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

Mar 18, 2026 - Topics could include technology use in schools, teacher training, early education, or transitions from high school to college. Reporting on the State of Education. As an independently elected public official, the SPI is uniquely positioned to report on the condition of education in the state.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5165

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

Feb 4, 2026 - Another notable adjustment is the Governor ’s proposal to make a $240  million discretionary deposit in 2025 ‑26. The reserve balance would exceed the threshold that triggers the local district reserve  cap (approximately  $3  billion).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5110

Assessing a Shift to Enrollment-Based School Funding

Jan 6, 2026 - If the Legislature is interested in providing funding increases that would disproportionally benefit LEAs with higher UPP levels, it could do so by making changes under the existing ADA ‑based model that provides higher rates for these LEAs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5100

The 2026-27 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool

Mar 19, 2026 - State Preschool Enrollment Below Pre‑Pandemic Levels as Funding Continued to Grow. As a result of the pandemic, State Preschool enrollment experienced a significant decline of roughly 65,000 students in 2020 (Figure 3).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5168

The 2026-27 Budget: K-12 Proposals

Feb 19, 2026 - Assess Funding Level for Technical Assistance Centers. The Legislature may want to assess whether the proposed funding level for technical assistance is sufficient given the increased number of schools that will be supported on an ongoing basis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5131