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LAO 2008-09 Budget Analysis: Education TOC
Analysis of the 2008-09 Budget Bill
Education Issue-By-Issue Contents
Proposition 98
Introduction: Proposition 98
Background
Governor’s Budget Proposal
Compared to Current Year
Compared to Minimum Guarantee
Compared to Workload Budget
Effect of Reductions on K–14 Education
Additional One–Time Funds for K–14 Education
Outline
Proposition 98 Priorities
Alternative Takes Different Approach to Building Proposition 98 Budget
Alternative Achieves More Than $200 Million in Program Savings
Alternative Taps Other K–14 Savings
Alternative Includes Major Categorical Reform Component
Various Factors Affect Minimum Guarantee in Budget Year
Conclusion
Proposition 98 Technical Update
Proposition 98 Forecasts
Prior Year
Current Year
Budget Year
Suspending Proposition 98
Local Property Tax Revenue
Other Proposition 98 Funding Issues
Proposition 98 Settle–Up Obligations
Chapter 751
Mandates
Deferrals
Deficit Factor
Maintenance Factor
COLA
Current COLA Index Not a Good Measure of Typical School Cost Pressures
Governor’s Proposed COLA Not Based on Employer Costs
Modify Current COLA Index to Better Reflect School Costs
Comparing K–12 COLA Options Over Time
Conclusion
If Legislature Creates a Deficit Factor in 2008–09, Budget–Year COLA Rate Would Have Out–Year Fiscal Effect
K-12 Education
Introduction: K-12 Education
Overview of K–12 Education Funding
Governor’s K–12 Proposition 98 Proposal
Proposition 98 Spending by Major Program
Enrollment Trends
Per–Pupil Funding
Calculating PPF
Comparing PPF Across States
Comparing PPF in California Over Time
K–12 Categorical Reform
Reform Would Help Districts and Schools
Some Categorical Programs May Be Necessary
Many Options for Improving System
Pupil–Weighted Formula
Block Grants
Program Clusters
Simplify State Funding System
Create a New Base Grant
Consolidate Special Education Funding
An Opportunity to Learn Grant
An Expanded School Improvement Grant
Conclusion
Child Care and Development
Child Care and Development Programs
Child Care and Development Programs
Support Activities and Services
Types of Non–CalWORKs Child Care
Two Types of Service Models
State Median Income (SMI) Impacts Families and Providers
State Needs to Address Underlying Budget Problem
Special Education
Governor’s Proposal Violates Federal Maintenance–of–Effort Requirement
Federal Waiver Possible but Unlikely
Adult Education
Align Funding With Population Growth
After School Programs
After School Programs Available Kindergarten Through High School
The ASES Program Serves Elementary and Middle School Students
The 21st Century Program Primarily Serves High School Students
Open Issues Remain for ASES
Expand Governor’s Reform Proposal and Eliminate Autopilot Spending
K–12 Mandates
Mandate Funding Is Part of the Base
Commission Approves Two New Mandates
CSM Decision Misses Offsetting Savings
Develop “Unit Costs” for New Mandates
Are Stull Act Evaluations Worth the Money?
