Though Rev. Martin Luther King often spoke out about inequality, he probably did not have California’s community colleges in mind. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to equalize state funding for the state’s campuses is surely an excellent way to celebrate King’s birthday.

Since the 1970s, when local property taxes determined funding for community colleges, the system has remained divided between the haves and the have-nots. When the state took over the payments for the campuses, the differences remained, with those located in poor — and often minority-dominated areas — receiving significantly less than colleges in ritzy locales.

In his budget, however, Schwarzenegger has offered the first comprehensive proposal to bring the poorer districts up to par with the rich ones. The plan is decades overdue, and the governor should be enthusiastically applauded for his efforts.

Critics will surely point out that what California’s community colleges need is more funding for all, not just a Robin Hood scheme for the poorest, and they could be right. In times of tough budget deficits, though, Schwarzenegger is right to focus his attention on the most needy.

Since the budget crunch began in 2001, community college fees have mushroomed — though they’re still below the national average — and student populations have shrunk. Hopefully, the governor’s plan represents a new state commitment to this important component of the public postsecondary education system.

We suspect that if he were alive, King would approve.