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Michael Kirst
Local Control Funding Formula
May 9, 2023

Michael Kirst on 10 years of local control funding: What has worked and what remains to be done

Co-author of California's school funding formula, which emphasizes local control, is pleased the law is largely intact but says high-poverty schools need more classroom resources.

John Fensterwald
California Student Journalism Corps 
November 29, 2022

California college students have their own ideas on diversifying campuses

College students respond to the question “How do you think California’s colleges and universities can build more diverse student populations without considering race in the admissions process?”

The California Student Journalism Corps
People
November 7, 2022

New biography examines Michael Kirst's impact on public education in California and beyond

Kirst , who was president of the State Board of Education for all four of Jerry Brown’s terms as governor, co-authored the Local Control Funding Formula.

John Fensterwald
School Finance
June 22, 2022

California Prop. 13’s 'unjust legacy' detailed in critical study

Study recommends no specific fix to 1978 property tax limit initiative, but the Opportunity Institute and Pivot Learning cite many reasons to consider reforms.

John Fensterwald
Elections and Education
September 8, 2021

Could a recall-elected Republican governor really shake up K-12 schools?

A supermajority in the Legislature would rein in a new governor, who'd also face long odds on the big prize: selling a voucher initiative next year.

John Fensterwald
School Finance
June 4, 2021

California's K-12 funding formula likely to change, but disagreement over how

Gov. Newsom, legislative leaders agree to add $1.1 billion to the Local Control Funding Formula but not on who gets priority for the money.

John Fensterwald
State Board of Education
September 11, 2020

Gov. Newsom names attorney for dual role as adviser, state education board executive director

Allen has been a civil rights lawyer and deputy education policy director. He’ll juggle two jobs serving both Newsom and the state board.

John Fensterwald
Commentary
March 18, 2020

UC Regents should consider impact of college admissions tests on public schools

UC admissions requirements should align closely with California's K-12 curriculum standards.

Michael Kirst and Saul Geiser
Testing and Accountability
October 9, 2019

Slow growth, big disparities after 5 years of Smarter Balanced tests

Average scores have been rising in English language arts, but dropping in math as students progress through middle and high school — a cause for worry.

John Fensterwald And Daniel J. Willis
Commentary
September 6, 2019

Q&A with Michael Kirst: Single rating for schools ‘just too simplistic’

Former State Board of Education president says that there is strong support in California for the California School Dashboard.

Louis Freedberg
Podcast
September 6, 2019

Debating the merits of ranking schools; finding funding to repair them

This week: We interview Michael Kirst, the former president of the State Board of Education, about why adopting a ranking system for district and charter schools can be arbitrary and unhelpful; and we also discuss the possibility of a state construction bond for K-12 and community college facilities on the March 2020 ballot.

EdSource staff
Local Control Funding Formula
August 8, 2019

Smaller classes, more novice teachers: the 'tradeoff‘ for low-income California schools

A new study overcomes challenges from a lack of transparency to compare schools' spending under the Local Control Funding Formula.

John Fensterwald
Podcast
January 11, 2019

Episode 89: Mike Kirst reflects on his years on the State Board of Education

This week, we play an excerpt of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond's inaugural remarks, and our exit interview with Michael Kirst, who is stepping down as president of the State Board of Education.

EdSource staff
State Education Policy
January 8, 2019

Michael Kirst's parting advice: more teacher and principal training is critical to success of local control

In an exit interview, retiring state board President Michael Kirst urges more attention to professional development for teachers and principals, discusses the need for more school funding, an expanded school database and a new agency focused on children's needs.

John Fensterwald
Commentary
January 7, 2019

State board of education president, and governor’s ally, leaves mark on California education

Michael Kirst has helped lead the state through significant education reforms.

Dick Jung