The PPIC study found that California's community college
system sustained about $1.5 billion in state budget cuts from 2007
until 2012.
The colleges responded by cutting staff, reducing the number
of courses and increasing class sizes.
Academic year course offerings fell 21-percent.
As a result, fewer students enrolled because they couldn't get
the classes they needed.
First time student enrollment dropped five-percent as the
number of California high school graduates increased nine-percent.
The study shows total enrollment dropped by almost a
half-million students.
By 2011, enrollment was at a 20 year low.
The report points to a better financial picture now because of
the passage of Proposition 30.