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

Mar 18, 2026 - Despite these calls for reform, the state continues to operate with the same basic structure it established more than 100 years ago. The Governor ’s proposal provides an opportunity to consider structural changes that would address some of these longstanding critiques.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5165

The 2026-27 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool

Mar 19, 2026 - As a result of the pandemic, State Preschool enrollment experienced a significant decline of roughly 65,000 students in 2020 (Figure 3). While enrollment has increased since 2020, it remains significantly below pre‑pandemic levels.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5168

The 2025-26 Budget: Transitional Kindergarten

Feb 18, 2025 - Figure 3
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4968

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

Feb 4, 2026 - 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 - 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 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

Nov 10, 2025 - The grant size is based on a school ’s TK-3 enrollment, with a minimum grant of $450,000. The remaining $15  million will be awarded to a COE to provide training to literacy coaches throughout the state.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5087

The 2025-26 Budget: School Nutrition

Mar 4, 2025 - School Food Best Practices Fund ($100   Million). The 2022 ‑23 budget package provided $100  million for LEAs to implement various initiatives referred to as school food best practices. Specifically, LEAs could use funds to (1)  purchase California ‑grown or produced foods that are sustainably grown, whole, or minimally processed; (2)  purchase plant ‑based or restricted diet meals; and/or (3)  freshly prepare meals on ‑site.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5001

The 2026-27 Budget: Fiscal Outlook for Schools and Community Colleges

Nov 19, 2025 - These estimates are above the historical average of about 3  percent per year. The cost of covering the COLA in these years would be $3.9  billion, $4.3  billion, and $4.7  billion, respectively. These projections should be interpreted with caution, as the final rates often differ significantly from the initial estimates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5093

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Child Care and State Preschool

Sep 26, 2024 - This amount would increase the overall number of subsidized child care slots by about 3  percent and reflects new awards issued this spring from a request for applications process administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4932

The 2025-26 Budget: Educator Workforce

Mar 7, 2025 - Provides $100   Million for National Board Program. The Governor proposes $100  million in one ‑time Proposition  98 funding for the National Board Program. Of the total amount, $90  million is to continue awarding annual grants of $5,000 to teachers who achieve the National Board certification and teach in a priority school.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5012