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Policy & Finance
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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.

June 20, 2018

California budget deal includes extra funding for students with lowest test scores

Persistence pays off for Assemblywoman Shirley Weber with a compromise resulting in $300 million in one-time spending.

John Fensterwald
June 14, 2018

California lawmakers approve 2018-19 state budget: how schools, colleges will fare

There's enough new money to "fully fund" the Local Control Funding Formula and stave off UC and CSU tuition increases.

John Fensterwald, Yuxuan Xie, Mikhail Zinshteyn, And Justin Allen
June 13, 2018

Oakland Unified chided for 'highly unusual' and 'suspicious' fiscal practices

A fiscal analysis by an independent agency says the district is in “financial distress.”

Theresa Harrington
June 7, 2018

Oakland and Inglewood among four financially distressed California districts seeking state relief

Districts are hoping the upcoming state budget will include financial relief such as deferred state loans, flat per-student payments, and flexibility to sell or lease surplus property.

Theresa Harrington
June 6, 2018

Marshall Tuck and Tony Thurmond to square off in runoff for California schools chief

Both say charter schools shouldn't be the focus of the campaign but big independent donors may think otherwise.

John Fensterwald
June 5, 2018

LA Unified not directing enough money to help low-income students, report charges

The rising costs of health care and pensions stand in the way of meeting the promise of the funding formula, says the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

John Fensterwald
May 21, 2018

Push underway to increase California school funding by billions

Assembly Bill 2808 sets a goal of $35 billion more in base spending for the Local Control Funding Formula; that would put California among the top 10 states in spending but without a deadline or means to reach it.

John Fensterwald
May 11, 2018

California K-12 schools get slightly more in Gov. Brown's revised state budget

A recession is coming, so don't get 'giddy' over the prospect of adding or expanding programs, governor warns.

John Fensterwald
May 10, 2018

On California campaign trail, a push to strip school funding for undocumented students

Travis Allen's desire to cut funding for educating undocumented students is a reprise of the anti-immigrant fervor of the Proposition 187 era.

Louis Freedberg
April 23, 2018

Advocates accuse Bay Area district of failing to release data on student performance

Data needed so public can have a say in how the district spends state funds

Theresa Harrington
March 26, 2018

Federal help available to California schools struggling with wildfire costs

Funding is available for bus service for displaced students, staff overtime, air filters and other fire-related expenses.

Carolyn Jones
March 13, 2018

Gov. Brown’s plan to change community college funding to promote student success faces scrutiny

The Legislative Analyst’s Office is recommending that Brown tie funding to the academic outcomes of low-income students.

Mikhail Zinshteyn
March 1, 2018

Senators want to add extra $1.2 billion to California school funding formula next year

Districts strapped with rising expenses could use the money however they want.

John Fensterwald
February 21, 2018

California research project timed to elevate education in fall elections, inform next governor

"Getting Down to Facts" studies will take stock of a decade of change and point to what other states are doing differently.

John Fensterwald
February 13, 2018

Science education funding still in Trump’s crosshairs, despite being saved by Congress

2019 budget proposal eliminates NASA education office and teacher training grants.

Carolyn Jones