School Construction Bonds

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

August 1, 2018

California districts can renovate, build kindergarten classrooms with help from new funding

There is $100 million in new state funds to help districts build and renovate classrooms to expand full-day kindergarten. The funds are available to all districts but priority will be given to districts that are struggling financially.

Ashley Hopkinson

February 9, 2017

Gov. Brown agrees to issue first school bonds this fall

The governor, who opposed Prop. 51, will get the oversight changes he wanted.

John Fensterwald

January 10, 2017

Governor proposes minimal funding increase for K-12 schools next year

Gov. Jerry Brown is also demanding improved auditing before floating school construction bonds.

John Fensterwald

December 18, 2016

Brown exploring if new bond measure can be divvied up differently

Districts are worried the governor will slow down distribution of Proposition 51's matching funds.

John Fensterwald

November 10, 2016

Districts pass $23 billion in construction bonds, most parcel taxes

By approving local bonds, districts will be eligible for matching money from $9 billion state bond under Prop 51.

John Fensterwald

November 9, 2016

Voters back all three education initiatives on California ballot

State propositions extend tax on wealthy residents, fund a $9 billion construction bond and repeal English-only instruction law.

Theresa Harrington, John Fensterwald, And Ashley Hopkinson

September 21, 2016

$9 billion California school bond struggling to gain support, poll says

Backers of extending the tax on wealthy residents also have yet to seal the deal.

John Fensterwald

November 30, 2015

Study: State should increase, overhaul school construction bonds

A $9 billion bond is on the 2016 ballot, but the governor opposes more debt.

John Fensterwald

January 21, 2015

Brown, districts at odds over school construction bonds

Gov. Jerry Brown wants the state to cease issuing K-12 construction bonds, leaving school districts to pay the tab to build schools. A coalition of districts and the building industry says it will put a $9 billion bond before voters next year.

John Fensterwald

August 14, 2014

School bond moves on to uncertain fate

Update: After a week in legislative limbo, a bill that would have placed a $4.3 billion school construction bond on the November ballot is now officially dead. With a veto by Gov. Jerry Brown likely, Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, pulled AB 2235.

John Fensterwald