SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today issued the following statement regarding the budget proposal passed today by the Assembly Budget Subcommittee for Education Finance:

"I congratulate the Assembly for crafting a responsible education budget that recognizes California's difficult fiscal situation. This is a fair, reasonable and rational approach that prioritizes our state's most precious resource: our children.

"This proposal rejects the shortsighted proposal to make across the board cuts to public education. It restores funding for important categorical programs and also provides a modest cost of living increase for our public schools.

"I encourage the Senate and the Governor to consider this proposal favorably."