February 9, 2021

Gov. Newsom calls for closing big ‘loophole’ in school funding for high-needs students

Districts have carried over unspent money intended for high-needs students to use however they want. The governor says the practice must end.

John Fensterwald

January 15, 2021

Investing in college success: Perspectives on Gov. Newsom’s higher ed budget

Leaders representing all segments of California's education system share their reactions to the governor’s budget proposals.

Andrew Reed

January 13, 2021

In the right direction? Perspectives on Gov. Newsom’s education budget

Leaders representing all segments of California’s education system share their reactions to the governor’s early education and K-12 budget proposals.

Andrew Reed

October 14, 2020

California governor’s Supreme Court nominee wrote opinion derailing adequate school funding case

As an appellate judge, Martin Jenkins concluded the state Constitution doesn’t require minimum funding for schools; that’s for lawmakers to determine.

John Fensterwald

September 30, 2020

Quick Guide: Proposition 15, the proposed ‘split-roll’ tax on commercial property, defeated

Big corporate property owners would pay the bulk of new taxes; opponents claim costs would be borne by small business renters.

John Fensterwald

September 16, 2020

First big reform of California’s education funding law awaits governor’s signature

The bill, favored by student rights groups, would end a “loophole” allowing districts to freely use unspent money intended for “high-needs” students.

John Fensterwald

July 22, 2020

Quick Guide: How has the pandemic altered California’s school accountability reforms?

California has put on hold most aspects of its school accountability system. Learn more about how the state is handling accountability during the coronavirus pandemic.

EdSource Staff

June 12, 2020

No deal yet on California school funding; Legislature ready to pass its own budget

Gov. Newsom would cut $6.4 billion in school funding if Congress doesn’t deliver more stimulus aid. The Legislature would issue more IOUs to schools instead.

John Fensterwald

June 5, 2020

Gov. Newsom won’t bend on directing billions to low-income students’ learning loss

The governor and the Legislature are at odds over how to distribute federal coronavirus relief; Newsom cites growing achievement gap.

John Fensterwald

June 3, 2020

DATABASE: Federal aid helps some California schools more than others under governor's plan

Federal stimulus funding is coming to the aid of California’s school districts. An EdSource analysis projects that of the 897 districts that receive their funding through the state’s education funding formula, 60.4 percent would get more in stimulus funding than they’d lose in state cuts.

Daniel J. Willis

June 3, 2020

Most California districts would get more in federal aid than they’d lose in budget cuts

Districts are anticipating billions more in unfunded costs to reopen schools. They want some of the money they'll need to be distributed more evenly than Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes.

John Fensterwald And Daniel J. Willis

May 28, 2020

Cash-strapped Bay Area school district braces for cuts in state funding

With funding shortfalls on the horizon and higher costs due to the pandemic, district officials fear that more difficult choices are ahead.

Ali Tadayon

May 22, 2020

California districts could pursue teacher layoffs if new state budget cuts K-12 funding

School districts can do a second round of layoffs if K-12 funding increases less than 2%. CTA will ask the Legislature to prevent it.

John Fensterwald

May 19, 2020

Six urban California districts say proposed budget cuts will set back restarting school

Superintendents argue that uncertainty and the higher costs of Covid-19, combined with a 10% cut in general funding, require increased funding.

John Fensterwald

May 7, 2020

California school funding formula has a spending loophole; is a recession the time to fix it?

School districts argue budget cuts warrant spending flexibility; equity advocates argue high-needs students need resources they're entitled to.

John Fensterwald