Education

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

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January 13, 2025 - Update (1/16/25): A set of tables detailing various solutions and proposals has been appended to the online version of this report. They are available using the HTML link above.

On January 10, 2025, Governor Newsom’s administration presented its proposed state budget to the California Legislature. In this report, we provide a brief summary of the Governor’s budget based on our initial review as of January 12. In the coming weeks, we will analyze the plan in more detail and release many additional issue-specific budget analyses. For those additional analyses, please see our budget page.

CalFacts 2024

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December 2, 2024 - CalFacts presents a wide range of facts and trends about the state's economy, finances, and programs.

The 2025‑26 Budget: Fiscal Outlook for Schools and Community Colleges

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November 20, 2024 - In this report, we provide our estimates of the guarantee and analyze the implications for school and community college budgeting.

The State’s Role in Physical Education

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September 27, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Education

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Child Care and State Preschool

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September 26, 2024 - This post summarizes the state’s 2024-25 spending package for child care and state preschool.

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

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September 16, 2024 - This post summarizes Proposition 98 funding and K-12 education spending in the 2024-25 budget package.

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 98 and K-12 Funding in the May Revision

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May 16, 2024 - Proposition 98 and K-12 Funding in the May Revision

Increasing Transparency of County Office of Education Spending

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March 14, 2024 - This report, prepared at the request of the Legislature, makes recommendations primarily intended to increase transparency of operations and activities at county offices of education.

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

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February 29, 2024 - In this report, we analyze the funding determination process for nonclassroom-based charter schools and make recommendations to improve the process. In addition, we highlight several key issues related to oversight of charter schools and provide recommendations for the Legislature to consider. This report is in response to a request of the Legislature. Chapter 48 of 2023 (SB 114, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) required the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team to identify and make recommendations to improve the funding determination process for nonclassroom-based charter schools, including recommendations for enhancing oversight and reducing fraud, waste, and abuse.

Update (3/1/24): Figure 6 updated to correct number of districts that are between one and ten times the district's ADA.

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 98 Overview and K-12 Education

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February 29, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education Finance

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 98 Overview and K-12 Education

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February 27, 2024 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance

The 2024-25 Budget: The Governor’s Proposition 98 Funding Maneuver

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February 15, 2024 - 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.

The 2024-25 Budget: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

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February 15, 2024 - In this report, we assess the architecture of the Governor’s overall Proposition 98 budget and analyze his major proposals for K-12 education.

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Proposition 98 and K-12 Education

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November 28, 2023 - This post summarizes overall Proposition 98 funding and K-12 education spending in the 2023-24 budget package. It is part of our Spending Plan series, which contains posts focused on each major sector of the state budget.

Overview of Special Education in California

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November 16, 2023 - Presented to: Select Committee on Serving Students with Disabilities