Wednesday, November 11, 1998
Funding from state should aid outreach, rework K-12 system
DIVERSITY: Current policy ignores broad issue, focuses solely on
helping UC-qualified students
With all the talk about outreach lately, one might think
legislators, university officials and student groups have devised
the perfect solution to California’s educational inequities. While
outreach efforts may successfully reverse the effects of
Proposition 209 in the short term, diversity at the university
level can only be addressed when the state legislature amends
inequities existing within the K-12 school system.
The California legislature allocated outreach funds to target
only "UC-competitive" students, reinforcing the existing,
two-tiered educational system  which separates the students
who will succeed from those who might not.
Programs initiated and run by students, on the other hand,
attempt to reach all students in need. Yet, these programs are not
receiving the support or money they deserve from the
university.
Beyond outreach, there are underlying problems present within
the state’s educational system. Outreach efforts alone, though
noble in ideology, cannot correct those wrongs.
Outreach efforts are only necessary at the university level
because the K-12 school system is so flawed.
Until the state legislature funds, supports and creates programs
that generate educational equity within the K-12 education system,
university outreach efforts will remain only a short-term solution
to a far greater problem.
The California legislature needs to address the problems
existing within the state’s K-12 schools. California schools rank
41st in spending per pupil, have the second-highest
student-to-teacher ratio in the nation, and many suffer from
inadequate and unsafe facilities.
Considering that California schools educate one out of every
eight students in the country, perhaps the state should spend the
money necessary to ensure that K-12 students receive the
educational opportunities they are entitled to.
The short-term solution of outreach will not solve the
disparities present within the educational system.
This past September, California legislation tried to engender
educational "equity" by allocating $38.5 million for UC-wide
outreach efforts. UC-competitive students (those with GPAs in the
top 12.5 percent in the state) and students who have suffered
disadvantage economically "or in terms of their social environment"
are the focus of UC outreach.
Of the $5 million that UCLA received for outreach purposes, the
university has decided to focus most of its attention, and money,
on school-centered partnerships. Efforts in high schools include
ensuring the availability of the requirements needed for UC
admissions eligibility, creating more Honors and Advanced Placement
courses, and providing underrepresented, UC-competitive students
support from UCLA undergraduates through projects like the
Career-Based Outreach Program.
Conversely, student-run, initiated efforts such as those run by
the Community Programs Office attempt to improve the educational
opportunities for all students, regardless of their "competitive"
status. Also, their broad-based methodology concentrates on more
than just improving the academic skills of students; student
programs develop leadership skills and community service
participation as well.
The $50,000 currently allotted to the 20-plus student-initiated
programs isn’t enough to serve the 2,000 undergraduates and 19
schools involved.
Considering that the program’s broad-based approach to outreach
provides more students with more opportunities, it is unfortunate
that the recent grant from the state restricts the university from
giving the office money unless it is used for UC-competitive
outreach.
Ultimately, outreach efforts can only go so far.
Both student and university endeavors are only short-term
solutions to far greater problems and inequalities within the
state’s educational system.
It is not the function of the university to cure the ailments of
K-12 schools.
UCLA alone cannot possibly correct all the problems facing the
state’s educational system.
Comments, feedback, problems?
© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]