EXPLORE: Podcast: Dual enrollment’s great promiseProposition 13, explained
Policy & Finance
Topic

State Education Policy

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, English learners and foster and homeless children. 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. The changes in funding were tied to major changes in how districts assess students and are held accountable for their success. Districts must outline how they will spend their funds in a Local Control and Accountability Plan. Whether these reforms succeed in improving student outcomes significantly and narrow historically large achievement gaps is now the core issue and challenge in education reform in California.

February 21, 2020

Building better schools and colleges: Californians argue for and against Prop. 13 on March 3, 2020 ballot

Proponents and opponents of the $15 billion state bond measure for K-12 and higher education facilities funding, share their views.

Guest authors
February 21, 2020

Why test scores matter

Test scores are only one measure of a student, but they can be used to dispel stereotypes and promote higher achievement, superintendent says.

Frank Donavan
February 18, 2020

Gov. Newsom’s big bets: community schools, competitive grants and new teacher incentives

The governor proposes $1.5 billion over 5 years on incentives for new teachers and grants managed by a small agency to fix highest poverty schools.

John Fensterwald
February 14, 2020

California's community colleges chancellor defends new online college

The state’s first online community college has encountered difficulties, including opposition from faculty at other community colleges.

Diana Lambert
February 12, 2020

How funds for Gov. Newsom's ambitious proposals for teacher recruitment and preparation will be spent

Budget proposes incentives, recruitment programs and training to fill needed teaching positions.

Diana Lambert
February 11, 2020

College costs, teacher shortage still top concerns in poll of California voters

Annual PACE/USC Rossier poll also finds support for increasing teacher pay, requiring ethnic studies and taking action to prevent gun violence.

John Fensterwald
February 6, 2020

California’s schools chief states his position as his department revises ethnic studies curriculum

Tony Thurmond says the curriculum should focus on African Americans, Asian Americans, Chicanos and Latinos, and Native Americans.

John Fensterwald
February 3, 2020

We must include English learners in early education plan for California

Early education is enhanced by school communities that affirm and support the languages and cultures students bring to the classroom.

Anya Hurwitz
January 24, 2020

Perspectives on the LA teachers’ strike: looking back and ahead

EdSource asked a cross-section of Los Angeles education leaders to reflect on the consequences of the strike that drew national attention.

EdSource staff
January 24, 2020

Impact of teacher activism in California being felt in multiple but less visible ways, leaders say

Teachers’ strikes in California are helping maintain momentum in the national RedforEd movement and have had an impact on charter school reform.

Louis Freedberg And Michael Burke
January 23, 2020

California moves closer to eliminating, replacing reading instruction test that has blocked thousands from teaching credential

Debate rages on about how to measure a teacher candidate’s ability to teach reading.

Diana Lambert
January 21, 2020

California governor joins those wanting to hold school districts more accountable for spending

A new website would let the public see how much any district is — or is not — spending on “high-needs” students.

John Fensterwald
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 13, 2020

In his own words: Gov. Newsom explains his budget proposals for K-12 education

Newsom in his second budget proposes to spend $900 million for teacher recruitment and preparation

By EdSource Staff
January 13, 2020

In his own words: Gov. Newsom explains his budget proposals for higher education

Gov. Newsom in his second budget calls for a 5% increase in funding for the University of California and the California State University, and a 3.9 percent increase for community colleges.

By EdSource Staff