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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

Refocusing Teacher Recruitment Efforts

February 20, 2009 - The Supplemental Report of the 2007-08 Budget Act directed our office to reexamine the state’s teacher recruitment goals and assess the effectiveness of teacher recruitment programs designed to meet those goals. This report details our findings. Although the state has spent over $1 billion in teacher recruitment activities, virtually no information exists on the effectiveness of these programs. Research on the teacher workforce, however, suggests that improving teacher support and addressing uncompetitive salaries are the most promising strategies for recruiting and retaining teachers. Thus, we recommend education agencies focus their teacher efforts in these two areas.

Presentation

2009-10 State Budget Update

February 20, 2009 - Presented to the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) Chief Business Officers (CBO) conference.

Report

2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: Proposition 98 Education Programs

February 3, 2009 - The Governor’s budget reflects major reductions to school spending in 2008-09 and 2009-10. In this report, we outline ways for the Legislature to achieve budget-ary savings while minimizing the adverse effects on core educational programs. In contrast to the Governor’s approach of cutting K-12 revenue limits (districts’ most flexible source of funding), we recommend that the Legislature make targeted spending reductions. We develop a three-tiered approach to making these reduc-tions, first identifying cuts that would have the least programmatic effect. To help districts respond to these reductions, the administration proposes to permanently suspend most categorical program requirements and all but three K-14 mandates. In contrast, we recommend that the Legislature adopt a more strategic approach that provides districts with additional categorical program flexibility but also simpli-fies, streamlines, and improves the existing system. We also recommend undertak-ing substantive mandate reform.

Other

Webcast: Higher Education 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series

January 29, 2009 - Director of Higher Education, Steve Boilard, discusses the fifth report in the LAO’s 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series.

Report

2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: Higher Education

January 29, 2009 - The Governor’s budget proposal includes $11.5 billion in General Fund support as well as $5.7 billion in other core funding for higher education in 2009-10. The proposed budget would increase university fees by almost $300 million while it would reduce state financial aid programs by $88 million. It also could reduce higher education enrollment by tens of thousands of students. We offer alternatives that would increase funding for state financial aid programs, increase enrollment targets well above the Governor's levels, and better account for student fee revenue.

Report

Improving Academic Success For Economically Disadvantaged Students

January 6, 2009 - California’s economically disadvantaged (ED) students are failing to meet federal and state academic standards and generally perform below their non-economically disadvantaged peers. This trend appears in all grade levels, with nearly two-thirds of second grade ED students and nearly three-fourths of eighth grade ED students performing at low levels. Given these shortcomings, we believe the state needs to be both more strategic and more flexible in its approach to supporting ED students. Specifically, we recommend: redefining the conversation to focus on the barriers impeding academic success; simplifying the system for all involved; refining funding formulas to reflect the pervasiveness and severity of students’ academic challenges; strengthening overall accountability by measuring year-to-year growth in student achievement; and, identifying and facilitating the sharing of best practices.

Handout

Special Session Overview of Proposition 98 Budget

December 11, 2008 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education

Report

LAO Recommended Legislation

December 1, 2008 - The role of the Legislative Analyst's Office is to review state programs and make recommendations to the Legislature as to how the state can operate more effectively and efficiently. This report summarizes various changes to law that we have recommended in recent years. Recommendations in this report include, among many others: (a) Simplify and Consolidate K-12 General Purpose Funding, (b) Promote the Adoption of Health Information Technology in California, (c) Fund Inmate Education Programs Based on Actual Attendance, and (d) Increase and Index the State Gas Tax.

Presentation

State Budget Update, Provided to the California Association of School Business Officials

November 21, 2008 - Powerpoint presentation to the California Association of School Business Officials which examines the LAO's Fiscal Forecast, An Overview of the Governor's (November) K-12 Special Session Proposals and an LAO Assessment of the proposals.

Handout

Informational: Proposition 98 Overview

June 17, 2008 - Presented to Conference Committee

Handout

LAO Compromise: Title II Carryover Funds

June 17, 2008 - Agenda Pages 344, 348, and 358, Items 6110-195-0890, 6110-144-0001, and 6440-001-0001 LAO Compromise: Title II Carryover Funds

Handout

LAO Compromise: K-12 School Improvement Proposals

June 17, 2008 - Agenda Pages 341 and 342—Issues 566, 567, 411, and 441 Items 6110-134-0890, 6110-125-0890, 6110-001-0001, and 6110-001-0890, LAO Compromise: K-12 School Improvement Proposals

Handout

LAO Compromise: CDE State Operations

June 17, 2008 - Agenda Pages 338 and 339,Item 6110-001-0001—CDE State Operations, LAO Compromise

Handout

LAO Compromise: Authority for Student Aid Commission to Act as Lender-of-Last Resort

June 17, 2008 - Agenda Page 370, Issue 050, Item 7980-001-0001, Language Only Authority for Student Aid Commission to Act as Lender-of-Last Resort (LLR)

Handout

LAO Compromise: Trailer Bill Language for EdFund Sale

June 17, 2008 - Agenda Page 371, Issue 066 Trailer Bill Language for EdFund Sale