Staff
Sara Cortez
(916) 319-8348
Special Education, Preschool, Child Nutrition, and Facilities
Kenneth Kapphahn
(916) 319-8339
Proposition 98, School District Budgets, School Transportation
Lisa Qing
(916) 319-8306
California Community Colleges
Michael Alferes
(916) 319-8338
Local Control Funding Formula, Charter Schools, Alternative Schools, High School Career Technical Education
Ian Klein
(916) 319-8336
University of California; College of the Law, San Francisco; California State Library
Natalie Gonzalez
(916) 319-8320
California State University, Student Financial Aid
Dylan Hawksworth-Lutzow
(916) 319-8308
Child Care, Expanded Learning, Teachers, and Education Technology
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.



Handout

Overview of California’s Master Plan for Higher Education

February 22, 2005 - Presented to the Assembly Higher Education Committee on February 22, 2005.


Other

The Impact of SB 740 on California’s Nonclassroom-Based Charter Schools (RAND Corporation)

February 16, 2005 - Chapter 892, Statutes of 2001, (SB 740, O’Connell), directed our office to extend our contract with the RAND Corporation to include an assessment of the state’s process for funding nonclassroom-based charter schools. RAND found that the state’s funding determination process had reduced nonclass-room-based charter schools’ possible misuse of funds. The process also resulted in non-classroom-based schools increasing spending on instruction and teacher compensation. It did not, however, result in an increase in students’ exposure to teachers. Compared to the state’s existing “threshold” funding approach, RAND suggests the state use a more holistic funding determination process that still could detect possible financial wrong-doing without triggering automatic funding cuts for schools that might have reasonable justifications for their different expenditure patterns. Report Summary


Handout

Preschool and Child Care Overview

February 9, 2005 - Presented to a joint hearing of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittees No. 1 and No. 3 on February 9, 2005.


Report

Proposition 98 Primer

February 8, 2005 - Proposition 98 is a complex formula for setting a minimum annual funding level for K-12 schools and community colleges. This primer is intended to assist the Legislature in understanding the basic "mechanics" of the proposition and showing how it has affected school spending since its passage in 1988. We also describe the Governor's proposed changes to Proposition 98 and discuss our concerns about how they would diminish legislative budget authority.


Handout

Thoughts on State Categorical Programs in California

February 7, 2005 - Presented to the Senate Rules Committee on February 2, 2005.


Handout

Key Issues Facing the State Board of Education

February 2, 2005 - Presented to the Senate Rules Committee on February 2, 2005.


Report

An Assessment of Differential Funding

September 21, 2004 - This report examines various options for funding higher education enrollment at different rates depending on type of instruction, class level, and other factors.


Handout

Implementing the Williams Settlement

August 23, 2004 - Presented to Conference Committee on August 23, 2004.


Other

Where Are the State’s Universities Relative to Their Master Plan Eligibility Targets?

June 28, 2004 - This report summarizes a recent report measuring how well the state's universities are meeting their eligibility targets as called for in the state's Master Plan.


Report

Funding UC Faculty Research Facilities

June 23, 2004 - Faculty research generates substantial overhead revenue for UC, and a portion of this revenue is intended to pay for the construction of faculty research facilities. We find, however, that most of this research facility revenue is being used by UC for other purposes. Since hundreds of millions of dollars a year are available to UC to fund construction of faculty research facilities, we recommend the Legislature treat faculty research facilities in the same manner as it treats other higher education facilities that can be "self-funded." We recommend faculty research facilities be funded by reimbursements using nonstate funds rather than General Fund-backed bonds. This will free up hundreds of millions of dollars of scarce state resources for other high priority projects in higher education or other program areas.


Handout

Proposition 98 Overview

June 10, 2004 - Presented To Budget Conference Committee on June 2, 2004


Handout

Governor’s Compact With UC and CSU

June 1, 2004 - Presented to Assembly Higher Education Committee on June 1, 2004.


Handout

First-Time Freshman Eligibility for California Public Higher Education

June 1, 2004 - Presented to Assembly Higher Education Committee on June 1, 2004.


Handout

Proposition 98 May Revision Proposal

May 17, 2004 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on May 17, 2004.


Handout

Funding Enrollment Growth at Community Colleges

May 12, 2004 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on May 12, 2004.