To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
January 29, 2009 - Director of Higher Education, Steve Boilard, discusses the fifth report in the LAO’s 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series.
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.
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.
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)
June 17, 2008 - Agenda Page 371, Issue 066 Trailer Bill Language for EdFund Sale
June 16, 2008 - Most students who enter California Community Colleges (CCC) lack sufficient reading, writing, and mathematics skills to undertake college–level work. Thus, one of the CCC system’s core missions is to provide precollegiate “basic skills” instruction to these students. In this report, we find that a large percentage of students do not overcome their basic skills deficiencies during their time at CCC. We identify a number of state policies that we believe stand in the way of student success, and recommend several structural and systemwide changes designed to help increase preparedness and achievement among community college students.
June 13, 2008 - LAO Compromise: California Postsecondary Education Commission. Agenda page 357. Item 6420-001-0001.
June 12, 2008 - LAO Compromise: Agenda Page 362—Item 6440-001-0001—University of California Provisional Language Regarding Future Appropriations
June 12, 2008 - LAO Compromise: Agenda Page 366—Item 6610-001-0001—California State University Provisional Language Regarding Future Appropriations
April 3, 2008 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance
February 20, 2008 - The Governor’s proposed budget for the California Community Colleges would fund 1 percent enrollment growth and make across-the-board reductions to categorical programs. We offer an alternative to the Governor’s proposal that includes funding for 1.7 percent growth and no across-the-board reductions. Our proposal includes more total resources for CCC by augmenting student fee revenue, which would supplement Proposition 98 support. In addition, our alternative plan increases fiscal and program flexibility for districts to meet local needs by consolidating several categorical programs into two block grants.
February 20, 2008 - As a result of a recent State Supreme Court decision, the higher education segments and other state agencies may need to reconsider how their growth plans affect surrounding communities and whether they should provide payments to local agencies for infrastructure improvements. We provide an overview of the higher education segments’ environmental review process, discuss the Court’s decision and its implications, and offer our recommendations to the Legislature on how to address the local impacts of campus expansion. review infrastructure
February 20, 2008 - We recommend an alternative to the Governor’s proposal that avoids making unallocated reductions and adheres to the State Master Plan for Higher Education. Our alternative would fund anticipated enrollment growth at the three segments. It would also modestly increase the share of education cost paid by students, while increasing financial aid to cover these higher costs for financially needy students.
February 20, 2008 - The Governor’s budget proposal for higher education includes large, unallocated reductions to the universities and the elimination of a key financial aid program. Taken together, these proposals could have a significant effect on college access and affordability.