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

Mar 18, 2026 - This  shift would free up the SBE to focus on broader policy issues while making state administrative functions more efficient. Considering Adding Legislative Appointees to the SBE. The Legislature could consider adding two legislative appointees to the SBE.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5165

The 2026-27 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool

Mar 19, 2026 - Figure 2 shows the total number of subsidized child care slots, as well as total funding, since 2018‑19. Statutory intent language associated with the multiyear agreement would require an additional 44,000 slots in 2026‑27 and 33,000 in 2027‑28.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5168

The 2026-27 Budget: K-12 Proposals

Feb 19, 2026 - Frees Up Current Funding for Extension Grants. Trailer legislation proposes to free up the $485  million allocated in prior budgets that is set aside for the two ‑year extension grants. Current community schools grantees would no longer be required to submit requests for extensions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5131

Assessing a Shift to Enrollment-Based School Funding

Jan 6, 2026 - Assessing a Shift to Enrollment-Based School Funding Share of Increase Coming From Base 80% — 36% Alternatives 2 and 3 Provide More Targeted Funding to Support High ‑Needs Students. As Figure   18 shows, compared to enrollment ‑based funding and alternative 1, alternatives 2  and  3 provide more of the funding increases through grants targeted for English learners, low ‑income students, and foster youth.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5100

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

Feb 4, 2026 - Instead, we recommend (1)  making a larger deposit into the Proposition  98 Reserve, and (2)  adopting trailer legislation that automatically reduces the deposit if the 2025 ‑26 guarantee declines relative to May estimates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5110