blog post Testimony: Special Education Finance in California By Paul Warren Mar 28, 2019 Research associate Paul Warren discusses rising school district costs for special education as well as options for strengthening state funding in this area.
Report Federal Formula Grants: Student Aid and Higher Education By Tim Ransdell, Shervin Boloorian Sep 6, 2005 The federal government has become the primary source of postsecondary education support for U.S. college students. The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), last amended in 1998, authorizes a disparate array of programs that span various federal government offices, employing multiple delivery mechanisms. Programs help make college attendance affordable for low-income students, assist targeted institutions, encourage college-bound high school students, and enhance K-12 teacher training programs at U.S. universities. This report examines HEA’s myriad components—including grants, loans, and other forms of aid—from a California perspective, with an emphasis on California’s share of federal resources. Its focuses primarily on federal activities that provide funds to recipient individuals or institutions using statutorily-prescribed mathematical constructs.
Report Special Education Finance in California: A Decade After Reform By Stephen Lipscomb Aug 12, 2009 Special education accounted for more than 16 percent—$9.3 billion—of K–12 spending in 2006–07. An extensive reform of special education financing in California about a decade ago sought to improve the way the state funds education for the disabled, who make up about 10 percent of public school students. Did reform achieve its goals? In large part, yes—but more can be done. The author suggests that to realize reform’s equity goals, policymakers could equalize base funding rates and make adjustments for local conditions such as numbers of low-income students and regional labor market wage levels. This report was funded with support from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education By Mark Baldassare, Jennifer Paluch, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek Apr 30, 2008 Some findings of the current survey: More than half (53%) of the state’s residents say the quality of K-12 public schools is a major problem. Blacks (72%) and whites (60%) are much more likely than Latinos (42%) and Asians (38%) to say that educational quality is a big problem. But more than half of Californians (54%) give their public schools an A (18%) or B (36%). Among public school parents, 27 percent give an A and 40 percent a B. A strong majority (60%) of Californians choose K-12 public education as the area they would like to protect from budget cuts. This is the 85th PPIC Statewide Survey. It is part of a series covering K-12, higher education, environment, and population issues. This survey includes the responses of 2,502 Californians and is supported by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Report Educational Progress Across Immigrant Generations in California By Deborah Reed, Laura Hill, Christopher Jepsen, Hans Johnson Sep 8, 2005 The children and grandchildren of California’s substantial and growing immigrant population are consistently attaining higher levels of educational achievement than their parents and grandparents did—good news for them and for the future of California. But levels of educational success vary widely among different groups of immigrants, and some groups, notably those from Mexico, lag well behind others. In this report, the authors explore the disparities in educational attainment among these groups, while also showing that data clearly affirm the overall positive trend. Their research shows that disparities in the education levels of the parents in these groups play a significant role in explaining these gaps in educational attainment. This insight suggests opportunities for policy makers seeking to help all youth to achieve their own educational—and therefore economic—success stories.
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.
blog post Federal Spending Bill Boosts Education Funds in California By Courtney Lee, Niu Gao, Patrick Murphy May 2, 2018 California’s schools stand to gain in the recent spending bill passed by Congress, despite cuts proposed by the president.
Report Higher Education in California: New Goals for the Master Plan By Hans Johnson Apr 23, 2010 California’s Master Plan for Higher Education defined a strategy to meet the state’s needs in 1960—but today, California faces new challenges. By 2025, the state will have one million fewer college-educated workers than the economy will require, according to PPIC projections. Updating the Master Plan is crucial to closing this skills gap. This report proposes that the plan set explicit new goals in several key areas, including UC and CSU eligibility levels, community college transfers to four-year institutions, and college completion rates. Supported with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation as part of the California 2025 project on the state's future challenges and opportunities.
Report Students with Disabilities and California’s Special Education Program By Stephen Lipscomb Jan 29, 2009 Students with disabilities are entitled by law to free, appropriate special education services, and in 2006–07, more than 10 percent of California’s total school enrollment used these services, at a cost of about $9.3 billion. This report provides basic information about California’s students with disabilities and its special education programs. It examines disability rates and trends, the educational environment, student performance on state assessments, and California’s financial commitment to special education, including detailed information about spending activity and the funding process.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner, David Kordus Apr 20, 2016 Some findings of the current survey: Most Californians say that state funding for local schools is inadequate; solid majorities favor a Proposition 30 income tax increase extension and state and local school bonds. Democrats and Republicans are divided on the Common Core standards. Still, a majority of Californians are confident that Common Core will help prepare students for college and careers. While few Californians have heard of the Local Control Funding Formula, a solid majority are supportive after being read a short description of the policy. Californians are concerned about preschool affordability; most favor using some of the state budget surplus to fund early childhood education programs. Crosstabs: All Adults [PDF] Likely Voters [PDF] Time Trends: All Adults [PDF] Likely Voters [PDF] The survey was supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, the LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment, the Silver Giving Foundation, and the Stuart Foundation.
