Policy & Finance

Topic

Elections and Education

Elections have a major impact on California education. Voters have passed ballot measures that set the level of state education funding. They banned bilingual education and later reversed that ban. Voters elect the state superintendent of public instruction and local school board members. And they elect governors who have power over school funding, appointing members to the State Board of Education and to the UC Board of Regents and the CSU Board of Trustees.

November 24, 2020

Biden’s nominee for homeland security chief likely to change immigration policies affecting children and youth

Alejandro Mayorkas’ background as a refugee from Cuba shapes his views on immigration policies.

Louis Freedberg

Elections and Education

November 11, 2020

Defeat of Prop. 15 to raise commercial property taxes denies schools more revenue

The first major challenge to Prop. 13’s limit on property taxes would have provided an estimated $2.5 billion to $4.5 billion annually for K-12 schools and community colleges.

John Fensterwald

College & Careers

November 10, 2020

Community colleges find an advocate in future First Lady Jill Biden

When she moves into the White House, Jill Biden will make history as the first First Lady to hold a job outside the White House — as a community college English professor.

Ashley A. Smith

School Finance

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

Legislation

November 5, 2020

Unclear ballot language, lack of time to connect with voters explain affirmative action loss, backers say

Confusing ballot language, lack of time to get a clear message to voters and misreading public support contributed to the decisive loss of Prop. 16

Thomas Peele

Elections and Education

November 4, 2020

One incumbent, one newcomer on track to win pivotal school board races in Los Angeles

The next school board will be seated in December and likely have one new face: Tanya Ortiz Franklin, a former teacher.

Michael Burke

Elections and Education

November 3, 2020

California’s Proposition 15, to raise commercial property taxes, in tight race

The first effort in 42 years to change Prop. 13 would provide $2.6 billion to $4.6 billion for K-12 schools and community colleges.

John Fensterwald

College Readiness

November 3, 2020

California voters rejecting Proposition 16 to restore affirmative action

With 100% of the precincts reporting, voters are rejecting return of affirmative action in California. At least several million mail-in, provisional and same-day registration ballots were still being counted.

Thomas Peele

Elections and Education

November 3, 2020

Live election results for Propositions 15, 16 and 18

Three measures on the California ballot for the Nov. 3 election have implications for California’s public education system and young people.

Yuxuan Xie

Federal Education Policy

November 3, 2020

Biden’s exhaustive education agenda — and Trump’s skimpy one — get short shrift during long campaign

Focus on Donald Trump and pandemic meant that Biden’s many education proposals got little airing during the campaign.

Louis Freedberg

Elections and Education

October 30, 2020

Yes on Prop. 16 has big fundraising lead in effort to restore affirmative action in California

Despite being outspent, the No on Prop. 16 campaign is leading in at least one statewide poll.

Thomas Peele And Daniel J. Willis

Investigation

October 29, 2020

Dropping affirmative action had huge impact on California’s public universities

When California voters in 1996 rejected affirmative action, CSU and UC could no longer consider race and ethnicity in admissions, making a huge impact on the public universities.