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California's Education System:
A 2019 Guide

Staff
Jackie Barocio
(916) 319-8333
Child Care, Expanded Learning, School Facilities, and Teachers
Sara Cortez
(916) 319-8348
Special Education, Preschool, and Child Nutrition
Kenneth Kapphahn
(916) 319-8339
Proposition 98, School District Budgets, School Transportation
Lisa Qing
(916) 319-8306
California State University, Student Financial Aid
Paul Steenhausen
(916) 319-8303
California Community Colleges
Ian Klein
(916) 319-8336
University of California; College of the Law, San Francisco; California State Library
Michael Alferes
(916) 319-8338
Local Control Funding Formula, Charter Schools, Alternative Schools, High School Career Technical Education
Edgar Cabral
(916) 319-8343
Deputy Legislative Analyst: K-12 Education
Jennifer Pacella
(916) 319-8332
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Higher Education

Publications

Education

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.

Other

What Is the Variation in Racial and Ethnic Group Participation at California Public Colleges and Universities?

December 3, 2009 - What Is the Variation in Racial and Ethnic Group Participation at California Public Colleges and Universities? This is one of a series of issue briefs examining important questions about higher education funding in California. For more information on this topic, or to request other briefs from this series, contact the Legislative Analyst’s Office Higher Education section at (916) 319-8349, or visit our website at www.lao.ca.gov.

Other

How Fast Is the College-Age Population Growing?

December 3, 2009 - How Fast Is the College-Age Population Growing? This is one of a series of issue briefs examining important questions about higher education funding in California. For more information on this topic, or to request other briefs from this series, contact the Legislative Analyst’s Office Higher Education section at (916) 319-8339, or visit our Web site at www.lao.ca.gov.

Handout

Key Requirements of Race to the Top Grants: Review of Final Application

December 2, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee

Other

Webcast: Improving State Oversight Of Academic Expansions

December 2, 2009 - In this six-minute video, analyst Mark Whitaker summarizes the findings from our report, Improving State Oversight Of Academic Expansions.

Report

The Master Plan at 50: Improving State Oversight of Academic Expansions

December 2, 2009 - The state’s public higher education segments periodically create new degree programs and schools, and each segment has internal procedures for reviewing and authorizing them. State law delegates the state’s oversight of proposals to the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) but their role is only advisory and limited to certain proposals. In 2007 CPEC determined that a new law school proposed for University of California (UC) Irvine was unnecessary and duplicative. The opening of the new law school this fall despite CPEC’s objections calls into question the ability of the state’s approval process to prevent unnecessary or nonpriority programs and schools. In this report, we examine a number of new programs and schools that have been approved in the last few years to determine the efficacy of the state’s approval process. We conclude that there are several structural changes that are needed to improve the approval process including (a) measuring supply and demand in major fields, (b) identifying the extent to which proposals fit with the state's priorities and resources, and (c) increasing oversight from the Legislature.

(Short video summary)

Handout

Key Requirements of Race to the Top Grants: Turning Around Struggling Schools

November 18, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee

Handout

Key Requirements of Race to the Top Grants:Effective Teachers and School Leaders

November 18, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee

Handout

California’s Fiscal Outlook: Proposition 98 Briefing

November 18, 2009 - Presented on 11/18/09

Report

The Master Plan at 50: Assessing California’s Vision for Higher Education

November 12, 2009 - Almost 50 years ago, the state of California adopted a visionary plan for higher education that sought to forge the state’s colleges and universities into a coordinated system, founded on core principles and directed toward specified goals. Adherence to that vision has been uneven over the past five decades, while changes in demographics and the economy have caused the state’s educational needs to evolve. The 50th anniversary of the Master Plan thus presents a timely opportunity for policymakers to take stock of California’s higher education system in light of current and projected needs and priorities. In order to assist the Legislature in such an effort, our office is launching a series of publications examining key aspects of higher education policy and funding. The series is designed to frame key issues for legislative consideration, and assist in the refinement of higher education goals and policies. This report provides an overview of the series.

Other

What is the Status of UC Fee Lawsuits?

November 11, 2009 - What is the Status of UC Fee Lawsuits? (November 2009) This is one of a series of issue briefs examining important questions about higher education funding in California. For more information on this topic, or to request other briefs from this series, contact the Legislative Analyst’s Office Higher Education section at (916) 319-8349, or visit our Web site at www.lao.ca.gov/highered.

Other

How Do Student Fees Contribute to Public University Funding?

November 11, 2009 - How Do Student Fees Contribute to Public University Funding? This is one of a series of issue briefs examining important questions about higher education funding in California. For more information on this topic, or to request other briefs from this series, contact the Legislative Analyst’s Office Higher Education section at (916) 319-8349, or visit our Web site at www.lao.ca.gov/highered.

Handout

Key Requirements of Race to the Top Grants: Standards and Assessments

October 28, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee

Handout

Key Requirements of Race to the Top Grants:Data Systems to Support Instruction

October 28, 2009 - Presented to:Assembly Education Committee

Other

What Has Happened With Year-round Operations?

October 21, 2009 - What Has Happened With Year-round Operations? This is one of a series of issue briefs examining important questions about higher education funding in California. For more information on this topic, or to request other briefs from this series, contact the Legislative Analyst’s Office Higher Education section at (916) 319-8349, or visit our Web site at www.lao.ca.gov.

Handout

Preparing for the Next Round of Budget Adjustments: How Education Might Fare

October 14, 2009 - Presented to: Orange County School Boards Association and Association of California School Administrators, Region XVII