The 2026-27 Budget: Re-Envisioning State Education Governance

Mar 18, 2026 - Adopt Proposals to Give the SPI Voting Rights on SBE and Community College Governing Board. We recommend adopting the proposals to make the SPI a voting member of the SBE and Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5165

The 2026-27 Budget: Re-Envisioning State Education Governance [Publication Details]

Mar 18, 2026 - In this brief, we examine the Governor’s proposal to restructure state governance. The first section explains how the current system evolved and describes the main entities and their responsibilities. The second section reviews previous governance studies and explains how governance works in other contexts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5165

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 98 Guarantee and K-12 Spending Plan

Feb 4, 2026 - The state has multiple tools that can make school and community college programs more resilient against risk and volatility. The Proposition  98 reserve is particularly powerful because it (1)  can be accessed relatively quickly, (2)  can support any school or community college activities, and (3)  avoids disrupting district cash flow (unlike payment deferrals).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5110

Assessing a Shift to Enrollment-Based School Funding

Jan 6, 2026 - Based on conversations with the State Board of Education, our understanding is that the state excluded high school absenteeism rates as part of its negotiations with the federal government to ensure compliance with federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirements.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5100

The 2026-27 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool

Mar 19, 2026 - State Preschool programs offered by LEAs —school districts, county offices of education, community college districts, and certain charter schools —are funded with Proposition  98 General Fund. Those programs offered by non ‑LEA providers (community ‑based organizations, county welfare departments, and cities) are funded with non ‑Proposition  98 General  Fund.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5168

The 2026-27 Budget: K-12 Proposals

Feb 19, 2026 - Trailer legislation provides CDE discretion to determine contract terms, including duration, for each technical assistance center, subject to approval by the State Board of Education. The administration has indicated their intent is that any current S ‑TAC or R ‑TAC that applies and receives funding would receive this funding in addition to their contracted amounts from one ‑time community schools funding.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5131