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.
LAO Recommendations on Implementation of California State University Doctor of Education Degree Programs
January 21, 2011 - Persuant to recent legislation authorizing the California State University (CSU) to independently offer Doctor of Education (Ed. D. ) degrees, the CSU, the Department of Finance (DOF), and the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) prepared a report describing and assessing the early implementation of the new doctorate programs. In this brief, we outline our recommendations to the legislature, which include placing conditions on the further expansion of CSU doctoral programs and requiring the CSU to provide additional reporting about their doctoral degrees.
The 2011-12 Budget: Prioritizing Course Enrollment at the Community Colleges
January 20, 2011 - In recent years, community college enrollment has been constrained by two major factors: (1) reductions in course-section offerings as a result of state budget cuts, and (2) strong demand for CCC services by adults seeking retraining and other skills at a time of weak state and national economic growth. Given limited resources, we believe that the state should target funds that best meet the state’s highest priorities for community college services. We recommend the Legislature: (1) adopt statewide registration priorities that reflect the Master Plan’s primary objectives, (2) place a limit on the number of taxpayer-subsidized credit units that students may earn, and (3) restrict the number of times that a student may repeat physical education and other classes at taxpayers’ expense. Our recommendations would (1) help increase opportunities for high-priority students to enroll in courses they need to progress toward their educational goals, and (2) reduce funding for lower-priority enrollment by approximately 50,000 FTE students—for savings to the state of about $235 million.
The 2011-12 Budget: Higher Education Budget in Context
January 19, 2011 - The Governor’s proposed 2011-12 budget includes sizable General Fund reductions for the state’s university systems and the community colleges totaling about $1.4 billion. While the administration does not provide many specific proposals as to how those reductions would be accommodated, they could affect access to higher education programs, the price paid by students, average class size, and the availability of various related services, among other things. The budget assumes fee and tuition increases at all three public segments. At the same time, the Governor’s budget would fully fund financial aid programs, thus helping to ensure that cost does not prevent enrollment by financially needy students. The budget also includes General Fund augmentations to backfill one-time federal funds received by the universities in 2010-11, pay for increased retirement costs, and cover other workload adjustments.
California’s Fiscal Outlook: Proposition 98 Briefing
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November 10, 2010 - California's Fiscal Outlook: Proposition 98 stakeholder briefing.
Webcast: Using Distance Education to Increase College Access and Efficiency
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- Video
October 25, 2010 - Analyst Paul Steenhausen discusses the LAO report "The Master Plan at 50: Using Distance Education to Increase College Access and Efficiency."
The Master Plan at 50: Using Distance Education to Increase College Access and Efficiency
October 25, 2010 -
While distance education is not—and is not intended to be—suitable for everyone (students as well as faculty), we find that it offers an important alternative means of providing instruction that can complement existing formats and expand options for the state’s students and segments. In order to take fuller advantage of this potential, we believe that the Legislature should guide a clearer statewide vision that specifies data which the segments should collect and report on distance–education students, and which clarifies expectations concerning intercampus collaborations and other partnerships. To that end, we make a number of recommendations.
(Video Summary)
Do University Students' Fees Support Financial Aid?
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August 6, 2010 - Do University Students' Fees Support Financial Aid? 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.
How Does California’s Support for Higher Education Compare With Other States?
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July 12, 2010 - How Does California’s Support for Higher Education Compare With Other States? 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.
How Do Student Fees Contribute to Community College Funding?
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July 12, 2010 - How Do Student Fees Contribute to Community College Funding? (updated December 2006) 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.
What Is California’s Master Plan for Higher Education?
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July 12, 2010 - What Is California’s Master Plan for Higher Education? 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.
What Is the Status of Tuition Waivers for Undocumented College Students?
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June 30, 2010 - What Is the Status of Tuition Waivers for Undocumented College Students? (November 2010) 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.
Overview of California’s Child Care and Development System
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June 29, 2010 - Presented to Senate Education Committee,Subcommittee on Early Learning
University of California Retirement Plan (Page 34/Issue 508)
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June 16, 2010 - Presented to The Conference Committee on the Budget
UC and CSU—Backfill of One-Time Funds (Page 32/Issue 513 and Page 38/Issue 555)
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June 14, 2010 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee
CCC—Basic Skills Categorical Budget Bill Language (Page 44/Issue 200)
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June 14, 2010 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee