Staff
- Sara Cortez
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(916) 319-8348
Special Education, Preschool, Child Nutrition, and Facilities - Kenneth Kapphahn
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(916) 319-8339
Proposition 98, School District Budgets, School Transportation - Lisa Qing
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(916) 319-8306
California Community Colleges - Michael Alferes
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(916) 319-8338
Local Control Funding Formula, Charter Schools, Alternative Schools, High School Career Technical Education - Natalie Gonzalez
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(916) 319-8320
California State University, Student Financial Aid - Dylan Hawksworth-Lutzow
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(916) 319-8308
Child Care, Expanded Learning, Teachers, and Education Technology - Edgar Cabral
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(916) 319-8343
Deputy Legislative Analyst: K-12 Education - Jennifer Pacella
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(916) 319-8332
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Higher Education
Publications
Education
To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
An Analysis of Court School Cost Pressures
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May 10, 2011 - In 2010-11, several County Offices of Education (COEs) reported difficulties balancing their court school budgets. Partly due to the concerns they raised, the Supplemental Report of the 2010-11 Budget Act directed our office to (1) assess whether county court schools have access to an appropriate array of categorical funds and (2) compare court school funding with funding rates for other alternative programs. Our review indicates that COEs, which allot funding to county court schools, generally have access to an appropriate array of categorical funds. Although access to categorical funds does not appear to be a problem, we did identify local cost pressures that could explain why some COEs are having difficulty balancing their court school budgets. While the state’s options for affecting these local decisions are limited, the state could take actions to reduce cost pressures on court schools. We also recommend the state standardize per-pupil funding rates across its alternative education funding system, which could also help COEs manage their court school budgets.
Webcast: How Small Is Too Small? An Analysis of School District Consolidation
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- Video
May 2, 2011 - In this webcast (approximately 10 minutes), analyst Rachel Ehlers discusses the LAO report "How Small Is Too Small? An Analysis of School District Consolidation."
How Small Is Too Small? An Analysis of School District Consolidation
May 2, 2011 - In this report, we investigate the competing claims made in support and opposition of combining smaller school districts into larger districts. We find some small districts’ spending patterns and student performance differ slightly from larger districts, but very small districts have notable and troubling differences. We also find that substantial funding advantages and certain disincentives keep small districts from opting for consolidation. Our analysis suggests the state should not pursue a one-size-fits all approach for district configuration or require all small school districts to consolidate, but it does suggest the state should remove existing disincentives. To increase efficiencies and accountability, we also recommend the state increase the minimum size for districts to at least 100 students.
Review of Budget Reduction Options for Higher Education
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April 14, 2011 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
The 2011-12 State Education Budget
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- PowerPoint
April 11, 2011 - Presented at CASBO 2011 Annual Conference (April 7, 2011).
Overview of School District Finance
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March 23, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Committee on Education.
Streamlining Nursing Education Pathways: A Progress Report On Assembly Bill 1295 (Fuller)
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March 15, 2011 - Chapter 283, Statutes of 2009 (AB 1295, Fuller), requires our office to report by March 15, 2011 on the progress of the California Community Colleges (CCC) and California State University (CSU) in developing nursing education pathways in time for the 2012 13 academic year. We find that CCC and CSU are generally on track to implement the requirements of AB 1295, though further work is needed. Our report offers some specific suggestions for systemwide changes intended to promote seamless transfer of nursing students from CCC to CSU.
Are Entering Freshmen Prepared For College-Level Work?
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March 10, 2011 - Are Entering Freshmen Prepared For College-Level Work? (updated March 2011) 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/highered.
Aligning Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Materials Adoption Processes With Common Core Standards
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March 9, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee
Child Care and Development (CCD) Budget: Overview of Conference Issues
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February 24, 2011 - Overview of Conference Issues
Proposition 98: Overview of Conference Issues
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February 24, 2011 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee
Webcast: Guaranteed Regional Access Needed for State Universities
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- Video
February 17, 2011 - In this 9-minute video, the LAO's Judy Heiman and Steve Boilard answer questions about the latest installment to the Master Plan at 50 series, "Guaranteed Regional Access Needed for State Universities."
The Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Materials Adoption Processes
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February 16, 2011 - Presented to the Senate Education Committee. Hon. Alan Lowenthal, Chair.
Higher Education Affordability
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February 15, 2011 - Presented to the Assembly Higher Education Committee
The Master Plan at 50: Guaranteed Regional Access Needed for State Universities
February 14, 2011 - In this report we review how the Master Plan envisioned the California State University (CSU) as part of the state’s higher education system, and assess how the university has carried out its role in the face of changing enrollment demand and funding limitations. We conclude that CSU’s regional role is an important component of the state’s higher education system, and recommend that the Legislature take steps to protect that focus in the face of enrollment pressures and efforts by some campuses to become more selective. Specifically, we recommend that the Legislature (1) formalize a regional education role for CSU in statute, (2) codify its expectations for CSU’s eligibility pool, and (3) direct CSU to adjust its enrollment policies accordingly.