More than half of California’s 30 largest districts have responded to budget cuts by shortening the coming school up to five days.

That was the finding of a survey by California Watch’s Louis Freedberg, who observed, “To many, it is a dramatic illustration of how the state’s budget crisis has begun to erode not just the fringes, but also the core of public education in California.”

Two years ago, the Legislature, recognizing the budget constraints that districts were facing,  gave them the option of cutting back the minimum school year from 180 to 175 days. Few did last year, cutting programs and teacher training and preparation days instead. But, with more cuts continuing, what would have been viewed as unconscionable in another year will now become commonplace. Sixteen of 30 districts have chose that option.

As Freedberg noted, a shorter years runs counter to advice of advocates of school improvement and will put California further behind advanced nations, like South Korean, Singapore and Switzerland, with school years at or exceeding 200 days.

Large districts that will shorten their year will include Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego, Riverside, Capistrano and San Jose Unified. Teachers unions agreed to it,  amounting to a 2.5 percent pay cut for a week-long furlough, in lieu of further layoffs.

If you missed Freedberg’s piece, check it out.