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
Florence Bouvet
(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.



Handout

AB 3632 Mental Health Services

June 14, 2010 - Presented to The Conference Committee on the Budget


Handout

Overview of the Proposition 98 Budget

May 27, 2010 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee


Handout

Overview of the Governor's Proposition 98 May Revision Proposal

May 25, 2010 - Presented to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education. Hon. Wilmer Amina Carter, Chair. May 25, 2010.


Handout

Overview of the Governor’s Proposition 98 May Revision Proposal

May 19, 2010 - Presented to Legislative Staff


Handout

Race to the Top: An Update and Key Issues for Phase 2

May 12, 2010 - Presented to Senate Education Committee


Other

Webcast: Year-One Survey: Update on School District Finance and Flexibility

May 4, 2010 - In this video, Jennifer Kuhn discusses the new LAO report "Year-One Survey: Update on School District Finance and Flexibility."


Report

Year-One Survey: Update on School District Finance and Flexibility

May 4, 2010 - We surveyed public school districts in California to see how they are responding to various state and federal developments. In particular, the survey asked districts to report how they were responding to the newly granted flexibility to shift funds among, as well as away from, approximately 40 state-funded categorical programs. The survey also asked districts to report how they were using federal stimulus funding. We found that categorical flexibility is having a positive impact on local decision making and that the majority of districts generally appear to be using freed-up categorical funds to support core classroom instruction. Also, roughly two-thirds of the federal stimulus funds were used to minimize teacher layoffs and the remainder used to backfill reductions to categorical programs and make various one-time purchases. Finally, we lay out a package of recommendations that the Legislature could adopt in 2010-11 to provide school districts with additional flexibility.

(Short video introducing this report)


Handout

Federal Education Funds: An Update and Key Issues

April 20, 2010 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 On Education Finance


Handout

Flexibility for School Districts: Recent Actions and Proposals

April 8, 2010 - Presented to Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education


Handout

Overview of the K-14 Mandate System and Recommendations for Reform

April 7, 2010 - Presented to Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education


Handout

Overview of Recent School Finance and Flexibility Actions

April 6, 2010 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance


Handout

LAO Recommendations for 2010-11 K-12 Education Budget

March 15, 2010 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance


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