More than 21,000 education workers in California have received certified letters indicating they may not be rehired after June 30. The letters were sent in order to satisfy a  state-mandated deadline that requires preliminary notices be sent by May 15 to employees who may lose their jobs.

 According to local reports, not all the proposed layoffs are likely to be carried out. The final number will depend on the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. According to the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, last year 60 percent of the 26,000 teachers who received layoff notices ended up losing their jobs.

Reports that education spending would be reduced in the next state budget were rebuffed by a spokesman for Gov. Arnold Shcwarzenegger. He said education would receive the same amount as the previous year.

“The governor has proposed protecting education while making devastating cuts in other areas to deal with our current $20 billion deficit,” said Aaron McLear. “We are funding education at exactly the same level as last year.”

With that said, many districts were able to hold off on mass layoffs a year ago because of federal stimulus money, which will not be available in 2010-11.

The notices will not be final until the May 15 deadline, which will allow for continued employee group bargaining.