Staff
Sara Cortez
(916) 319-8348
Special Education, Preschool, Child Nutrition, and Facilities
Kenneth Kapphahn
(916) 319-8339
Proposition 98, School District Budgets, School Transportation
Lisa Qing
(916) 319-8306
California Community Colleges
Michael Alferes
(916) 319-8338
Local Control Funding Formula, Charter Schools, Alternative Schools, High School Career Technical Education
Natalie Gonzalez
(916) 319-8320
California State University, Student Financial Aid
Dylan Hawksworth-Lutzow
(916) 319-8308
Child Care, Expanded Learning, Teachers, and Education Technology
Edgar Cabral
(916) 319-8343
Deputy Legislative Analyst: K-12 Education
Jennifer Pacella
(916) 319-8332
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Higher Education


Publications

Education

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.



Other

Webcast: The 2010-11 Budget: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

February 25, 2010 - Section director Jennifer Kuhn discusses the LAO report "The 2010-11 Budget: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education."


Report

The 2010-11 Budget: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

February 25, 2010 - Though the Governor portrays his 2010-11 budget proposal as protecting education, his plan would affect areas of education quite differently—significantly reducing funding for child care and K-12 education while augmenting funding for most higher education programs. We recommend the Legislature build a more balanced education budget. Detailed in this report, our Proposition 98 alternative budget plan cuts child care about $100 million less than the Governor; makes approximately $800 million in targeted cuts to K-12 education, with additional K-12 cuts, as needed, coming from general purpose and/or categorical funding; and provides new funding for community colleges through a $14 per unit fee increase. In a companion publication, The 2010-11 Budget: Higher Education, we provide additional detail on our community college recommendations, as well as cover various other postsecondary education areas, including the state's universities and financial aid programs.

(Video introducing this report)


Handout

Overview of Special Session Proposals: Proposition 98 Budget

February 9, 2010 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 On Education Finance


Report

Education Mandates: Overhauling a Broken System

February 2, 2010 - Currently, the state requires K-12 and community college districts to perform hundreds of mandated activities, the majority of which provide little benefit to students or teachers. Since the state does not pay for K-14 mandates on a regular basis, the result is billions in outstanding costs the state must eventually pay. In this report, we recommend comprehensively reforming K–14 mandates. If a mandate serves a purpose fundamental to the education system, such as protecting student health or providing essential assessment and oversight data, it should be funded. If not, the mandate should be eliminated. Taken as a whole, our reform package would relieve school districts and community colleges of performing hundreds of activities that provide little value to students while providing them with adequate and timely compensation for the activities still required of them. In addition, comprehensively reforming mandates would reduce the state’s annual obligations by more than $350 million—funds that could be saved or allocated to districts for higher priorities.


Handout

Overview of Proposition 98 Budget

January 25, 2010 - Presented to Legislative Staff


Handout

Overview of Education Budget

January 19, 2010 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee


Handout

California’s Budget Situation

December 4, 2009 - California’s Budget Situation, presented by Mac Taylor to the California School Boards Association on December 4, 2009.


Handout

Key Requirements of Race to the Top Grants: Review of Final Application

December 2, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee


Handout

Key Requirements of Race to the Top Grants: Turning Around Struggling Schools

November 18, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee


Handout

Key Requirements of Race to the Top Grants:Effective Teachers and School Leaders

November 18, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee


Handout

California’s Fiscal Outlook: Proposition 98 Briefing

November 18, 2009 - Presented on 11/18/09


Handout

Key Requirements of Race to the Top Grants: Standards and Assessments

October 28, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee


Handout

Key Requirements of Race to the Top Grants:Data Systems to Support Instruction

October 28, 2009 - Presented to:Assembly Education Committee


Handout

Preparing for the Next Round of Budget Adjustments: How Education Might Fare

October 14, 2009 - Presented to: Orange County School Boards Association and Association of California School Administrators, Region XVII


Handout

Overview of Federal Race to the Top Grants

September 29, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee