California lawmakers hear pleas not to further slash education

California lawmakers hear pleas not to further slash education
The very future of California is at stake, scores warn a joint Assembly and Senate budget committee, even as a possible $8.1 billion in education reductions looms.

As the state weighs cutting about $8.1 billion from public schools, colleges and universities, scores of educators, parents, students and others told lawmakers Monday that such reductions would jeopardize student success and safety in the short term and California's prosperity in the long term.