Assessing a Shift to Enrollment-Based School Funding

Jan 6, 2026 - Including high school absenteeism rates on the dashboard would have resulted in a larger imbalance of high school indicators compared with elementary school indicators. Under the state ’s current ESSA plan, the state has two indicators that only apply to high schools (graduation rates and the College and Career Indicator) and one that only applies to elementary schools (chronic absenteeism).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5100

The 2026-27 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool

Mar 19, 2026 - In October 2024, State Preschool enrollment was roughly 40,000 students lower than October 2019 enrollment. Since the pandemic, the state has held providers harmless from enrollment declines. The hold harmless is set to expire June 30, 2026.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5168

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

Feb 4, 2026 - The administration indicates that the purpose of the proposal is “to mitigate the risk of potentially appropriating more resources to the Guarantee than are ultimately available in the final calculation for 2025 ‑26. ” The budget does not specify when the state would make this payment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5110

The 2026-27 Budget: K-12 Proposals

Feb 19, 2026 - For new community schools grantees, the administration indicates annual reporting requirements would begin in 2029 ‑30, when they will be required to submit an implementation plan by December 31, 2029.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5131