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.
This year, the Legislature's focus on education was on Covid-related bills and on a record-high state budget, which includes tens of billions of new and one-time spending, along with policy decisions on how to spend the money.
AB 1456 would have expanded financial aid eligibility to 160,000 additional students, mostly community college students. It also would simplify the Cal Grant program.
The 22-bill package will increase broadband infrastructure, develop mental and behavioral health support and add a new ethnic studies high school graduation requirement.
The majority of community college faculty are limited to working part time, often commuting from one district to another. A bill before the governor would allow colleges to increase the number of hours part-time faculty can work in a single district.
The state has taken great care to develop standards and exams in line with the expectations of colleges and employers. Now is the moment for policymakers to ensure their education goals match the state’s economic development needs.
