Staff
- Sara Cortez
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(916) 319-8348
Special Education, Preschool, Child Nutrition, and Facilities - Kenneth Kapphahn
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(916) 319-8339
Proposition 98, School District Budgets, School Transportation - Lisa Qing
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(916) 319-8306
California Community Colleges - Michael Alferes
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(916) 319-8338
Local Control Funding Formula, Charter Schools, Alternative Schools, High School Career Technical Education - Natalie Gonzalez
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(916) 319-8320
California State University, Student Financial Aid - Dylan Hawksworth-Lutzow
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(916) 319-8308
Child Care, Expanded Learning, Teachers, and Education Technology - Edgar Cabral
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(916) 319-8343
Deputy Legislative Analyst: K-12 Education - Jennifer Pacella
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(916) 319-8332
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Higher Education
Publications
Education
To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
Webcast: Public Retirement Benefits, Options for the Future
- Format:
- PowerPoint
- Video
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.
Update on School District Finance and Flexibility
- Format:
February 9, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance
AB 3632 Mental Health Services
- Format:
February 7, 2011 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education
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.
Overview of Education Mandates
- Format:
February 1, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance
AB 3632 Mental Health Services
- Format:
January 26, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Human Services and Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education
Overview of Proposition 98 Budget
- Format:
January 25, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 On Education Finance
Overview of Proposition 98 Budget
- Format:
January 24, 2011 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education Finance
The 2011-12 Budget: To Defer or Not Defer? An Analysis of the Effects of K-12 Payment Deferrals
January 24, 2011 - Over the last several years, the state has deferred payments to school districts as a way to achieve significant Proposition 98 savings. Relying on deferrals has allowed the state to achieve significant one-time savings while simultaneously allowing school districts to continue operating a larger program by borrowing or using cash reserves. As the magnitude and length of payment deferrals have increased, however, school districts have found fronting the cash required to continue operating at a higher programmatic level increasingly difficult. As part of his 2011-12 budget plan, the Governor continues to rely heavily on payment deferrals. His one major budget proposal for K-12 education is a $2.1 billion deferral. In this report, we track the state's increased use of deferrals, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of deferrals, and highlight several other major factors the Legislature should consider as it decides whether to approve additional K-12 deferrals.
California’s Fiscal Outlook: Proposition 98 Briefing
- Format:
November 10, 2010 - California's Fiscal Outlook: Proposition 98 stakeholder briefing.
AB 3632 Program Funding
- Format:
June 14, 2010 - Presented to The Conference Committee on the Budget
Comparing Proposition 98 Budget Plans
- Format:
June 14, 2010 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee
Federal Enhancing Education Through Technology Program (Page 24)
- Format:
June 14, 2010 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee
State’s 45 K-12 Mandates Generate Substantial Costs (Page 16)
- Format:
June 14, 2010 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee
Federal School Improvement Funds (Page 23)
- Format:
June 14, 2010 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee