Education Funding Crisis to Continue in 2002

In 2002, Alabama will fail to resolve the tax problem currently facing this state, resulting in further budget cuts in K-12 education and higher education, predicts Dr. John Dolly, dean of the University of Alabama College of Education.

Dolly says that proration will force K-12 schools to eliminate electives and some extra-curricular programs; while higher education will be forced to close down low enrollment programs and cut back on services currently offered to K-12 education and other state agencies.

“Lack of adequate funding combined with teacher and administrator shortages will continue making it harder for Alabama schools to recruit new staff,” says Dolly. “This will result in the undoing of many of the positive gains and changes made over the past 5 years in K-12 education.”

Dr. John Dolly can be reached at 205/348-6052 (office), 205/333-7097 (home) or jdolly@bamaed.ua.edu.