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.

December 12, 2019

Some ratings rise in 3rd year of California School Dashboard

Fewer districts will require help from county offices, but colors tell a bigger story; disparities among student groups persist.

John Fensterwald

December 12, 2019

Search and compare data from the California School Dashboard, 2019

Search and compare all California public schools, districts, cities and counties for data from the state's school accountability dashboard.

Justin Allen, Daniel J. Willis, And Yuxuan Xie

December 3, 2019

Multiple school transfers contribute to high absenteeism among foster students

Foster students miss the most school days of any group of students in the state.

Ashley A. Smith

November 27, 2019

Schools fail to identify thousands of homeless children, state audit finds

California schools must do a better job of counting and providing services to homeless students, audit says.

Carolyn Jones

November 25, 2019

University of California under pressure from within to abandon SAT and ACT for admission

UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ makes strongest remarks yet against the use of college admissions tests at Berkeley as university awaits faculty report on the issue.

Louis Freedberg

November 25, 2019

Parents, other experts named to guide California’s early education reforms

Parents and family child care providers are among the experts who will guide California’s efforts to expand and improve early childhood education in the state.

Zaidee Stavely

November 12, 2019

University of California will support undocumented students, even if DACA ends

UC considering ways to help undocumented students stay in school, if their DACA status is terminated.

Zaidee Stavely

November 8, 2019

A quarter century on, schools in California now a welcoming place for undocumented students

Much has changed since voters approved Proposition 187, an initiative to expel undocumented students from its public schools and universities.

Louis Freedberg

October 31, 2019

Shorter, clearer (but maybe not more transparent) school accountability plan coming

The state board will deliver an LCAP template that will be easier to read, but it probably still won't be easy to follow the money.

John Fensterwald

October 30, 2019

Mandating later school start times in California impinges on local control

Research shows later start times improve academic performance, but many in education community opposed being required to start later.

Louis Freedberg

October 29, 2019

Gov. Newsom missed opportunity by not allowing students to take SAT or ACT in lieu of state tests

If we raise the bar and also provide the right support for kids, teachers and parents, students will meet or exceed our expectations.

Christopher J. Steinhauser

October 28, 2019

California Teachers Association posts membership decline of about 15,000

Membership decline likely tied to the departure of a major CTA affiliate, the California Faculty Association.

Louis Freedberg

October 13, 2019

California mandates later start times for middle and high school students

Gov. Newsom signed the bill delaying start times for teenagers against the opposition of school groups that said districts know best how to set schedules.

John Fensterwald

October 11, 2019

For better insights into California's new test results, look at achievement over time

Analytical tools that are available but not used can help schools better understand how to improve student performance.

David Wakelyn

October 11, 2019

Push to increase the number of teachers of color in California classrooms gains momentum

Increasing the number of teachers of color in California classrooms is a top priority for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.