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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.

Report

An Analysis of Court School Cost Pressures

May 10, 2011 - In 2010-11, several County Offices of Education (COEs) reported difficulties balancing their court school budgets. Partly due to the concerns they raised, the Supplemental Report of the 2010-11 Budget Act directed our office to (1) assess whether county court schools have access to an appropriate array of categorical funds and (2) compare court school funding with funding rates for other alternative programs. Our review indicates that COEs, which allot funding to county court schools, generally have access to an appropriate array of categorical funds. Although access to categorical funds does not appear to be a problem, we did identify local cost pressures that could explain why some COEs are having difficulty balancing their court school budgets. While the state’s options for affecting these local decisions are limited, the state could take actions to reduce cost pressures on court schools. We also recommend the state standardize per-pupil funding rates across its alternative education funding system, which could also help COEs manage their court school budgets.

Other

Webcast: How Small Is Too Small? An Analysis of School District Consolidation

May 2, 2011 - In this webcast (approximately 10 minutes), analyst Rachel Ehlers discusses the LAO report "How Small Is Too Small? An Analysis of School District Consolidation."

Report

How Small Is Too Small? An Analysis of School District Consolidation

May 2, 2011 - In this report, we investigate the competing claims made in support and opposition of combining smaller school districts into larger districts. We find some small districts’ spending patterns and student performance differ slightly from larger districts, but very small districts have notable and troubling differences. We also find that substantial funding advantages and certain disincentives keep small districts from opting for consolidation. Our analysis suggests the state should not pursue a one-size-fits all approach for district configuration or require all small school districts to consolidate, but it does suggest the state should remove existing disincentives. To increase efficiencies and accountability, we also recommend the state increase the minimum size for districts to at least 100 students.

Presentation

The 2011-12 State Education Budget

April 11, 2011 - Presented at CASBO 2011 Annual Conference (April 7, 2011).

Handout

Overview of School District Finance

March 23, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Committee on Education.

Handout

Aligning Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Materials Adoption Processes With Common Core Standards

March 9, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee

Handout

Proposition 98: Overview of Conference Issues

February 24, 2011 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee

Handout

The Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Materials Adoption Processes

February 16, 2011 - Presented to the Senate Education Committee. Hon. Alan Lowenthal, Chair.

Other

Webcast: Public Retirement Benefits, Options for the Future

February 10, 2011 - In this 15-minute video, LAO State Finance Director Jason Sisney describes why public employee retirement costs have risen substantially in recent years for California governments and the Legislature's options for creating new types of retirement benefits for future state and local employees. At the same time, as Sisney discusses, the Legislature may have to identify new funding soon to address substantial unfunded liabilities in the teachers' and University of California retirement systems, among others.

Handout

Update on School District Finance and Flexibility

February 9, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance

Handout

AB 3632 Mental Health Services

February 7, 2011 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education

Report

The 2011-12 Budget: Year-Two Survey--Update on School District Finance in California

February 7, 2011 - Since 2007-08, state support for K-12 education has dropped notably, though this reduction has been partly offset by one-time federal aid and state K-12 payment deferrals. Per-pupil programmatic funding was down 3.7 percent in 2009-10 and 5 percent in 2010-11. To help school districts manage this reduction, the state temporarily removed the strings associated with roughly 40 categorical programs and eliminated various other requirements. We surveyed school districts to gather information regarding how they were being affected by recent federal and state actions. Most importantly, the survey responses show that many districts: (1) have reserved some federal Ed Jobs for 2011–12; (2) would find an additional deferral in 2011–12 more difficult to accommodate; (3) have benefited notably from existing flexibility provisions and desire additional flexibility; and (4) already have increased class sizes notably, instituted furlough days, laid off some teachers, and shortened the school year. Given these survey findings, we identify several ways the Legislature could provide school districts with more flexibility in the short term. We also provide the Legislature with a relatively simple approach for making more lasting improvements to California’s K–12 finance system.

Handout

Overview of Education Mandates

February 1, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance

Handout

AB 3632 Mental Health Services

January 26, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Human Services and Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education

Handout

Overview of Proposition 98 Budget

January 25, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 On Education Finance