Report Rethinking the State-Local Relationship: K-12 Education By Margaret Weston Jun 30, 2011 Governor Brown’s administration has sparked renewed interest in "realignment”—that is, in changing how the state and localities divide responsibility for programs and services. This study examines the tradeoffs between state and local control of education finance, focusing on the state’s funding system for categorical programs. Thoughtful revisions to this system would be a good first step toward improving California’s approach to school finance. This report is part of a PPIC series on rethinking the state-local relationship. The other reports in this series include: An Overview of Realignment Child Welfare Services Corrections Local Economic Development This work is supported by funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and by contributions of unrestricted support to PPIC’s Donor Circle.
Fact Sheet Financing California’s Public Schools By Julien Lafortune Nov 29, 2023 K–12 funding has been at record-high levels in recent years, and California’s per student spending is now slightly above the national average. Spending is higher for low-income students, English Learners, and foster youth. However, enrollment declines, rising costs, and the expiration of pandemic funding pose fiscal challenges for school districts.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Factors and Future Projections for K–12 Declining Enrollment By Julien Lafortune, Emmanuel Prunty, Stephanie Barton Dec 11, 2023 California counties serving higher shares of low-income, English Learner (EL), and Asian, Black, and Latino students expect greater enrollment losses in coming years. In the past, schools that closed due to falling enrollment had more low-income and EL students as well as lower test scores than the rest of the district.
Report Factors and Future Projections for K–12 Declining Enrollment By Julien Lafortune, Emmanuel Prunty Dec 11, 2023 Over the past five years, enrollment has fallen in nearly three-quarters of California school districts, and the trend is expected to continue into the next decade. Faster declines could bring pressure to close schools, along with concerns about the students and neighborhoods bearing the costs of downsizing.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Nicole Willcoxon Apr 28, 2010 Some findings of the current survey: 62 percent of Californians are very concerned the state budget gap will cause significant spending cuts in K–12 education. Three-fourths (74%) of Californians say that improving education should be a high priority for the next governor. Governor Schwarzenegger’s job approval rating of 24 percent matches his record low, while President Obama’s approval rating stands at 61 percent. Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [PDF]Governor Schwarzenegger [PDF]California State Legislature [PDF] Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [XLS]Governor Schwarzenegger [XLS]California State Legislature [XLS] This survey was supported with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Report Targeted K–12 Funding and Student Outcomes By Julien Lafortune Oct 6, 2021 As students return to the classroom, record-high funding through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) will help California districts address gaps after a year of remote learning. In this report, we examine school and district spending against trends in student outcomes to offer insight into whether the LCFF is meeting its goal of improving equity in education.
Report California’s Future: Education By Laura Hill, Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Niu Gao ... Jan 15, 2021 California has begun moving toward a “cradle to career” approach that connects early childhood, K–12, and higher education more closely. But COVID-19 has disrupted learning, funding, and progress toward improving student outcomes and has exacerbated racial and economic equity gaps.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Targeted K–12 Funding and Student Outcomes By Julien Lafortune, Stephanie Barton Oct 6, 2021 Under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), more money now reaches high-need districts, and these districts spend most of that money on schools with greater need. Students are seeing some benefits from the LCFF, as seen in higher test scores, though disparities by student income, race, and language status remain large.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Alyssa Dykman, Rachel Lawler Apr 24, 2019 Key findings from the current survey include most Californians say charter schools are an important option for parents in low-income areas—but many express concern that charters divert funding from traditional public schools. More than half of residents across regions say teacher salaries in their community are too low. Majorities support Governor Newsom’s spending plans to expand preschool and full-day kindergarten.
