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.



Handout

Addressing Special Education Staffing Shortages

May 3, 2018 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education Finance


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The 2018-19 Budget: Commission on Teacher Credentialing—Record Digitization

May 1, 2018 - In this post, we provide background on how the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) stores credential records and describe the Governor’s proposal to provide $1.5 million onetime (special funds) to digitize the records of teachers issued credentials prior to 1989. We find that the proposal is not cost-effective and recommend the Legislature reject it.


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The 2018-19 Budget: Update on Backlog of Teacher Misconduct Cases

April 30, 2018 - In this post, we provide an overview of how the state reviews teacher misconduct cases, track the backlog of cases, describe the actions the state has taken to reduce the backlog, and assess progress made to date. We encourage the Legislature to continue monitoring progress toward reducing the backlog closely over the coming year.


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The 2018-19 Budget: 2018-19 COLA for K-14 Education Programs

April 30, 2018 - On April 27, 2018, the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis released updated information that affects the cost-of-living adjustment for certain school and community college programs. In this post, we describe the new information and its implications for school funding.


Handout

Education Mandates

April 24, 2018 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance


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The 2018-19 Budget: Charter School Facility Grant Program

April 23, 2018 - The Governor’s budget proposes a $28 million (25 percent) augmentation to the Charter School Facility Grant Program along with several notable changes to the program in trailer bill language. In this post, we provide background on the program, describe the Governor’s proposal, and offer associated recommendations.


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The 2018-19 Budget: Update on K-12 Student Attendance

April 16, 2018 - In early March of 2018, we received data from the California Department of Education (CDE) on student attendance for the first half of the 2017-18 school year. In this post, we describe how the state tracks attendance and discuss the implications for Proposition 98 and school funding.


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The 2018-19 Budget: Commission on Teacher Credentialing—Administrator Performance Assessment

April 12, 2018 - The 2015-16 budget package provided $2 million in one-time funding for the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to develop an Administrator Performance Assessment (APA) for individuals seeking an administrative services credential. At the time, the Legislature was told that the APA would be ready by the end of 2016-17. Since then, CTC has been developing the APA and has conducted two field trials of the assessment. The administration proposes to provide an additional $1.3 million one time (special funds) to conduct a third year of field trials. In this post, we provide background on the APA, assess the Governor’s proposal, and recommend the Legislature require CTC to explain during hearings why the APA is over budget and behind schedule.


Handout

System of Support for School Districts

April 10, 2018 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance


Handout

Overview of Local Control Funding Formula

April 6, 2018 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance


Handout

Regional Lead Roles in Statewide System of Support for School Districts

April 4, 2018 - Presented to Senate Committee on Education and Assembly Committee on Education


Handout

Overview of Local Control Funding Formula

March 22, 2018 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education Finance


Handout

Overview of the Statewide System of Support for School Districts

March 22, 2018 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education


Handout

High School Career Technical Education

March 8, 2018 - Presented to: Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education Finance


Handout

Education Mandates

March 8, 2018 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education