EXPLORE: Podcast: One year after the teachers’ strikeRural California: An Education DivideYear in Review
Policy & Finance
Topic

School Finance

In passing the Local Control Funding Formula in 2013, the Legislature shifted decision-making back to local districts and steered more money to districts with higher proportions of low-income children and English learners. Proposition 98, adopted in 1988, sets the overall yearly level of K-12 and community college spending through a complex formula tied to the growth in the state economy.

January 15, 2020

San Francisco Bay Area parents declare state of emergency over district’s failure to educate black children

Parents want the district to allocate $7.2 million to improve services for the district’s 5,000 African-American students.

Theresa Harrington
January 15, 2020

California Voices: Education leaders speak out on Gov. Newsom's budget proposals

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

EdSource staff
January 14, 2020

San Francisco Bay Area district’s budget cuts may hurt neediest students, advocates fear

West Contra Costa school board on Wednesday to begin reviewing suggestions for nearly $50 million in cuts over two years to balance budget.

Theresa Harrington
January 13, 2020

In his own words: Gov. Newsom explains his budget proposals on early education

Newsom proposes to fund another 10,000 preschool slots, and pledges to support another 10,000 next year, which he says will result in "universal preschool" for all low income 4 year olds.

By EdSource Staff
January 11, 2020

California governor proposes nearly $1 billion to tackle teacher preparation, shortages

With nearly $4 billion in new money, Newsom would also like to invest in improving special education services and expanding community schools.

John Fensterwald
January 10, 2020

California governor wants to expand preschool and create new early child development department

By 2021, 20,000 more low-income 4-year-olds could enroll in preschool.

Zaidee Stavely
January 10, 2020

Questions swirl about origins of $40 million deficit

Cutting nearly $40 million in West Contra Costa Unified triggers layoff worries, stirs distrust and puts superintendent’s job in jeopardy.

Theresa Harrington
January 9, 2020

New efforts to make school spending in California more transparent 

State board makes it easier to follow the money; two bills would impose even stricter reporting requirements.

John Fensterwald
January 8, 2020

California’s effort to turn school staff into teachers starts to pay off

More than 2,000 bus drivers, clerks, custodians and teacher aides are earning bachelor’s degrees and teaching credentials. 

Diana Lambert
January 3, 2020

Gavin Newsom's 1st-year K-12 scorecard: good grades on priorities and some incompletes

He forged a compromise to revise California's charter school law and gave districts unexpected help to pay employee pension obligations.

John Fensterwald
December 10, 2019

Education groups renew call for Newsom to put tax for schools to voters in 2020

A coalition organized by Children Now wants the governor to negotiate with Prop. 13 reformers for one tax initiative on the November ballot.

John Fensterwald
December 5, 2019

California School Boards Association abandons plan to put $15 billion tax on 2020 ballot

To avoid competing tax initiatives benefiting education on the same statewide ballot, it eyes 2022 instead.

John Fensterwald
November 21, 2019

‘Moderate’ funding increase predicted for California schools, community colleges in 2020-21

A recession is still a ways off, says the Legislative Analyst's Office; mandated costs will eat into an estimated $3.4 billion increase.

John Fensterwald
November 19, 2019

Support for school construction bond falls below 50 percent in new poll

If there is confusion over the ballot designation Prop. 13, bond backers say not to worry; the campaign for March measure has yet to begin.

John Fensterwald
November 19, 2019

Supporters urge board to keep East Bay superintendent despite budget crisis

West Contra Costa Unified school board agrees to keep superintendent at the helm while searching for ways to bridge $48 million budget gap.

Theresa Harrington