Upcoming Roundtable: How community colleges prepare a post-pandemic workforce, Thursday June 24 at 1 .p.m. Register today!
EXPLORE: California's Community Colleges: At A CrossroadsQuick Guides
Topic

Policy & Finance

While California’s Local Control Funding Formula shifted control over budgeting and decision making from the state to local districts, the state and federal government still retain authority over setting broad education and school finance policies. In this section, find articles about pressing challenges to California’s education system, the state’s education reforms, how school districts are implementing them, and their impact.
State Education Policy
June 24, 2021

Grading changes, other Covid accommodations await Gov. Newsom’s signature

An extra year in high school, a Pass or No Pass option and minimum graduation requirements would help undo damage from the pandemic.

John Fensterwald
Teacher Shortage
June 22, 2021

California school districts receive unprecedented windfall but lack teachers to help students catch up

A longstanding teacher shortage grew worse during the pandemic, and districts will have to decide which programs to staff and those they won't.

Diana Lambert
Local Control Funding Formula
June 18, 2021

State orders stricter county oversight of districts' spending for low-income kids, English learners

California Department of Education sides with faith-based organizations that challenged how the San Bernardino county office approved LCAPs.

John Fensterwald
Bilingual Education
June 16, 2021

Why training California bilingual teachers just got harder

A program that prepares bilingual teachers for dual-language classrooms in California is set to end this month, potentially worsening a shortage.

Zaidee Stavely And Betty Márquez Rosales
School Finance
June 14, 2021

Legislature passes placeholder budget to buy time for a deal with Gov. Newsom

Legislators and governor agree on most education spending, but legislators want more funding for child care, Cal Grants and pension relief.

John Fensterwald
Commentary
June 10, 2021

Transitional kindergarten for all would hurt early education providers

A "mixed delivery" system, in which state-funded early learning programs can be in any school, would better serve the needs of families.

Christopher Maricle & Teri Davies
Local Control Funding Formula
June 9, 2021

Little action on building state website to track districts’ spending

Nearly a year after money was budgeted, the California Department of Education hasn't completed the contract needed to move forward.

John Fensterwald
Commentary
June 9, 2021

Leaving ‘apples to oranges’ behind, California has a chance to paint a true picture of our schools’ performances

Pandemic has created a window of opportunity for California to add a growth measure to the dashboard for evaluating schools.

Annette Gonzalez
Coronavirus
June 7, 2021

Most California schools offering summer school, planning to reopen fully in fall

California school districts are planning for summer school and for a full return to campuses in the fall, according to data released by the state.

Diana Lambert
Student voices
June 7, 2021

Reform Cal Grant and invest in community college students

Help with food and housing costs would enable more students to succeed and thrive in community college.

Iulia Tarasova and Stephen Kodur
Distance Learning
June 7, 2021

California schools move ahead with fall distance learning plans despite limitations

Parents and education advocacy groups are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to extend distance learning provisions for the upcoming school year.

Sydney Johnson
Quick Guides
June 4, 2021

Quick guide: How do college savings accounts work?

Learn more about college savings accounts and state and local proposals to start them for low-income youth.

Ali Tadayon And Betty Márquez Rosales
School Finance
June 4, 2021

California's K-12 funding formula likely to change, but disagreement over how

Gov. Newsom, legislative leaders agree to add $1.1 billion to the Local Control Funding Formula but not on who gets priority for the money.

John Fensterwald
Credentialing
June 3, 2021

Budget proposal would ease testing requirements for California teachers

California's legislators recommend approving a budget proposal that would reduce the number of tests required to earn a teaching credential.

Diana Lambert
School Finance
June 2, 2021

Senate and Assembly cut, then add, billions to Gov. Newsom's budget for K-12

Budget committees' joint plan prioritizes school districts' financial health over more one-time funding. Next step: Talks with Newsom

John Fensterwald