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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.
July 17, 2018

Oakland charter school approved amid concerns over fiscal impact on district

California Department of Education official calls state's charter school laws outdated and says they are in need of revision.

Theresa Harrington
July 15, 2018

Educators to Trump school safety commission: Don’t repeal Obama discipline guidelines

More than 80 individuals and organizations have come together to urge the commission established by President Donald Trump to retain federal guidelines issued by the Obama administration to combat racial disparities in school discipline.

David Washburn
July 12, 2018

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos signs off: California's plan finally satisfies federal law

Approval for the state’s plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act comes one day after State Board of Education makes final fixes.

John Fensterwald
July 11, 2018

California officials confident they’ve cut deal in dispute over federal education law

State Board also votes to continue exploring a way to measure a school’s impact on student learning. Advocates say a “growth model" will be more precise than the method the state uses now.

Mikhail Zinshteyn and John Fensterwald
July 10, 2018

Pressure builds to change how California measures student progress on state tests

Student advocacy groups and academics are seeking to adopt a model other states use to calculate the impact of students’ test score growth, but state staff urge patience.

John Fensterwald and Mikhail Zinshteyn
July 5, 2018

Higher pay, smaller classes, housing perks in San Francisco Bay Area district’s plan to attract teachers

West Contra Costa Unified has also launched a recruiting website and added new teacher training to attract and retain educators.

Theresa Harrington
July 3, 2018

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos appears ready to sign California’s education plan

Top U.S. Department of Education official says he will recommend approval if the State Board of Education votes for a revised plan at its meeting in Sacramento

David Washburn
July 1, 2018

Need to rethink tying high-school diploma to college course requirements

Requiring graduates meet California State University requirements may deny diplomas to otherwise prepared students.

Russell W. Rumberger
June 29, 2018

California Attorney General charges one of the nation’s largest student loan servicers for violating state laws

The lawsuit follows similar actions by other states and California lawsuits against other for-profit colleges and student loan companies on behalf of student debtors.

Solomon Moore
June 27, 2018

State budget has nearly $400 million for science, math education — but not teacher training

After-school coding classes, high school tech internships and STEM teacher residencies are among the programs funded in the new state budget.

Carolyn Jones
June 27, 2018

Oakland Unified needs to close schools and reform fiscal practices to stay solvent, county civil grand jury concludes

Panel issues nine recommendations aimed at improving budget oversight and reducing number of schools.

Theresa Harrington
June 27, 2018

High court ends mandatory fees collected by public unions

In a decision that could do significant damage to the finances of the California Teachers Association and other public sector unions, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that unions can no longer collect compulsory fees from the workers they represent.

David Washburn and John Fensterwald
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 24, 2018

Teachers in Oakland among others pushing for pay raises from California districts in fiscal crisis

Inspired by successful strikes in other states, teachers from Southern California to the Bay Area are threatening fall strikes.

Theresa Harrington