Policy & Finance

Topic

Elections and Education

Elections have a major impact on California education. Voters have passed ballot measures such as Proposition 98 in 1988, which set the level of state education funding, and Proposition 227 in 1998, which banned bilingual education until voters reversed the ban with Prop. 58 in 2016. Voters also elect the state superintendent of public instruction and local school board members for the state’s nearly 1,000 districts. Perhaps most significantly, they elect governors who have the most control over what happens to education in terms of funding, in appointing members to the State Board of Education and to the UC Board of Regents and the CSU Board of Trustees.

July 9, 2020

Seeking guidance for reopening schools?

Here’s what has been issued so far from the state, county offices and other agencies.

EdSource staff

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

April 23, 2020

Parents worrying about coronavirus’ toll on children's learning, survey finds

PPIC annual poll finds parents are satisfied with how districts closed schools and how Gov. Newsom has handled K-12 education.

John Fensterwald

March 27, 2020

Mixed results for California child care ballot measures in final count

For one measure, a question remains over whether a citizens initiative needs a two-thirds vote or a simple majority.

Zaidee Stavely

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 6, 2020

Local child care and preschool measures in California in limbo until more votes counted

Alameda County may choose to wait to begin collecting the new sales tax until legal challenges involving other initiatives are resolved.

Zaidee Stavely

March 6, 2020

Why bond and tax measures to bolster California schools struggled to pass at the polls

School districts have turned to parcel taxes in recent years to raise money for school programs, class-size reduction and teacher salaries.

Carolyn Jones And Diana Lambert

March 4, 2020

Los Angeles school board races appear headed for runoff elections

Jackie Goldberg is headed toward reelection to the Los Angeles school board, but two other races likely won't be decided until the fall.

Michael Burke

March 4, 2020

Vote still out on three measures to build California teacher housing

East Side Union High, Chula Vista Elementary and Soledad Unified school districts had votes short of 55 percent needed to claim victory. Mail-in and final votes being counted.

Diana Lambert

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

February 28, 2020

Four California school districts ask voters to pay for teacher and staff housing

On March 3 four California school districts will ask California voters to tax themselves to pay for teacher housing through a general obligation bond.

Diana Lambert

February 27, 2020

Building better schools and colleges: Californians argue for and against Prop. 13 on March 3, 2020 ballot

Proponents and opponents of the $15 billion state bond measure for K-12 and higher education facilities funding, share their views.

Guest authors

February 26, 2020

Charter school politics still in play in LA Unified school board elections

A majority of school board seats in Los Angeles are on the ballot next week in a crucial election for the state’s largest school district.

Michael Burke

February 24, 2020

On Education: What Democratic presidential candidates are promising

The summary lays out the key education positions of eight Democratic candidates on the primary ballot.

EdSource staff

February 20, 2020

Voters in some California communities will be called on to pay for more child care

Alameda County, Sacramento and Emeryville all have measures on the ballot that would either generate or set aside funds for child care.