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

Mar 18, 2026 - All six studies concluded the state ’s governance model had fundamental shortcomings and could be improved. The studies also generally agreed on the core problems. Specifically, they identified three main issues: Unclear Lines of Accountability.
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: 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: 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: 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