EXPLORE: Weekly PodcastCA State Supt. of Schools RaceGetting Down to FactsTainted Taps
Reforms
Topic

Local Control Funding Formula

California has reformed its system of school financing by introducing the Local Control Funding Formula. The formula, which requires districts to draw up a Local Control and Accountability Plan, grants more decision-making powers to school districts, and also gives additional state funds to districts based on the number of low-income students, English learners, foster children and homeless youth they serve.
October 11, 2018

California Department of Education limited in ability to help districts improve, report says

Louis Freedberg And John Fensterwald
September 30, 2018

The case for spending a lot more on California schools

Two panels of teachers and principals were asked to design minimal staffing, programs and resources to meet state expectations for educating all students in California. Their finding: Add $22 billion to the tab.

John Fensterwald
September 17, 2018

Multifaceted reforms needed to reach California’s education goals, research project finds

Getting Down to Facts II finds strong support for education reforms but also obstacles to student achievement and a need for more funding.

John Fensterwald
September 17, 2018

Essential Guide to Getting Down to Facts II

Here are the take-aways from the studies on special education, funding needs, a teacher shortage, a data deficit, student mental health local control's unmet potential – and more.

John Fensterwald, Daniel J. Willis, Yuxuan Xie, And Justin Allen
September 17, 2018

Ten years on, California is making progress but must do more for preK-12 education

Getting Down to Facts II research project scrutinized how California's schools are doing after a decade of policy changes.

Susanna Loeb
September 6, 2018

California to add chronic absenteeism, career/college indicators to education 'dashboard'

The State Board of Education has no answer to a basic question: Should the state measure readiness for 'college and careers' or 'college or careers'?

John Fensterwald
September 4, 2018

New ‘friendlier’ look coming for California’s school dashboard

Complaints that the state education data web site was too difficult to understand led to redesigned version.

John Fensterwald
August 28, 2018

Gates Foundation's new school initiative awards big grants to California nonprofits

Foundation is funding school and district networks to heighten middle and high school success for low-income African American and Latino students. Six California-based organizations will receive $40 million out of $92 million awarded nationwide.

John Fensterwald And Louis Freedberg
August 1, 2018

Many charter schools fail to disclose spending on low-income students, report says

Out of 70 LCAPs selected, Public Advocates couldn’t find 27 online and most of the 43 reviewed lacked key spending data and evidence of parent involvement.

John Fensterwald
July 24, 2018

Complaint spurs Bay Area district to provide parents with more timely accountability data

West Contra Costa Unified will give community committee updated information by November, according to settlement agreement.

Theresa Harrington
June 27, 2018

California superintendents give mixed reviews of funding formula at year 5

A comprehensive survey of superintendents' views of the Local Control Funding Formula reveals support for extra money for low-income students and finds districts struggle to engage parents.

John Fensterwald
June 25, 2018

Network of California districts to explore the elusive goal of engaging parents

The 2018-19 state budget includes $13.3 million to create a network in which teams of parents, teachers and district administrators will identify ways to listen to and act on advice from the community.

John Fensterwald
June 20, 2018

California budget deal includes extra funding for students with lowest test scores

Persistence pays off for Assemblywoman Shirley Weber with a compromise resulting in $300 million in one-time spending.

John Fensterwald
June 14, 2018

California lawmakers approve 2018-19 state budget: how schools, colleges will fare

There's enough new money to "fully fund" the Local Control Funding Formula and stave off UC and CSU tuition increases.

John Fensterwald, Yuxuan Xie, Mikhail Zinshteyn, And Justin Allen
June 5, 2018

LA Unified not directing enough money to help low-income students, report charges

The rising costs of health care and pensions stand in the way of meeting the promise of the funding formula, says the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

John Fensterwald