Which program must be maintained during budget cuts?

In the face of today's gloomy economy, many school districts are facing the sad reality of budget cuts. In fact, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities predicts [2] that half of all states will face budget shortfalls in fiscal year 2009. California has been hit particularly hard, leading Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to propose a $4.8 billion cut in education for K-12 public schools. Because No Child Left Behind requires students to maintain math and reading levels, schools will need to scale back some programs and eliminate others altogether. It's a difficult choice, but one that schools across the country will need to make. Which program is the most important one to save? Tell us what you think.