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Policy & Finance

California, under Gov. Jerry Brown, has shifted control over budgeting and decision-making from the state to local districts. But Sacramento – through the State Board of Education and the Legislature – and Washington, D.C., still retain authority over setting broad education and school finance policies. EdSource Today is tracking the development of the Local Control Funding Formula, California’s new school finance system, and how districts are implementing this reform.
October 18, 2018

Four communities in California turn to voters to help fund children's programs

Oakland, Richmond, Capitola and San Joaquin County all have measures on the November ballot to fund early childhood education.

Zaidee Stavely
October 16, 2018

Bay Area district faces challenges in attempt to shut down a charter school

District leaders hope state committee reviewing charter school laws will look at grounds for revoking charters and financial impact on districts.

Theresa Harrington
October 11, 2018

A future in flux: what next for the California Department of Education?

Without a lot more money, the next state superintendent of public instruction must clarify the department's role under local control.

John Fensterwald
October 11, 2018

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

Louis Freedberg And John Fensterwald
October 9, 2018

Millions more pour into race for California state superintendent of public instruction

Committees supporting Marshall Tuck and Tony Thurmond have raised $27.4 million, of which nearly $12 million came in in the last three weeks alone.

Nico Savidge
October 5, 2018

With bill signings, Gov. Brown makes his final mark on California education

A rundown of the governor’s decisions on some of the most-watched education legislation that crossed his desk this year.

David Washburn And John Fensterwald
October 3, 2018

California lieutenant governor candidates pledge to work to lower college costs

Eleni Kounalakis and Ed Hernandez want to use the lieutenant governor’s office to make college more affordable.

Nico Savidge
October 2, 2018

Amidst teacher shortage new funds help districts train more bilingual teachers

New state funds, available through The Bilingual Teacher Professional Development grants, are helping more school districts and county offices of education to increase the number of bilingual teachers in the state.

Ashley Hopkinson
October 1, 2018

Gov. Brown vetoes expansion of California’s school suspension ban

Brown's decision is a bitter disappointment for youth and civil rights advocates who have made eliminating suspensions for "disruption and defiance," which are disproportionately meted out to students of color, a priority.

David Washburn
September 30, 2018

Gov. Brown vetoes bill to let districts give SAT or ACT as 11th grade test

Dozens of districts are offering the tests at their own expense already, because scores on SAT and ACT, not Smarter Balanced, are what matters to high school juniors.

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 27, 2018

California’s persistent teacher shortage fueled by attrition, high demand, say newly released studies

The teacher shortage has worsened in recent years as state funding for education improved and districts began lowering class sizes and bringing back programs, increasing the demand for teachers, according to new studies.

Diana Lambert
September 27, 2018

California improves access to computer science courses, but still has work to do, according to new research

The Code.org Advocacy Coalition designed nine policies to increase access to computer science classes for all students.

Diana Lambert
September 26, 2018

California lieutenant governor candidates would use office to push for college affordability

Whoever wins the lieutenant governor’s race between Ed Hernandez and Eleni Kounalakis will have a seat on the UC and CSU governing boards.

Nico Savidge
September 25, 2018

Voting rolls are getting younger in California as pre-registration of teens tops 200,000

A surge in the pre-registration of 16- and 17-year-olds is an indicator that the youth vote might play a larger role than usual in this year’s mid-term elections.

David Washburn