Staff
- Sara Cortez
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(916) 319-8348
Special Education, Preschool, and Child Nutrition - 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 - Ian Klein
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(916) 319-8336
University of California; College of the Law, San Francisco; California State Library - Natalie Gonzalez
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(916) 319-8362
California State University, Student Financial Aid - 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.
Webcast: Improving State Oversight Of Academic Expansions
- Format:
- Video
December 2, 2009 - In this six-minute video, analyst Mark Whitaker summarizes the findings from our report, Improving State Oversight Of Academic Expansions.
The Master Plan at 50: Improving State Oversight of Academic Expansions
December 2, 2009 -
The state’s public higher education segments periodically create new degree programs and schools, and each segment has internal procedures for reviewing and authorizing them. State law delegates the state’s oversight of proposals to the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) but their role is only advisory and limited to certain proposals. In 2007 CPEC determined that a new law school proposed for University of California (UC) Irvine was unnecessary and duplicative. The opening of the new law school this fall despite CPEC’s objections calls into question the ability of the state’s approval process to prevent unnecessary or nonpriority programs and schools. In this report, we examine a number of new programs and schools that have been approved in the last few years to determine the efficacy of the state’s approval process. We conclude that there are several structural changes that are needed to improve the approval process including (a) measuring supply and demand in major fields, (b) identifying the extent to which proposals fit with the state's priorities and resources, and (c) increasing oversight from the Legislature.
(Short video summary)
The Master Plan at 50: Assessing California’s Vision for Higher Education
November 12, 2009 - Almost 50 years ago, the state of California adopted a visionary plan for higher education that sought to forge the state’s colleges and universities into a coordinated system, founded on core principles and directed toward specified goals. Adherence to that vision has been uneven over the past five decades, while changes in demographics and the economy have caused the state’s educational needs to evolve. The 50th anniversary of the Master Plan thus presents a timely opportunity for policymakers to take stock of California’s higher education system in light of current and projected needs and priorities. In order to assist the Legislature in such an effort, our office is launching a series of publications examining key aspects of higher education policy and funding. The series is designed to frame key issues for legislative consideration, and assist in the refinement of higher education goals and policies. This report provides an overview of the series.
What is the Status of UC Fee Lawsuits?
- Format:
November 11, 2009 - What is the Status of UC Fee Lawsuits? (November 2009) 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.
How Do Student Fees Contribute to Public University Funding?
- Format:
November 11, 2009 - How Do Student Fees Contribute to Public University Funding? 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.
What Has Happened With Year-round Operations?
- Format:
October 21, 2009 - What Has Happened With Year-round Operations? 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.
California Community Colleges: Raising Fees Could Mitigate Program Cuts and Leverage More Federal Aid
June 11, 2009 - New federal tax credit provisions allow the state to tap potentially hundreds of millions of new federal dollars for higher education. Because these tax credits will fully reimburse most California Community College (CCC) students for the fees they pay, the state could raise those fees (and revenue for CCC) with no net impact on most students. The purpose of this brief is to provide additional information—in a question-and-answer format—related to our recommendation.
Consolidation of CPEC and CSAC
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June 10, 2009 - Presented to Senate Education Committee
Cal Grant Decentralization
- Format:
June 10, 2009 - Presented to Senate Education Committee
Overview May Revision: California Community College
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June 5, 2009 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee
State Budget Solutions in Higher Education: General Fund Savings From February Budget Package and Governor’s Proposed May Revision
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June 1, 2009 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee
Education Mandates
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April 23, 2009 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education
Higher Education Affordability:Fees and Financial Aid
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April 22, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 On Education Finance
Federal Stimulus Package:Opportunities for California Higher Education
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March 25, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 and Assembly Higher Education Committee
Higher Education Overview Of the Budget Act of 2009-10
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March 18, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2