Federal Funds
The CDE Currently Tracks Numerous Pots of Federal Funds
Two Annual Reports Could Improve Budget Process
School Facilities
School Facilities Program
Strategic Growth Plan
Concerns With Governor’s Plan
Virtually Impossible to Assess Statewide Need For Additional Bonds
Different Approach Needed for Financial Hardship Program
Charter School Facilities
Grant Programs for Charter School Facilities
Bond Programs for Charter School Facilities
Charter Schools Face Many Roadblocks to Constructing Facilities
Governor’s Charter School Proposals Moving in Right Direction
Further Improvements Could Be Made for Funding Charter School Facilities
California State Teachers’ Retirement System (1920)
System’s Funded Status Improved in Most Recent Valuation
Proposal to Delay Court–Ordered Interest Payment Is Risky
Recommend That Legislature Again Reject Plan to Guarantee Teacher Benefit
Recommend Applying Commission’s Independent Performance Audit Recommendation to CalSTRS
Other Issues
Eliminate Physical Education Teacher Incentive Grants
Eliminate Duplicative School Safety Grants
Phase Out Year Round Schools Grant Program
Reduce STAR Testing
Use Federal Funds for CalPADS
Higher Education
Introduction: Higher Education
Total Higher Education Budget Proposal
Major Funding Changes by Segment
Enrollment
Student Fee
Financial Aid
Capital Outlay
Intersegmental: Governor’s Budget Solutions
Two Perspectives on the Budget Solutions
UC and CSU
CCC
UC and CSU Budgets Start With Compact
CSAC
LAO Assessment
Intersegmental: LAO Alternative Budget Proposal
Accommodating Enrollment Growth
Recent Enrollment Trends
Governor’s Proposal Would Not Ensure Growth Is Accommodated
Fund Enrollment Growth to Accommodate Projected Increase
Adjustments to Base Budget
Responding to Price Increases
Reduce Funding for Administrative Costs
Maintaining Affordability for Students
Student Fees Contribute Toward Education Costs
LAO Findings and Reccomendations on Student Fees
Governor’s Budget Envisions Unspecified Fee Increases for University Students
Recommend Specific, Moderate Fee Increases
Recommend Corresponding Increases to Financial Aid
Conclusion
Intersegmental: Addressing the Local Impacts of Campus Growth
Campus Planning and the Environmental Review Process
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Required for Each Campus Plan
CEQA’s Mitigation Requirements
What Is a Significant and Unavoidable Impact?
The Marina v. CSU Board of Trustees Decision
Implications of the Marina Decision
How Does the Marina Decision Affect CSU?
What Is a Fair Share?
How Does the Marina Decision Affect the Other Higher Education Segments?
How Does the Marina Decision Affect Other State–Funded Projects?
Policy Issues
Assessing the Need for Enrollment Growth
Both Demographic Changes and Policy Choices Affect Enrollment Growth
Accommodating Growth with Existing Resources
Clarifying Legal Issues Concerning CEQA and Campus Plans
What Is an Appropriate Arrangement for a Fair–Share Payment?
How Should the Legislature Respond to CSU’s Off–Site Mitigation Policy?
How Should CCC and K–12 Practices Relate to CEQA?
Appropriating Mitigation Funding
What Is the Appropriate Payment Source?
When Should Mitigation Costs Be Identified?
When Should Payments Be Made?
Conclusion
University of California (6440)
General Fund Proposals
Student Fee Increases
Intersegmental Issues Involving UC
Transportation Research Initiative
Capital Outlay
Implementation of Proposition 1D
The Governor’s 2008–09 Proposal
Use Remaining Bond Funds to Finish Existing Projects
Authorized Amount of the 2008 Bond Should Match State’s Commitments
Four Projects Initiated Without Legislature’s Review and Approval
California State University (6610)
General Fund Proposals
Student Fee Increases
Intersegmental issues involving CSU
CSU Capital Outlay
Implementation of Proposition 1D
The Governor’s 2008–09 Proposal
Use Remaining Bond Funds to Finish High–Priority Projects
Authorized Amount of the 2008 Bond Should Match State’s Commitments
Sacramento: Science II, Phase 2
Chico: Taylor II Replacement Building
California Community Colleges (6870)
CCC Budget Overview
Major Budget Changes
Proposition 98 Spending by Major Program
Student Fees
Overview of CCC Alternative Budget
Enrollment Levels and Funding
Recent Trends
2008–09 Enrollment Growth Funding
Enrollment Restoration
California Community Colleges’ Budget Starts With Workload Estimate
Student Fees
Fee Decisions Affect College Funding, Student Choices, and Outcomes
Recommend Restoration of 2006 Fee Level
Community College Categorical Programs
Proposed Budget–Year Cuts to CCC Categorical Programs
Recommend Reducing Support for Economic Development Program
Categorical Reform
Recommend Consolidating Categoricals Into Block Grants
Other Issues
CCC Chancellor’s Office
CCC Capital Outlay
Implementation of Proposition 1D
2008 Bond Proposal
CCC Chancellor’s Office Oversight of Capital Outlay Projects
California Student Aid Commission (7980)
Budget Proposals
Cal Grant Programs
Reduce Funding Based on Lower Recommended Fee Increases
Recommend Retaining Competitive Program
Planned EdFund Sale and Impact on Administrative Operations