The California Community Colleges Board of Governors on Monday voted to endorse Proposition 30, also known as the School and Local Public Safety Act.

The nation’s largest system of higher education faces mid-year budget cuts of $338 million if Proposition 30 does not pass in November. Funding for California Community Colleges has been cut by $809 million, or 12 percent, since 2008-09.

“This disinvestment in higher education has to stop,” said Board of Governors Vice President Manuel Baca. “But cuts in recent years have led to massive cuts in course offerings at a time of high demand as students clamor to get training for the jobs of the 21st century, or transfer to a four-year university. Our economy is weakened when we don’t have an educated workforce. People need to realize that when a student can’t get the chance to compete in the classroom, the state cannot compete against the world.”

The board voted 8-0 with two abstentions in favor of the endorsement.

Enrollment at the state’s 112 community colleges has declined by nearly 500,000 students since 2008-09, and course offerings have been cut nearly 25 percent.

At the same time, demand has soared as high schools produce more graduates and as unemployed workers seek retraining and returning veterans seek a college education.

If Proposition 30 passes, the community colleges would receive $210 million in additional funds in 2012-13.

Most of that money would be used to make good on deferred funding commitments by the state to colleges, but passage of the measure would make room for an additional 20,000 students.

If Proposition 30 fails, the $338 million cut in the middle of the academic year would mean 180,000 fewer students would be served. Colleges would be forced to slash course offerings even further, lay off more educators and staff and borrow more. These cuts would also occur if Proposition 38 passes and receives more votes than Proposition 30.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation. It is composed of 72 districts and 112 colleges serving 2.4 million students per year.