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
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.



Report

CalFacts 2024

December 2, 2024 - CalFacts presents a wide range of facts and trends about the state's economy, finances, and programs.


Brief

The 2025‑26 Budget: Fiscal Outlook for Schools and Community Colleges

November 20, 2024 - In this report, we provide our estimates of the guarantee and analyze the implications for school and community college budgeting.


Handout

The State’s Role in Physical Education

September 27, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Education


Post

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Child Care and State Preschool

September 26, 2024 - This post summarizes the state’s 2024-25 spending package for child care and state preschool.


Post

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

September 16, 2024 - This post summarizes Proposition 98 funding and K-12 education spending in the 2024-25 budget package.


Handout

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 98 and K-12 Funding in the May Revision

May 16, 2024 - Proposition 98 and K-12 Funding in the May Revision


Brief

Increasing Transparency of County Office of Education Spending

March 14, 2024 - This report, prepared at the request of the Legislature, makes recommendations primarily intended to increase transparency of operations and activities at county offices of education.


Report

Review of the Funding Determination Process for Nonclassroom-Based Charter Schools

February 29, 2024 - In this report, we analyze the funding determination process for nonclassroom-based charter schools and make recommendations to improve the process. In addition, we highlight several key issues related to oversight of charter schools and provide recommendations for the Legislature to consider. This report is in response to a request of the Legislature. Chapter 48 of 2023 (SB 114, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) required the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team to identify and make recommendations to improve the funding determination process for nonclassroom-based charter schools, including recommendations for enhancing oversight and reducing fraud, waste, and abuse.

Update (3/1/24): Figure 6 updated to correct number of districts that are between one and ten times the district's ADA.


Handout

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 98 Overview and K-12 Education

February 29, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education Finance


Handout

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 98 Overview and K-12 Education

February 27, 2024 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance


Brief

The 2024-25 Budget: The Governor’s Proposition 98 Funding Maneuver

February 15, 2024 - In this brief, we evaluate the Governor’s novel proposal to allow schools to keep $8 billion of cash disbursements above the minimum requirement without recognizing the budgetary impact of those payments.


Report

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

February 15, 2024 - In this report, we assess the architecture of the Governor’s overall Proposition 98 budget and analyze his major proposals for K-12 education.


Post

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

November 28, 2023 - This post summarizes overall Proposition 98 funding and K-12 education spending in the 2023-24 budget package. It is part of our Spending Plan series, which contains posts focused on each major sector of the state budget.


Handout

Overview of Special Education in California

November 16, 2023 - Presented to: Select Committee on Serving Students with Disabilities


Report

The 2023-24 Budget: California Spending Plan Series

October 2, 2023 - Each year, our office publishes California Spending Plan, a series of publications that summarize the annual state budget. The final version of Overview of the California Spending Plan is presented here along with short online posts that focus on major areas and features of the 2023-24 budget package. As these posts become available, we will add them below.