School Construction Bonds

January 5, 2023

California education issues to watch in 2023 — and predictions of what might happen

2023's big questions: How much will TK-12 state funding be cut? What will the final math framework look like? Will districts find tutors, after-school staff? Will the Newsom administration act decisively on early literacy?

John Fensterwald And Yuxuan Xie

November 6, 2020

California voters pass most school construction bonds, parcel taxes on ballot

Fewer districts than in past presidential elections bet that voters would approve a tax increase during a pandemic and a recession.

John Fensterwald

October 28, 2020

California districts hoping voters will allow them to borrow $13 billion

More than 60 districts throughout California seek as little as $2 million up to $7 billion for school construction, repairs and technology.

Theresa Harrington

July 1, 2020

Oakland Unified wants voters to approve $735 million bond for school upgrades

Bond measure to be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot would cover one-fifth of the $3.4 billion need identified in a Facilities Master Plan.

Theresa Harrington

March 11, 2020

All but final: California voters reject $15 billion state school bond

One week after the March 3 election, Proposition 13 remains behind 46 to 54 percent, which appears too big a gap to make up.

John Fensterwald

March 3, 2020

California school construction bond is losing

Prop. 13 — unrelated to the better known tax cutting initiative in 1978 — would have helped K-12 districts, community colleges, CSU and UC with the cost of construction projects.

John Fensterwald

March 3, 2020

California election 2020: Democratic presidential primary and Prop. 13 school construction bond

EdSource will post the presidential primary and Prop. 13 results, by county, using our automated tracker. Check back for results.

EdSource staff

January 31, 2020

Quick Guide: What California voters need to know about proposed $15 billion school construction bond

The state bond will underwrite some construction costs of schools and universities, with extra help for low-income districts.

John Fensterwald

November 22, 2019

East Bay board agrees to ask taxpayers to vote in March to approve $575 million bond measure

The district measure will appear on the March ballot with a statewide construction bond measure that could provide matching funds to many districts.

Theresa Harrington

August 22, 2019

Oakland school board could not agree on responses to scathing grand jury report

Board will review complete draft responses Sept. 11 and must submit final responses to findings and recommendations by Sept. 19.

Theresa Harrington

June 21, 2019

Teaching districts the ABCs of charter oversight; putting a school bond on 2020 ballot

This week: We interview the executive director of CARSNet, an organization run by the Alameda County Office of  Education that offers bootcamps and tutorials in charter school responsibilities; and we talk with Kyla Johnson-Trammell, who has faced a teachers strike and possible insolvency during her first two years as Oakland Unified superintendent.

EdSource staff

April 12, 2019

Restrictions on charter school growth move forward; efforts for more fairness in school renovation funding

This week, arguments for and against the bills seeking to limit charter school growth and how state bond money for facilities could be more fairly distributed.

EdSource staff

April 12, 2019

California plan for school construction bonds sparks debate for reform

Advocates for more equitable state funding of school facilities see proposals for multi-billion dollar state construction bonds in 2020 and 2022 as a chance to make a case for changing the state formula for distributing money.

John Fensterwald

January 1, 2019

California education issues to watch in 2019 — and predictions of what will happen

Place your bets: curbs on charter schools, passage of universal preschool, more money for K-12, more teacher strikes and the resignation of Betsy DeVos; an untested governor and volatile president may affect the odds.

John Fensterwald, Yuxuan Xie, And Justin Allen

November 8, 2018

Most California school construction bonds, parcel taxes pass

Voters approved about 80 percent of 112 school facility bonds and 8 of 13 parcel but a lot of votes remain to be counted.

John Fensterwald