A study of equity and efficiency in the financing of California community college districts

This research examined equity and efficiency in the financing of California community college districts with varying property wealth for the fiscal years 1980-1989. Three community college districts, one each from high, medium, and low property wealth districts, were selected. Research data were obtained from the Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges, the California Postsecondary Education Commission, and the three selected districts. Tests for trends in each district's fiscal data were performed utilizing a repeated measures design in the multivariate analysis of variance procedure.

The findings of the study indicate that an increasing population of community college students are part-time students; more female students are attending community colleges, while enrollment stabilization and growth of enrollment in recent years were the result of an increasing number of older students enrolled in noncredit courses. The more affluent district had a higher percentage of female to male students and more older students enrolled in community service classes than in the less affluent districts.

The racial and ethnic backgrounds of community college students represented a cross section of the California population. Not associated with the district's affluence, the number of degrees and certificates granted declined and the number of transfers to four-year institutions did not increase during the ten-year period.

Revenues per student in each district is related to the property wealth of the district: the higher the property tax revenue, the higher the total revenues per student; consequently, the higher the total expenditures per student. A financial mechanism that permits the expenditure levels to be determined by the property wealth of community college district has no justification. The study suggests that this disparity in resources contributes to disparity in expenditures per student among districts and denies students' rights to equal educational opportunity. Although the community colleges must provide needed and diverse education and services to their communities, quantity as well as quality and equal educational opportunity to all, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status must be delivered.