Education Publications

Overview of Higher Education in California

• Format:
• PDF

August 31, 2017 - Presented to Assembly Select Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education in California

Overview of Student Loans

• Format:
• PDF

August 29, 2017 - Presented to: Select Committee on Youth and California’s Future and Assembly Committee on Banking and Finance

Overview of California Community Colleges (CCC) Conference Issues

• Format:
• PDF

June 2, 2017 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee

The 2017-18 Budget: Analysis of the May Revision Education Proposals

• Format:
• PDF
• HTML

May 15, 2017 - In this brief, we analyze the Governor’s May Revision education proposals. First, we review changes in the overall Proposition 98 funding level. Subsequently, we describe and assess the Governor’s major proposals for K‑12 education, child care and preschool, the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, and student financial aid.

5/16/17: Correction to LAO CalWORKs Stage 2 cost estimates.

The 2017-18 Budget: California Community Colleges

• Format:
• PDF

April 18, 2017 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance

California Community Colleges: Effects of Increases in Noncredit Course Funding Rates

• Format:
• PDF
• HTML

March 30, 2017 - In this report, we assess the effects of recent changes in state funding rates on California Community Colleges (CCC) noncredit courses, and recommend that the Legislature explore four key issues moving forward. We believe that by addressing the appropriate funding rates for noncredit instruction, the respective roles and definitions of credit and noncredit instruction, the accessibility of such instruction across the state, and the system the state has for measuring the effectiveness of noncredit and adult education, the Legislature could improve significantly the effectiveness of noncredit and adult education in California over the coming years.

The 2017-18 Budget: California Community Colleges

• Format:
• PDF

March 23, 2017 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education

Overview of Adult Education

• Format:
• PDF

March 23, 2017 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education

Overview of Student Loan Marketplace

• Format:
• PDF

March 22, 2017 - Presented to: Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee

Overview of Remedial Education at the State’s Public Higher Education Segments

• Format:
• PDF

March 1, 2017 - Presented to Senate Education Committee

The 2017-18 Budget: Higher Education Analysis

• Format:
• PDF
• HTML

February 16, 2017 - In this report, we analyze the Governor's higher education budget proposals. Our many recommendations for consideration by the legislature include: providing base increases for the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and California Community Colleges (CCC); improving implementation of existing student support programs before expanding upon other initiatives being put forward by the administration and other segments; and asking the administration to provide certain additional information about the CCC guided pathways and CCC Chancellor’s Office staffing proposals during spring budget hearings.

Creating a Debt Free College Program

• Format:
• PDF
• HTML

January 31, 2017 - The Supplemental Report of the 2016-17 Budget Act directs our office to estimate the cost of a new state financial aid program intended to eliminate the need for students to take on college debt. We estimate such a program for resident undergraduate students attending public colleges in California would cost $3.3 billion annually, on top of all existing gift aid. Adding certain eligibility requirements to the program could reduce these costs notably. For several reasons, the new program likely would reduce but not eliminate student loan debt. Additionally, the new program could create behavioral changes not factored into our estimate.

Assessing UC and CSU Enrollment and Capacity

• Format:
• PDF
• HTML

January 19, 2017 - Chapter 22 of 2015 (SB 81, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) requires our office to assess whether the state should construct new University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) campuses, taking a statewide perspective for UC and a regional perspective for CSU. In making our assessment, the legislation requires our office to consider a variety factors, including enrollment demand and capacity. We project university enrollment over the next eight years based on existing state policy and growth in the state's public high school graduates. In 2024-25, we project UC will enroll 11,000 more resident students (5 percent) than in 2016-17. We find the system could accommodate at least triple that amount of growth by increasing use of its existing facilities and constructing new facilities according to its already developed long-range plans. We project CSU enrollment in 11 regions across the state, with projected growth totaling 15,000 students (a 4 percent increase) in 2024-25 over 2016-17 levels. We find the system could accommodate more than 200,000 additional students by increasing use of its existing facilities and constructing new facilities according to already developed long-range plans. Given UC and every CSU region could accommodate projected enrollment through current or planned capacity, we conclude that new campuses are not warranted at this time.

Evaluation of CSU's Doctor of Nursing Practice Pilot Program

• Format:
• PDF
• HTML

January 5, 2017 - To increase capacity in its nursing programs during the nursing shortage in the late 1990's, the California State University (CSU) cited a need to increase the number of nursing faculty holding a doctoral degree (required for tenured/tenure-track positions) and expressed interest in establishing its own Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program to prepare such faculty. In response, the state enacted Chapter 416 of 2010 which temporarily allows CSU to offer an independent DNP on a pilot basis. Related legislation requires our office to evaluate the pilot program and make a recommendation regarding its extension. For a variety of reasons, we recommend the Legislature allow the CSU DNP pilot to sunset.

California Community Colleges: Evaluation of Intersession Extension Pilot Program

• Format:
• PDF
• HTML

December 14, 2016 - During the state's last fiscal downturn, reductions to community college funding resulted in many students being unable to access taxpayer-subsidized courses. As a response, the state enacted Chapter 710 of 2013 (AB 955, Williams), which permitted select colleges to offer, on a pilot basis, fully fee-supported credit-bearing courses during winter and summer intersessions. Long Beach City College (LBCC)—the sole participant in the pilot—offered eight Chapter 710 courses in 2014, enrolling nearly 200 students. Our review finds that students who took these courses generally mirrored the broader LBCC student population. We also find that student outcomes for these courses were comparable to or better than outcomes for taxpayer-subsidized courses. Although the pilot was small, the results suggest that fully fee-supported intersession programs could serve as one viable means for colleges to maintain or expand access during tight budget times. Based on these encouraging results, we recommend the Legislature extend Chapter 710's sunset date and open up the program to any community college that meets specified criteria.