Staff
- Sara Cortez
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(916) 319-8348
Special Education, Preschool, Child Nutrition, and Facilities - Kenneth Kapphahn
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(916) 319-8339
Proposition 98, School District Budgets, School Transportation - Lisa Qing
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(916) 319-8306
California Community Colleges - Michael Alferes
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(916) 319-8338
Local Control Funding Formula, Charter Schools, Alternative Schools, High School Career Technical Education - Natalie Gonzalez
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(916) 319-8320
California State University, Student Financial Aid - Dylan Hawksworth-Lutzow
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(916) 319-8308
Child Care, Expanded Learning, Teachers, and Education Technology - Edgar Cabral
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(916) 319-8343
Deputy Legislative Analyst: K-12 Education - Jennifer Pacella
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(916) 319-8332
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Higher Education - Florence Bouvet
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(916) 319-8310
University of California; College of the Law, San Francisco; California State Library
Publications
Education
To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
Education Data Systems: Overview of May Revision Proposals
- Format:
May 23, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance
Proposition 98: Overview of May Revision Proposals
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May 23, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance
Mental Health Services for Students: Overview of May Revision Proposals
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May 23, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance and Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Human Services
K-14 Mandates: Governor’s May Revision Proposal
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May 23, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance
An Analysis of Court School Cost Pressures
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May 10, 2011 - In 2010-11, several County Offices of Education (COEs) reported difficulties balancing their court school budgets. Partly due to the concerns they raised, the Supplemental Report of the 2010-11 Budget Act directed our office to (1) assess whether county court schools have access to an appropriate array of categorical funds and (2) compare court school funding with funding rates for other alternative programs. Our review indicates that COEs, which allot funding to county court schools, generally have access to an appropriate array of categorical funds. Although access to categorical funds does not appear to be a problem, we did identify local cost pressures that could explain why some COEs are having difficulty balancing their court school budgets. While the state’s options for affecting these local decisions are limited, the state could take actions to reduce cost pressures on court schools. We also recommend the state standardize per-pupil funding rates across its alternative education funding system, which could also help COEs manage their court school budgets.
Webcast: How Small Is Too Small? An Analysis of School District Consolidation
- Format:
- Video
May 2, 2011 - In this webcast (approximately 10 minutes), analyst Rachel Ehlers discusses the LAO report "How Small Is Too Small? An Analysis of School District Consolidation."
How Small Is Too Small? An Analysis of School District Consolidation
May 2, 2011 - In this report, we investigate the competing claims made in support and opposition of combining smaller school districts into larger districts. We find some small districts’ spending patterns and student performance differ slightly from larger districts, but very small districts have notable and troubling differences. We also find that substantial funding advantages and certain disincentives keep small districts from opting for consolidation. Our analysis suggests the state should not pursue a one-size-fits all approach for district configuration or require all small school districts to consolidate, but it does suggest the state should remove existing disincentives. To increase efficiencies and accountability, we also recommend the state increase the minimum size for districts to at least 100 students.
The 2011-12 State Education Budget
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- PowerPoint
April 11, 2011 - Presented at CASBO 2011 Annual Conference (April 7, 2011).
Overview of School District Finance
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March 23, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Committee on Education.
Aligning Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Materials Adoption Processes With Common Core Standards
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March 9, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Education Committee
Proposition 98: Overview of Conference Issues
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February 24, 2011 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee
The Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Materials Adoption Processes
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February 16, 2011 - Presented to the Senate Education Committee. Hon. Alan Lowenthal, Chair.
Webcast: Public Retirement Benefits, Options for the Future
- Format:
- PowerPoint
- Video
February 10, 2011 - In this 15-minute video, LAO State Finance Director Jason Sisney describes why public employee retirement costs have risen substantially in recent years for California governments and the Legislature's options for creating new types of retirement benefits for future state and local employees. At the same time, as Sisney discusses, the Legislature may have to identify new funding soon to address substantial unfunded liabilities in the teachers' and University of California retirement systems, among others.
Update on School District Finance and Flexibility
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February 9, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance
AB 3632 Mental Health Services
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February 7, 2011 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education