Fact Sheet Public Preschools in California By Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman Apr 22, 2019 Most parents of young children work, but public preschool programs are fragmented and currently unable to serve all who are eligible. Improvements will require a multipronged approach.
Fact Sheet Public Pensions in California By Radhika Mehlotra, Patrick Murphy Mar 15, 2019 State and local governments face large and growing pension obligations. This fact sheet provides a snapshot of California’s public pensions and liabilities, their impact on local budgets, and policy changes that aim to tackle rising costs.
blog post Declining K–12 Enrollment Forces Major Budget Cuts in Many Districts By Paul Warren Mar 4, 2019 About half of all K-12 school districts in California saw enrollment declines over the past five years, leading to decreased state funding. For many districts, this has meant making cuts in teachers, administrators, and other staff.
blog post Will the Governor’s Budget Reduce the Heat on School Districts? By Patrick Murphy, Julien Lafortune, Radhika Mehlotra Jan 28, 2019 Governor Newsom's proposed budget calls for a one-time $3 billion payment to the main teacher retirement system, but is it enough to relieve financial pressure on California's schools?
blog post Money Measures and the November Ballot By Patrick Murphy, Jennifer Paluch, Radhika Mehlotra Dec 12, 2018 Ballots across California in the November election featured 397 money-related questions, including taxes, bonds, and fees. Most of these measures passed (79%), though success rates varied across types of taxation or borrowing.
blog post Career Technical Education: Funding & New State Oversight By Refujio Gonzalez, Courtney Lee Sep 18, 2018 New federal funds for career and technical educational gives California more opportunities and responsibilities.
Fact Sheet Career Technical Education in California By Sarah Bohn, Niu Gao, Shannon McConville Jun 6, 2018
Report K–12 Reforms and California’s English Learner Achievement Gap By Laura Hill May 30, 2018 English Learner (EL) students have been a key part of California’s K–12 system for decades. They currently make up about 21 percent of the public school population. English Learner status is meant to be temporary, and indeed, reclassified English Learners (those who are deemed English proficient) are among the best-performing students in the state. But students who remain ELs for longer periods generally have poor outcomes.
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.