More education myths

The Virginia House and Senate recently completed separate retreats at the end of November.  The retreats were filled with reports of doom and gloom based on the shocking size of the budget hole.  Virginia's budget shortfall has grown to $3.2256 billion and may not be done with it's growth spurt.  It is obvious that no area of Virginia's budget will be safe from cuts.  Staff analyst, Becky Covey, said we have been in a “slow motion recession – probably since the beginning of 2008.” She asserted that, “A deeper recession lasting several quarters in now the likely scenario.”
One of the most interesting pieces of information that came from those meetings is the staff report on Compound Annual Average Growth in programs from FY1998 to FY2110.  Listed were the state programs that increased more than the 5.85% annual growth in revenue.  The following is a list of the programs and their growths:

• Car Tax 14.7%
• Child Support Enforcement 13.9%
• Debt Service 11.0%
• Comprehensive Services Act 10.2%
• Aid to Localities – Police Dept. 9.8%
• Indigent Defense 9.2%
• Medicaid 7.5%
• MHMR Grants to Localities 7.0%
• Student Financial Aid 6.6%
• Total General Fund Budget 6.0%

Why isn't education on the list?  The compound annual average growth of public education’s share of the budget was less than that of the growth of the budget – despite enrollment growth, expansion of pre-school programs, and new burdens on public schools such as NCLB.  Everybody knows that education spending is "out of control."  We continue to throw money at problem schools and continue to get very little return. 
There are things we think we know and we believe these things even when there is little evidence to support our beliefs.  Funding of public schools is one of those areas.
Given the size of the budget hole it is obvious that cuts will have to be made in all areas...including education.  Let's hope that cuts are made in a rational manner.