With so many other demands on state funds, the proposal gives us an idea on where education funding fits into the big picture. As legislation starts deliberating, the numbers may be completely different, we hope.

The goal of the Council on Postsecondary Education is to close what they call a funding gap. If the executive budget holds true, it doesn't give us much wiggle room.

It's a major undertaking, and that's what the Council on Postsecondary Education is directing all its goals toward. The recommended numbers weren't going to get us there, but it is an important step toward the goal.

The value of an arts education is widely accepted, especially in California.

All of us are in in shock, ... This is a senseless and unexplainable act that goes beyond the pale. Frankly, it makes you sick to your stomach.

An arts education helps build academic skills and increase academic performance, while also providing alternative opportunities to reward the skills of children who learn differently.