January 7, 2025 | Brief

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Residential Electricity Rates In California

Explores key questions that frequently emerge around residential electricity rates in California—including why electricity rates are relatively high—some resulting implications for ratepayers and state climate change goals, and notable emerging issues.

December 10, 2024 | Report

Recent Trends in Young Adult Mortality

Examines recent trends in age 15 to 44 mortality and breaks out this growth by underlying causes of death. Takes a closer look at some of the major causes of death and notes some key issues for legislative consideration.

December 4, 2024 | Report

Trends in Higher Education

Faculty and Staff

The fifth of a six-part series covering higher education trends in California; focuses on the higher education workforce and how it has changed over time; raises key issues for the Legislature to consider as it makes related policy and budget decisions.

December 2, 2024 | Report

Fixing Unemployment Insurance

Download our companion infographic for a quick summary of the issues and recommendations in this report.

November 7, 2024 | Report

UC Merced at 20: Campus Developments and Key State‑Level Takeaways

Explores major campus developments related to UC Merced's enrollment, student outcomes, faculty and staff, facilities, and finance. Assesses the extent to which UC Merced has fulfilled certain key objectives.

July 1, 2024 | Report

Assessing Community College Programs at State Prisons

Focuses on California Community College programs at state prisons; provides background; covers trends in student outcomes; explains funding; assesses these programs and makes recommendations to improve them.

May 24, 2024 | Post

Multiyear Budget Outlook

Presents our office’s forecast of the condition of the state General Fund budget through 2027-28 under our revenue estimates and assuming the Governor’s May Revision policies were adopted.

May 17, 2024 | Brief

Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

Provides a summary of and comments on the Governor s revised budget, focusing on the overall condition and structure of the state General Fund.

May 9, 2024 | Brief

Finance

The fourth of a six-part series covering higher education trends in California; focuses on higher education finance and how it has changed over the past few decades; raises key issues for the Legislature to consider as it makes related policy and budget decisions.

May 7, 2024 | Brief

Update on Student Housing Assistance

Provides background on student housing insecurity at the higher education segments, provides an implementation update on the housing assistance provided through the segments’ rapid rehousing and basic needs programs, and recommends changes to statutory reporting requirements for these programs.

April 24, 2024 | Report

California’s Child Welfare System:
Addressing Disproportionalities and Disparities

Examines disproportionalities and disparities across California’s child welfare system in terms of income and race/ethnicity; identifies a number of decision-making and policy areas that can help address disproportionalities and disparities; provides options for the Legislature to consider.

April 18, 2024 | Brief

Student Outcomes

The third of a six-part series covering higher education trends in California; focuses on student outcomes and how they have changed over the past few decades; raises key issues for the Legislature to consider as it makes related policy and budget decisions.

April 15, 2024 | Brief

Child Care

Analyzes key Governor’s budget proposals related to various child care and development programs administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS).

March 20, 2024 | Brief

Proposition 2 Debt Payment Proposals

Evaluates the Governor’s Proposition 2-related debt and liabilities payment proposals.

March 14, 2024 | Brief

Trends in Higher Education

College Affordability

The second of a six-part series covering higher education trends in California; focuses on college affordability; covers changes in cost of attendance and student financial aid over the past few decades.

March 13, 2024 | Report

Increasing Transparency of County Office of Education Spending

Makes recommendations primarily intended to increase transparency of operations and activities at county offices of education.

February 29, 2024 | Report

Review of the Funding Determination Process for Nonclassroom-Based Charter Schools

Analyzes the funding determination process for nonclassroom-based charter schools and makes recommendations to improve the process; highlights several key issues related to oversight of charter schools and provides recommendations for the Legislature to consider.

February 28, 2024 | Brief

Broadband Infrastructure

Provides updates on major state broadband programs and projects and federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act broadband programs; assesses each of the broadband infrastructure proposals in the Governor’s 2024-25 budget; and offers a number of recommendations for legislative consideration.

February 28, 2024 | Brief

University of California

Analyze's the Governor’s budget proposals for the University of California (UC), with sections focusing on UC’s core operations and enrollment; revisits recent UC one-time initiatives and capital projects.

February 27, 2024 | Post

Child Support

Provides a general overview of the Governor’s budget for the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), then turns to focus on a few key DCSS budget areas, providing background, implementation updates, and some comments for the Legislature to consider.

February 26, 2024 | Post

Child Welfare

In this post, we analyze the Governor’s budget proposals relating to child welfare and foster care programs, which include a number of budget solutions.

February 22, 2024 | Brief

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

This brief provides our analysis of the Governor’s 2024-25 budget proposals related to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

February 21, 2024 | Brief

California Community Colleges

In this brief, we analyze the Governor’s budget proposals relating to community college enrollment, apportionments, and nursing education.

February 15, 2024 | Report

Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

In this report, we assess the architecture of the Governor’s overall Proposition 98 budget and analyze his major proposals for K-12 education.

February 15, 2024 | Brief

The Governor’s Proposition 98 Funding Maneuver

In this brief, we evaluate the Governor’s novel proposal to allow schools to keep $8 billion of cash disbursements above the minimum requirement without recognizing the budgetary impact of those payments.

February 15, 2024 | Brief

California State University

In this brief, we analyze the Governor’s budget proposals for the California State University (CSU). We also revisit recent CSU one-time initiatives and capital projects.

February 14, 2024 | Brief

Medi-Cal Analysis

This brief provides an overview of the Governor’s proposed budget for Medi-Cal; describes key trends in Medi-Cal caseload; and analyzes proposals around the managed care organization tax, provider payment increases, and other budget solutions.