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.

August 13, 2019

We must disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline

Students who are suspended from school are less likely to graduate from high school and more likely to be arrested and incarcerated.

Nancy Skinner

August 9, 2019

State must provide school stability for foster youth

The state needs to take a more active role in translating policy reform into academic achievement for its youth in care.

Margaret Olmos, Jessica Maxwell and Vanessa Hernandez

August 8, 2019

Smaller classes, more novice teachers: the 'tradeoff‘ for low-income California schools

A new study overcomes challenges from a lack of transparency to compare schools' spending under the Local Control Funding Formula.

John Fensterwald

August 8, 2019

California’s big spending push for children could have national impact

California's size and diversity make universal preschool or extended paid leave a feat in some ways comparable to a national effort.

Zaidee Stavely

August 7, 2019

California charter, private schools report lower vaccination rates than traditional public schools

When school opened in 2018, charter and private schools reported lower vaccination rates than traditional public schools.

Diana Lambert And Daniel J. Willis

August 1, 2019

California Teachers Association loses thousands of members after faculty association decides to 'disaffiliate'

The decision by California Faculty Association this spring to end its long-standing relationship with the CTA took place with little public notice

Louis Freedberg

July 31, 2019

Remembering Glen Thomas, who helped shape California's academic standards

The former state secretary of education shepherded academic standards into adoption and bolstered county offices’ role in state policy.

John Fensterwald

July 25, 2019

Dissent within statewide task force adds tension to California’s charter school debate

There's full agreement on 4 proposals but anger among some task force members over 7 proposals passed by a narrow majority as a package.

John Fensterwald

July 24, 2019

My memorable year teaching as Berkeley integrated its schools

Former teacher recalls hopeful time half a century ago in a newly integrated middle-school classroom.

Miriam Kurtzig Freedman

July 23, 2019

Plan to expose all students to physics missing one element — teachers

As California schools move to implement new science standards, there will be an increased demand for teachers in a subject area where there is already a severe shortage.

Diana Lambert

July 22, 2019

California Teachers Association names interim executive director

Recently retired, Gail Gregorio will replace CTA veteran Joe Nuñez, who was abruptly let go as executive director last week.

Louis Freedberg

July 18, 2019

California Teachers Association board votes out executive director

CTA provides no explanation for why it terminated Joe Nuñez after six years as executive director and nearly 25 years as a CTA employee; search for his successor to begin immediately.

Louis Freedberg

July 9, 2019

Governor's team jumps into fray over contested charter school bill

Senate hearing indicates that further changes will be needed to reach a deal on a bill charter school leaders fear would cripple growth.

John Fensterwald

July 8, 2019

California may create 5th year high school graduation rate

The new rate will credit districts for helping non-graduating seniors to earn a diploma the next year. It would be combined with the 4-year grad rate on the School Dashboard.

John Fensterwald

July 5, 2019

Fifty years after desegregation, wide racial and ethnic achievement gaps persist in Berkeley

Berkeley’s 2020 Vision initiative was supposed to eliminate achievement gaps for the entering kindergarten class in 2007 but a year from its target date, it is clear that it still has a long way to go in reaching its ambitious goals.