May 15, 2023

Author of bill to tie school employees' raises to funding formula increases makes big concession

Assembly Education Committee Chair Al Muratsuchi agrees to drop language explicitly calling for raising school workers' wages by 50% over seven years.

John Fensterwald

May 9, 2023

Two dozen views on LCFF: Is California's funding law working and what could improve it?

Educators and advocates, parents and political leaders across the spectrum agree that the funding formula had great promise — and still does. But they widely disagree on what’s hindering the potential to unravel inequities.

John Fensterwald

April 4, 2023

The clock is ticking on community schools

All schools should be community schools. Districts must act proactively to ensure the long-term sustainability of their programs once the initial state investment in community schools runs out.

Michael Matsuda

April 4, 2023

Does California's landmark school funding formula need 10th year makeover?

Public Advocates and ACLU join Gov. Gavin Newsom in calling for major changes to the funding formula's mandate for equitable and effective spending through the LCAP.

John Fensterwald

February 16, 2023

Newsom’s big bet on fixing California's poorest schools and narrowing achievement gaps

Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing the biggest changes in a decade to the state system of funding and governing schools.

John Fensterwald, Emma Gallegos, And Daniel J. Willis

February 13, 2023

We need stronger accountability to fulfill the equity promise of California’s school funding system

Ten years into California's new Local Control Funding Formula, students are still not getting the resources and support promised by the law.

Guillermo Mayer and Christopher J. Nellum

January 4, 2023

California’s school finance ratings: D for adequacy, B for equity, F for effort — but on the upswing

California ranks 33rd in 2019-20, adjusted for its cost of living, spending $13,686 per student in state and local funding. Its method of funding poor districts is one of the nation's most equitable.

John Fensterwald

November 7, 2022

New biography examines Michael Kirst's impact on public education in California and beyond

Kirst , who was president of the State Board of Education for all four of Jerry Brown’s terms as governor, co-authored the Local Control Funding Formula.

John Fensterwald

November 1, 2022

California's accountability system is failing English learners

The California School Dashboard masks the needs of English learners, leading to low expectations for these students and resulting in many districts not planning for their support and success.

Martha Hernandez

September 2, 2022

Gov. Newsom quashes bill to provide more funding for Black students

An unstated reason was Prop. 209, banning preferences by race; governor promises more funding somehow for state's lowest performing student group next year

John Fensterwald

June 28, 2022

Gov. Newsom strikes deal on state budget: big increase for K-12, plan to expand Cal Grant, too

Compromise includes 13% more for funding formula, extra for community schools, student transportation, school construction, literacy coaches and expansion of Cal Grants.

John Fensterwald And Michael Burke

June 22, 2022

California Prop. 13’s 'unjust legacy' detailed in critical study

Study recommends no specific fix to 1978 property tax limit initiative, but the Opportunity Institute and Pivot Learning cite many reasons to consider reforms.

John Fensterwald

May 2, 2022

Growing suburban Sacramento school districts spared state's declining enrollment

New housing construction in suburbs around Sacramento have saved some school districts in the region from the belt-tightening that comes with declining student enrollment. 

Diana Lambert

April 29, 2022

Senate, Assembly agree California schools should receive billions more in unrestricted funding

Districts complain COLA isn't enough to cover their costs and needs; Gov. Newsom to release revised budget, revenue projections by May 15.

John Fensterwald

March 21, 2022

We must focus on equity as California tackles declining enrollment

As California policymakers grapple with the fiscal implications of declining school enrollment, they must seize the opportunity to address equity.

Robert Manwaring