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California's Education System:
A 2019 Guide

Staff
Jackie Barocio
(916) 319-8333
Child Care, Expanded Learning, School Facilities, and Teachers
Sara Cortez
(916) 319-8348
Special Education, Preschool, and Child Nutrition
Kenneth Kapphahn
(916) 319-8339
Proposition 98, School District Budgets, School Transportation
Lisa Qing
(916) 319-8306
California State University, Student Financial Aid
Paul Steenhausen
(916) 319-8303
California Community Colleges
Ian Klein
(916) 319-8336
University of California; College of the Law, San Francisco; California State Library
Michael Alferes
(916) 319-8338
Local Control Funding Formula, Charter Schools, Alternative Schools, High School Career Technical Education
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.

Other

What Are Alternative Schools and How Does the State Fund Them?

July 6, 2016 - What Are Alternative Schools and How Does the State Fund Them? This is one in a set of issue briefs examining important questions about education funding in California. For more, see our EdBasics page.

Post

How Did California Schools Spend Common Core Implementation Funding?

June 10, 2016 - The 2013-14 state budget package included $1.25 billion in Proposition 98 funding for schools to implement the new Common Core State Standards in English and math. State law allowed schools to use the funds in three areas associated with Common Core implementation: (1) information technology, (2) staff development, and (3) instructional materials. State law required the California Department of Education to report expenditure data to the Legislature by January 1, 2016. In this post, we summarize schools’ expenditures based on that report.

Handout

Overview of School Facilities Bond Measure

May 18, 2016 - Presented to: Joint Hearing of Assembly Education, Senate Education, and Assembly Higher Education Committees

Other

EdBudget Tables (May 2016)

May 17, 2016 - At key times during the state’s budget cycle, we post tables containing important information about the education parts of the budget. This May posting reflects the 2016-17 May Revision proposals. The tables cover Proposition 98, K-12 education, child care and preschool, higher education, and student financial aid.

Report

The 2016-17 Budget: Analysis of the Proposition 98 May Revision Budget Package

May 16, 2016 - In this brief, we analyze the Governor’s Proposition 98 May Revision budget package. In the first section, we focus on changes in the overall Proposition 98 funding level under the May Revision compared to the Governor’s January budget. In the next three sections, we describe and assess the major changes in specific Proposition 98 proposals for K-12 education, early education, and the California Community Colleges (CCC), respectively.

Handout

Teacher Workforce Trends

April 26, 2016 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance

Presentation

State Budget Update (CASBO Presentation)

April 14, 2016 - Presented to: California Association of School Business Officers

Handout

Teacher Workforce Trends

March 30, 2016 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education

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The 2016-17 Budget: Local Government Mandates--Reasonable Reimbursement Methodology

March 17, 2016 - Through a complex, often convoluted, process that has engendered much discussion and disagreement over the years, the state must reimburse local governments for their activities to implement certain state mandates. State law requires the Commission on State Mandates (CSM) to determine whether new state laws, executive orders, or regulations affecting local governments create state-reimbursable mandates. Generally, local governments may submit claims for state mandate payment based on one of two methods: (1) claiming of actual costs or (2) a reasonable reimbursement methodology (RRM). A budget trailer bill proposal from the administration would change the requirements for developing an RRM. We recommend the Legislature reject this proposal and perhaps consider targeted alternatives.

Handout

Overview of Adult Education

March 10, 2016 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education

Handout

Education Mandates

March 10, 2016 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education

Handout

Overview of Local Control Funding Formula and New State Accountability System

March 8, 2016 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance

Handout

Overview of Proposition 98 Budget Proposals

March 3, 2016 - Presented to: Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education

Handout

School Accountability: Changes to State and Federal Systems

February 24, 2016 - Presented to Senate Education Committee

Handout

Overview of Proposition 98 Budget Proposals

February 23, 2016 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance