highway Patrol, nearly 3,000 students participated in the protest. The State Hornet

Massive Protest Against Education Cuts at the State Capitol - Twenty-five Valley college students flew to Sacramento to participate with thousands in the March in March protest against education budget cuts on Monday. Valley Star

Massive Rally for Higher Education Held at State Capital - Students from California State University, Stanislaus joined many others for the "March in March" rally at the state capital this past Monday, in hopes of restoring badly needed funding by apply political pressure on state legislators to take action. The Signal

Students Talk Budget - Students at California State University, Stanislaus express frustration and anger over budget cuts and fee hikes forced on CSUS by reduced state funding. The Signal

Key agency backs community college fee hike - The Legislative Analyst's Office -- which offers non-partisan financial and policy advice to the Legislature -- is recommending an increase from $26 per unit to $40 per unit. That would double what students paid in 2008-09 but remain the lowest price in the country. The Fresno Bee

Torrico Urges Community College Students to Fight for Higher Education Funding at Capitol Rally - Speaking in front of over a thousand community college and university students from around the state, Assemblymember Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) urged them to register their support for his Fair Share for Fair Tuition bill that would raise about $2 billion for higher education, including $500 million for California´s struggling community colleges. California Chronicle

Students for California's Future: News

February 15th - March 7th, 2010

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Rep. John Garamendi: Students in California March Today, I Stand With Them - Students at public universities in California are planning a series of demonstrations across the state protesting tuition hikes today. While a few isolated incidents in recent weeks have provided fodder for some in the media to dismiss their concerns, the students' cause is incredibly important. If we continue to yearly raise tuition in California far beyond inflation, we threaten to derail all that has enabled my home state to prosper in decades past. Huffington Post

Angry Students Protest Cuts to Schools, Colleges - Anger over rising tuition and school budget cuts boiled over as students across the country staged rowdy demonstrations that led to clashes with police and the rush-hour shutdown of a major freeway in California. Associated Press

Students Protest Cuts to Higher Education Funds - Student activists in California and elsewhere took to the streets Thursday in a national day of protest against rising fees and dwindling services in public higher education, drawing attention to a wave of tuition hikes, budget cuts and furloughs at colleges and universities across the country. Washington Post

Education Funding Demanded in 'Day of Action' - Thousands of students, teachers, janitors and other school employees crowded campuses, civic centers and roads Thursday in a massive show of force against education budget cuts. Silicon Valley Mercury News

Protests Rock College and High School Campuses - Hundreds of students stormed out of classes and staged a noontime rally Thursday at Sonoma State University to protest recent budget cuts and steep tuition fee hikes they say are eroding the quality of their education. Press-Democrat

Thousands Rally on Campuses, Streets for Schools - Gathering for a series of feisty rallies on college campuses, in civic plazas and in the streets, thousands of protesters lashed out Thursday against the budget cuts and neglect that they say are breaking down the state's public education system. San Francisco Chronicle

As Public Education Goes, So Goes California - How appropriate that, as one of the biggest education protests in history unfurled across the state, California's application for a Race to the Top school reform grant was rejected by federal officials. Could there possibly be a louder wake-up call? Silicon Valley Mercury News

Students Protest Cuts to Higher Education Funds - Student activists in California and elsewhere took to the streets Thursday in a national day of protest against rising fees and dwindling services in public higher education, drawing attention to a wave of tuition hikes, budget cuts and furloughs at colleges and universities across the country. Washington Post

Rowdy Protests Target Funding Cuts at UC Campuses - Students staged raucous rallies to protest education funding cuts on college campuses nationwide Thursday, but some demonstrations got out of hand as protesters threw punches and ice chunks in Wisconsin and shut down a major freeway in California during rush-hour traffic. Associated Press

Campus Activism Across the State of California - On March 4, protesters all across California left classrooms and took to the streets to advocate for support to public higher education. The Daily Californian

Day of Action on the Peninsula: Students Protest Cuts to Education - Though they didn't close campus access roads or shut down a freeway, throngs of students at Peninsula community colleges, high schools and even middle and elementary schools chanted, rallied and made it loud and clear Thursday that they're fed up with education funding cuts. Silicon Valley Mercury News

Who Asked Us? - Young People on Budget Cuts and Their Futures - On March 4, young people, parents and teachers in more than 30 states marched to protest budget cuts to public education. The demonstrations were particularly widespread in California, where massive budget cuts have crippled elementary schools, high schools, community colleges and universities. New America Media

California's Public Education System in Peril - Students and faculty from California's public education systems rallied throughout the nation yesterday in protest against State government budget cuts that will result in student fee increases and layoffs. LA County Social Policy Examiner

County's Colleges See Mass Protests - College students staged mass demonstrations yesterday on campuses across San Diego County to rail against fee increases and funding cuts that they say strike at the heart of California’s higher-education system. San Diego Union-Tribune

High School, Community College Students Rally Before Arrival of UC Berkeley Activists - Students from high schools and community colleges throughout the East Bay congregated in Frank Ogawa Plaza outside Oakland City Hall in support of the March 4 Statewide Day of Action. The Daily Californian

Coalition Plans 'Day of Action' at UCSD - Recent racial tensions have added weight to efforts to draw attention to the state of the University of California system, said an organizer of today's rallies planned at UCSD as part of the National Day of Action to Defend Public Education. La Jolla Light

Thousands to Protest Education Cuts in Calif - Thousands of students and educators are expected to demonstrate at public schools and colleges across California to protest cuts in education funding. Silicon Valley Mercury News

