The 2023-24 Budget: Fiscal Outlook for Schools and Community Colleges

Nov 16, 2022 - One reason the state might consider this option is that the surge in energy prices appears to be responsible for a notable portion (likely at least 2  percentage points) of the high COLA rate. Although district energy costs are likely up too, these costs typically account for a small share of district budgets.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4648

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

Nov 19, 2025 - Community college enrollment has increased in recent years, likely due to several factors including regional demographic growth, rising unemployment, and the expansion of high school dual enrollment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5093

Update on the Progress of the CalSTRS Funding Plan

Nov 18, 2021 - At the same time, 2020-21 likely will be another year when growth in teacher payroll falls below CalSTRS ’ assumed annual rate of 3.5 percent. This anticipated lower payroll growth likely will be driven by continued higher teacher retirement rates in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4475

The 2025-26 Budget: Educator Workforce

Mar 7, 2025 - Elementary school teachers likely benefit most from the subject matter expertise of a math coach, as they typically do not have the same level of subject matter expertise as middle and high school math teachers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5012

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

Mar 18, 2026 - Like other state offices, the SPI can serve up to two terms. The SPI ’s primary responsibility is managing CDE (described below). The law also makes the SPI a nonvoting “executive officer ” of the SBE.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5165

Assessing a Shift to Enrollment-Based School Funding

Jan 6, 2026 - Overall, our analysis finds that shifting to enrollment ‑based funding would be somewhat more predictable and reduce some administrative burdens for LEAs, but likely would have a negative effect on student attendance over the long run.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5100

The 2026-27 Budget: K-12 Proposals

Feb 19, 2026 - Set More Specific Time Lines Around Accreditation Process. In addition to setting an earlier date for when accreditation would begin, we recommend establishing time lines for key milestones associated with the development of the accreditation process.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5131

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

Feb 4, 2026 - This scenario poses a risk to the state budget, which likely cannot afford to spend beyond the guarantee. The second challenge concerns future deficits. Chronic deficits like the ones projected by the administration and our office in crease the likelihood that the state will (1)  be unable to sustain its current priorities, (2)  lack funding to address new priorities in the future, and/or (3)  face a fiscal crisis if revenues decline significantly.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5110

The 2026-27 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool

Mar 19, 2026 - The administration has yet to provide key details, such as grant amounts, the allowable uses of funding, and time lines for when funding would be awarded. We recommend the Legislature request additional information from the administration regarding key elements of the infrastructure grant proposal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5168

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

Nov 10, 2025 - The budget provides $20  million for the Sacramento COE to award competitive grants to LEAs participating in the first three fee schedule cohorts of the CYBHI school-linked statewide fee schedule. This schedule was developed by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) as part of the CYBHI to standardize reimbursement rates for behavioral health services provided to children
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5087