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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.

May 14, 2019

State budget proposal would fund computer science coordinator, broadband expansion

Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing $15 million to expand broadband internet to more schools and an additional $1 million to hire a state computer science coordinator as a “down payment” on a comprehensive plan to provide access to computer science classes to all California students.

Diana Lambert
May 10, 2019

Teacher shortage, early education targeted in Gov. Newsom’s California budget revision

Newsom proposes funding for subsidized childcare, disabled students and a loan program for special education, math and science teachers.

John Fensterwald
May 10, 2019

California governor expands commitments to young children, low-income families

Gov. Newsom adds funds for childcare vouchers, expanded preschool for low-income children, though not as quickly as planned.

Zaidee Stavely
May 9, 2019

Gov. Newsom proposes $90 million in scholarships for new teachers in revised budget

Gov. Newsom proposes more K-12, community college funds; loan forgiveness for new special education, math and science teachers.

John Fensterwald
May 8, 2019

California moves to get more K-12 students into computer science classes

More California K-12 students at all grade levels could have access to computer science classes if schools implement a plan unanimously approved by the State Board of Education Wednesday.

Diana Lambert
May 6, 2019

Oakland Unified committed to fixing fiscal problems, but state must also step up

As district recovers after strike, superintendent calls on state to provide more funding.

Kyla Johnson-Trammell
May 6, 2019

School districts must do more to manage costs of health benefits

When districts spend more money on health benefits, there’s less money for other priorities, like teacher salaries, researcher says.

Paul Bruno
April 27, 2019

Statewide survey: most Californians support teacher strikes for higher pay

Public Policy Institute asked about some of the most hotly debated issues in its annual Californians and Education statewide survey.

Diana Lambert
April 25, 2019

More funding for full-day kindergarten questioned as many low-income California schools already offer it

Researchers say the greatest need in low-income communities is for programs serving children under 5 years old, such as preschool and transitional kindergarten.

Zaidee Stavely
April 24, 2019

Oakland Unified may need $2 million more in budget cuts to give other employees same raise as teachers

Alameda County Office of Education analysis of district’s budget reveals shortfall if all unions get the same level salary increase as teachers.

Theresa Harrington
April 23, 2019

Restorative justice among programs partially saved by Oakland City Council

Oakland Unified to receive $1.2 million from city to help reinstate cuts to Restorative Justice and Foster Youth programs, supplement library funding.

Theresa Harrington
April 15, 2019

California's school pension funding plan is working

Current defined-benefit pension plan is the best option for California teachers, author says.

Grant Boyken
April 12, 2019

California plan for school construction bonds sparks debate for reform

Advocates for more equitable state funding of school facilities see proposals for multi-billion dollar state construction bonds in 2020 and 2022 as a chance to make a case for changing the state formula for distributing money.

John Fensterwald
April 9, 2019

Higher corporate taxes linked to CEO pay would raise funds for California education

The bill authored by Sen. Nancy Skinner, D- Berkeley, would base the size of the tax increase on the gap between CEO compensation and that of the median wage paid to workers in .2 percent of the state’s corporations.

Louis Freedberg
April 9, 2019

California students learn to code to prepare for tomorrow's jobs

Thousands of students at 260 schools in low-income California communities are learning computer coding after school in the Kids Code program. A school’s eligibility for the grant was based on the number of students receiving free and reduced-priced lunch, used as an indicator of community poverty.

Diana Lambert