State's Higher Education System is Worth Fighting For - and we will - Sometimes I think there are two Californias out there. One of them is the California of small things and small thinking. It's the California that is obsessed with petty anti-tax politics. The one that wants to gut social programs and dismantle our public higher education system. It thrives on driving wedges between us and promoting divisiveness. Sacramento Bee

Calif. Unions Step Up Opposition to Public Education Gutting - Students and workers in California’s public schools—K-12 and higher education—will protest against deep budget cuts on Thursday, March 4. In These Times

SDS Builds for March 4 Education Rights Protests - Students across the country are mobilizing for a nationwide protest against tuition and fee hikes and in support of staff and faculty facing pay cuts and layoffs. Tens of thousands of students and workers across California participated in demonstrations and building takeovers in November. They were protesting the University of California Regents proposal to increase already skyrocketing tuitions. Fight Back News

Education Protests on Tap This Week in California - The protests, teach-ins and walkouts that swept through University of California campuses this fall are scheduled to come back this week. But this time the activism is moving beyond UC – to include Cal State, community college, and K-12 campuses – and beyond California to other states as well. Sacramento Bee

Schools in State Fired Up Over Day of Action - The upcoming Day of Action to Defend Public Education - rallies, marches, teach-ins, even political theater - began as an idea on the UC Berkeley campus last fall and has caught fire up and down California, from elementary school to graduate school, and across two dozen states. San Francisco Chronicle

Tallying Cuts and Costs - More rallies are planned for next week to protest the budget cuts in higher education and the resulting layoffs, furloughs and fee increases. Here are some numbers — from state and nonprofit sources — that describe education in public schools and colleges. New York Times

To Help UC, First Slow Boat at the Top - Students, educators and administrators from across the state will descend on the state Capitol on Thursday for an "Educate the State" rally. The aim is worthy: to promote the value of higher education to the state and protest rapidly increasing student fees, fewer courses and larger class sizes. Sacramento Bee

Class Cuts, Fee Hikes, Furloughs Plague Schools - Students at Cal Poly and Cuesta College are facing fewer course offerings because of state budget cuts. San Luis Obispo Tribune

New Bill Proposes Limits on Fee Spikes - The days of unexpected fee increases may soon be at an end. California Senate Bill 969, also known as the California College and University Fee Stabilization Act of 2010, would put an end to large fee increases and cap the amount students are required to pay for education. The Orion

California Colleges, Universities Need New Plan for 21st Century - It was as much a peace treaty as a plan, and it was built around a pledge: Every Californian would get a fair shot at a taxpayer-supported college education. Sacramento Bee

Access to College: A Promise to Keep - Finding the pathway to college can be tough. That’s why students stand a better chance when parents and family members help them in the planning for university admission. This planning must start as early as middle school. At this early state, students should enroll in challenging classes that prepare them for college. Black Voice News

State University Officials Take Case to Washington - These days, it's cheaper to go to prison than to college. Your price for a year in the slammer? Free. California foots the bill, shelling out $49,000 a year per prisoner, close to $11 billion a year, said California State University Chancellor Charles Reed at a press conference here Wednesday. Scripps Howard Foundation Wire

No More Cuts, Say Stanislaus Students - Students at California State University, Stanislaus joined in the nationwide Day of Action to support education on Thursday, but not with the kind of rowdy, highway-blocking affairs seen in Davis and Berkeley. A crowd of 300 walked out of classes to gather at the CSU Stanislaus quad for an Education “unFair” to argue for increased funding and an end to the ceaseless cycle of cutbacks. Turlock Journal

Educators, Students in Fresno Protest Budget Cuts - Thousands of students, faculty and staff Thursday staged marches and rallies in Fresno and throughout the country to protest budget cuts that have crippled public education. Fresno Bee

CSUS Students to Defend Public Education - Public education advocates will take to the streets and campuses across the state Thursday for a Day of Action, designed to highlight cuts to schools from kindergarten through college. The Modesto Bee

Skidmore Rallies for College Students in California - The University of California's Board of Regents met last Thursday and approved a plan that will raise the cost of undergraduate tuition 32 percent next fall. This has sparked debate from both students of California Universities as well as students from other institutions showing support. Skidmore News

Delta Students Protest Skyrocketing Fees - Eduardo Cornejo works a warehouse job in the summer so he can attend San Joaquin Delta College the rest of the year. Cornejo, 19, wants to be a math teacher. But the numbers don't add up in his favor if Delta and community colleges across California increase fees next fall to $40 a unit - double where they stood at this time last year. Recordnet.com

Protests Under Way at Community Colleges - Walkouts are taking place this morning (March 4) at Canada College in Woodside and Skyline College in San Bruno as part of a statewide protest against budget cuts to education. The Almanac

State Analysts Speculate Possible Fee Increases for Community Colleges - The 53.8 percent increase would have tuition at $1,200 for a student taking 15 units in two semesters, compared to the current $26 per unit fee that adds up to $780 per year for two 15-unit semesters. The state Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) said in a new report that lawmakers could increase community college fees up to $40 per unit without greatly affecting enrollment at the schools. Student Voice

Community Colleges Lose Students to Budget Cuts - State leaders expect California's community colleges to enroll slightly fewer students this year, despite a record number of high-school graduates and staggering unemployment. Silicon Valley Mercury News

Community Colleges Must Share in Higher Education Recovery - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants California to get its priorities straight. Over the last three decades, the state's investment in universities has eroded while prison spending has shot through the roof. It's "out of whack," says Schwarzenegger. Los Angeles Times