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

Nov 19, 2025 - In the rest of this section, we provide some options to build budget resiliency and help protect ongoing school and community college programs. Consider Eliminating Payment Deferrals ($2.3   Billion ) .
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5093

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

Feb 4, 2026 - A third option is to provide additional funding for district pension costs. The state could structure this payment to reduce pension costs over time or to provide short‑term relief if costs rise above a specified threshold.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5110

The 2025-26 Budget: Transitional Kindergarten

Feb 18, 2025 - The first option assumes TK classrooms will have 3 adults and maintain class sizes at 24  students. This option would cost $196  million less than the Governor  proposes. The  second option assumes TK classrooms decrease from 24 to 20 students and include 2  adults.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4968

Assessing a Shift to Enrollment-Based School Funding

Jan 6, 2026 - Below, we describe a few options the state could take to improve attendance under an enrollment ‑based funding model. Require Schools Take Specific Actions to Support Students Who Are at Risk of Being Chronically Absent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5100

The 2025-26 Budget: Expanded Learning Opportunities Program

Feb 20, 2025 - As  part of this option, if  serving additional students in expanded learning programs was a priority, the Legislature could allow districts to retain at least a portion of their funding if they agreed to use their ASES funding for students in grades 7 and  8.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4977

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

Feb 15, 2024 - In this section, we identify several options for further containing the growth of the school nutrition program in 2024 ‑25 and future years. These options are focused on reducing state reimbursement rates and maximizing the amount of federal funding the state receives for school meals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4839

The 2022-23 Budget: Fiscal Outlook for Schools and Community Colleges

Nov 17, 2021 - Crosscutting Options for Allocating Additional Funds. The Legislature could allocate some of the additional funding to address issues facing both schools and community colleges. We provide a few examples below, focusing on options that could mitigate future risks, costs, and  uncertainties.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4473

The 2021-22 Spending Plan: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

Oct 25, 2021 - If none of these options are feasible, a district may ask its COE for an exemption from the requirement. (COEs also are required to offer independent study. They would need to receive approval from the SPI to obtain an exemption.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4466

The 2022-23 Budget: School Nutrition

Feb 8, 2022 - Under the National School Lunch Program, schools with significant shares of FRPM ‑eligible students have several options to serve all students free meals, also known as universal meals. The federal universal meal options aim to reduce administrative burden; streamline meal service; and ensure all students have access to free, nutritious school meals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4519

The 2023-24 Budget: Proposition 98 Overview and K-12 Spending Plan

Feb 7, 2023 - The state has a few options that could reduce costs for the program. One option is to no longer assume 100  percent participation. For  example,  even a relatively modest change to assume 90  percent participation would reduce costs by approximately $400  million.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4670