Education

The 2015-16 Budget: California Community Colleges

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April 7, 2016 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education

A Required Report on Student Fee Transparency and Accountability

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April 6, 2016 -

Chapter 620 of 2012 (AB 970, Fong) requires the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) to fulfill the following three requirements related to systemwide tuition and fee increases:

• Tuition and Fee Policies. The legislation requires UC and CSU to develop a list of factors to consider when recommending an increase in mandatory systemwide tuition and fees for resident students.
• Notification and Consultation Procedures. The legislation requires UC and CSU to follow prescribed public notice and student consultation procedures before adopting an increase.
• Reporting Provisions. The legislation requires UC and CSU to provide the Legislature with annual reports on tuition and fees, financial aid, and the total cost of attendance. In addition, the legislation requires our office to report on UC’s and CSU’s compliance with Chapter 620.

As detailed below, our review found UC was not in compliance with several provisions of Chapter 620. Though the legislation deems its provisions to be required for UC, UC believes it is not legally obligated to comply because of its constitutional autonomy. We found CSU complied with all Chapter 620 provisions except for one reporting requirement.

The 2015-16 Budget: California Community Colleges

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April 5, 2016 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance

CCC Budget and Policy Update

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April 4, 2016 - Presented to: California Community College (CCC) Financial Aid Directors, April 4, 2016.

The 2015-16 Budget: CCC Workforce Education

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March 29, 2016 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance

The 2016-17 Budget: Assessing the Governor’s Zero-Textbook-Cost Proposal

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March 14, 2016 - This brief is intended to assist the Legislature in reviewing the Governor’s proposal for zero-textbook-cost degrees. We provide background on open educational resources (OER), describe California efforts to encourage their use, and highlight zero–textbook–cost degree initiatives currently underway in other states. We then describe the Governor’s proposal and provide our associated assessment and recommendations.

The 2016-17 Budget: Higher Education Analysis

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February 26, 2016 - In this report, we provide background on three key areas of higher education in California: enrollment, tuition and financial aid, and institutional performance. We then analyze specific budget proposals for the University of California, California State University, California Community Colleges, Hastings College of the Law, and California Student Aid Commission, making corresponding recommendations for the Legislature's consideration.

The 2016-17 Budget: Review of UC’s Merced Campus Expansion Proposal

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February 10, 2016 - In November 2015, the Regents of the University of California (UC) approved a proposal to enter into a public–private partnership to double the physical size of the Merced campus. Under the plan, enrollment on the Merced campus would grow from 6,000 to 10,000 full–time equivalent (FTE) students by 2020. This brief is intended to assist the Legislature in reviewing this proposal. In it, we provide background on the Merced campus and the state process for approving capital outlay projects at UC, describe key aspects of the proposed project, and raise four key issues for the Legislature to consider.

Overview of Community College Basic Skills Programs

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February 5, 2016 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance

Overview of Tuition-Free Community College Programs

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February 3, 2016 - Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education

CCC Student Success: History, Funding, and Issues for Legislative Consideration

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February 3, 2016 - Presented to: Senate Education Committee

Proposition 39 (2012)

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January 20, 2016 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications.

What Is the Adult Education Block Grant?

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January 6, 2016 - What Is the Adult Education Block Grant? This is one of a series of issue briefs examining important questions about education funding in California. For more, see our EdBasics page.

Final EdBudget Tables (2015)

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October 19, 2015 - At key times during the state’s budget cycle, we post tables containing important information about the education parts of the budget. Specifically, we post tables in January, May, and October. The January tables generally reflect the Governor’s Budget proposal, the May tables reflect the Governor’s May Revision, and the October tables reflect the final enacted budget. The tables currently highlighted are for the state’s enacted 2015-16 budget. The tables cover all areas of education, with tables on K-12 education, adult and workforce education, community colleges, universities, financial aid, child care and preschool.

Review of Recent Changes to The Cal Grant C Program

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June 22, 2015 - To ensure recent legislative changes are having the intended effects on the Cal Grant C program, the Legislature requested that our office prepare a report on the implementation of the new rules and their impacts on Cal Grant C recipients. While data suggest the Cal Grant C program may contribute to better jobs for those recipients who ultimately receive a certificate or degree, these successes are offset by lesser outcomes among the high proportion of students who do not complete their courses of study.