April 18, 2024 | Brief

Student Outcomes

The third of a six-part series covering higher education trends in California; focuses on student outcomes and how they have changed over the past few decades; raises key issues for the Legislature to consider as it makes related policy and budget decisions.

April 15, 2024 | Brief

Child Care

Analyzes key Governor’s budget proposals related to various child care and development programs administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS).

March 20, 2024 | Brief

Proposition 2 Debt Payment Proposals

Evaluates the Governor’s Proposition 2-related debt and liabilities payment proposals.

March 14, 2024 | Brief

Trends in Higher Education

College Affordability

The second of a six-part series covering higher education trends in California; focuses on college affordability; covers changes in cost of attendance and student financial aid over the past few decades.

March 13, 2024 | Report

Increasing Transparency of County Office of Education Spending

Makes recommendations primarily intended to increase transparency of operations and activities at county offices of education.

February 29, 2024 | Report

Review of the Funding Determination Process for Nonclassroom-Based Charter Schools

Analyzes the funding determination process for nonclassroom-based charter schools and makes recommendations to improve the process; highlights several key issues related to oversight of charter schools and provides recommendations for the Legislature to consider.

February 28, 2024 | Brief

Broadband Infrastructure

Provides updates on major state broadband programs and projects and federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act broadband programs; assesses each of the broadband infrastructure proposals in the Governor’s 2024-25 budget; and offers a number of recommendations for legislative consideration.

February 28, 2024 | Brief

University of California

Analyze's the Governor’s budget proposals for the University of California (UC), with sections focusing on UC’s core operations and enrollment; revisits recent UC one-time initiatives and capital projects.

February 27, 2024 | Post

Child Support

Provides a general overview of the Governor’s budget for the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), then turns to focus on a few key DCSS budget areas, providing background, implementation updates, and some comments for the Legislature to consider.

February 26, 2024 | Post

Child Welfare

In this post, we analyze the Governor’s budget proposals relating to child welfare and foster care programs, which include a number of budget solutions.

February 22, 2024 | Brief

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

This brief provides our analysis of the Governor’s 2024-25 budget proposals related to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

February 21, 2024 | Brief

California Community Colleges

In this brief, we analyze the Governor’s budget proposals relating to community college enrollment, apportionments, and nursing education.

February 15, 2024 | Report

Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

In this report, we assess the architecture of the Governor’s overall Proposition 98 budget and analyze his major proposals for K-12 education.

February 15, 2024 | Brief

The Governor’s Proposition 98 Funding Maneuver

In this brief, we evaluate the Governor’s novel proposal to allow schools to keep $8 billion of cash disbursements above the minimum requirement without recognizing the budgetary impact of those payments.

February 15, 2024 | Brief

California State University

In this brief, we analyze the Governor’s budget proposals for the California State University (CSU). We also revisit recent CSU one-time initiatives and capital projects.

February 14, 2024 | Brief

Medi-Cal Analysis

This brief provides an overview of the Governor’s proposed budget for Medi-Cal; describes key trends in Medi-Cal caseload; and analyzes proposals around the managed care organization tax, provider payment increases, and other budget solutions.