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
Natalie Gonzalez
(916) 319-8320
California State University, Student Financial Aid
Dylan Hawksworth-Lutzow
(916) 319-8308
Child Care, Expanded Learning, Teachers, and Education Technology
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.



Post

The 2017-18 Budget: Overview of the Governor’s Proposition 98 Budget Package

January 13, 2017 - On January 10, 2017, the Governor presented his Proposition 98 budget package to the Legislature. In this post, we provide an overview and initial assessment of the package.


Other

EdBudget Tables (January 2017)

January 13, 2017 - At key times during the state's budget cycle, we post tables containing important information about the education parts of the budget. This initial January posting reflects the 2017-18 Governor's Budget proposals. The tables cover Proposition 98, K-12 education, child care and preschool, higher education, and student financial aid. We will publish additional tables as we have them available.


Presentation

California's Fiscal Outlook: CSBA Presentation

December 5, 2016 - Presented to: California School Boards Association


Presentation

California's Fiscal Outlook (CASBO Presentation)

November 17, 2016 - Presented to: California Association of School Business Officials


Report

Improving Education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in California

September 21, 2016 - California opened its first school for the deaf in 1860, long before it established most other forms of special education. Today, we estimate California spends more than $400 million a year to educate approximately 14,000 students who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). On a per–student basis, California spends substantially more to educate DHH students than other groups of children, including students with various other disabilities. Despite California’s long experience with and relatively large expenditures on DHH students, these students continue to lag far behind their hearing peers on statewide assessments of reading and math. In this report, we undertake a comprehensive review of DHH education in California. We begin by describing the state’s current approach to DHH education, then identify several major shortcomings with this approach, and conclude by making recommendations to address the shortcomings.


Handout

Overview of Charter Schools in California

August 3, 2016 - Presented to Senate Education Committee


Other

EdBudget Tables (July 2016)

July 14, 2016 - EdBudget Tables (July 2016)


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