News and Resources
For California schools and community colleges, the fiscal situation is both complex and unsettled. This EdSource page provides regular updates on state and federal policy, links to staff-selected news articles, and links to official government documents.
California Policy Updates
Need fast, insightful analysis on how the latest budget and policy decisions could affect public education in California? You'll find it here, thanks to the generosity of two expert firms: School Services of California and Strategic Education Services.
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The Governor’s Budget is Out—What Do We Do Now? ~ January 27, 2010 |
Governor's Budget Proposal for 2010-11 |
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Recent News
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NOTE: While we only select articles from reputable sources, EdSource cannot and does not guarantee the accuracy of linked content or endorse the viewpoints expressed therein.
Statewide Efforts To Pass School Parcel Tax Move Forward | KPBS.org ~ 2/8/10
Education advocates in California are moving forward with efforts to lower the threshold in the legislature to pass a parcel tax for schools. One of the ideas to lower the threshold is for a constitutional amendment in the State Legislature. The other is an initiative on the November ballot.
San Jose State University will receive an extra $3.1 million in one-time [federal stimulus] funds to provide new classes, as well as improved academic counseling, for the fall term.
L.A. schools chief to work for free for a day | Los Angeles Times ~ 2/5/10
Cortines announced Thursday that he would take a furlough day to encourage others to do the same. The district is facing a deficit of up to $670 million, and officials have been urging union members to take four unpaid furlough days before June. If every L.A. Unified employee took four furlough days, the district could save an estimated $60 million.
With Federal Stimulus Money Gone, Many Schools Face Budget Gaps | New York Times ~ 2/7/10
With state and local tax revenues still in decline, the end of the federal money will leave big holes in education budgets from Massachusetts and Florida to California and Washington, experts said.
CTA seeking to repeal corporate tax benefits via initiative | The Sacramento Bee ~ 2/5/2010
The California Teachers Association plans to begin gathering signatures as soon as today for an initiative to repeal corporate tax benefits that lawmakers approved….
School Board, administrators get pay cut | The Californian ~ 2/4/2010
The governing board and top administrators in the Murrieta school district will have their stipends and salaries cut 7.25 percent starting in July….
Up to 128 could face layoffs in Alvord district | The Press-Enterprise ~ 2/4/2010
[L]ayoff notices that may affect 128 jobs for teachers, counselors, school nurses and librarians in 2010-11.
Acalanes school district to seek additional parcel tax | Contra Costa Times ~ 2/4/2010
The school board voted Tuesday to approve a May 4 mail election to ask voters to approve an additional, temporary parcel tax to help the district close a $4.8 million budget gap officials fear could grow even larger.
Pact gives community a bigger role in schools | San Diego Union-Tribune ~ 2/4/10
Under a pilot agreement approved last week by the San Diego school board, the Point Loma cluster of schools— seven elementary, two middle and one high school — could pool their budgets and come up with their own suggestions when it comes time to cut or preserve programs.
Speakers tell school board to save science positions at Berkeley High | Contra Costa Times ~ 2/3/10
A handful of students, parents and teachers spoke out Wednesday against a proposal to eliminate four science teacher positions at Berkeley High School and shift the funds to programs for low achievers.
San Ramon Valley school board sees initial budget cut recommendations | Contra Costa Times ~ 2/3/10
The San Ramon Valley school district has released two budget recommendations reflecting expected cutbacks— one with increased class sizes and another with even larger classes and bigger cuts if the district cannot negotiate concessions with its employee unions.
Parcel tax poll results questioned | San Diego Union-Tribune ~ 2/4/10
Critics are questioning the validity of a poll showing strong support for a parcel tax that could raise millions of dollars for cash-strapped San Diego schools.
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Recently Released Government Documents
Education Mandates: Overhauling a Broken System | Legislative Analyst's Office ~ February 2, 2010
Currently, the state requires K-12 and community college districts to perform hundreds of mandated activities, the majority of which provide little benefit to students or teachers. Since the state does not pay for K-14 mandates on a regular basis, the result is billions in outstanding costs the state must eventually pay. In this report, we recommend comprehensively reforming K–14 mandates. If a mandate serves a purpose fundamental to the education system, such as protecting student health or providing essential assessment and oversight data, it should be funded. If not, the mandate should be eliminated. Taken as a whole, our reform package would relieve school districts and community colleges of performing hundreds of activities that provide little value to students while providing them with adequate and timely compensation for the activities still required of them. In addition, comprehensively reforming mandates would reduce the state’s annual obligations by more than $350 million—funds that could be saved or allocated to districts for higher priorities.
The Master Plan at 50: Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts--Coordinating Higher Education in California | Legislative Analyst's Office ~ January 28, 2010
California’s approach to coordination of the state's higher education system over the past 50 years has been indirect, resting mostly on well–defined missions and eligibility pools to guide the development of higher education institutions. This approach worked well during several decades of expansion, producing arguably the greatest higher education system in the world. The effectiveness of this approach has declined over the last quarter century, however, and institutions have been left to pursue their separate interests with insufficient mechanisms to advance the state’s priorities. This report examines the need for a systemwide approach to planning and coordination of California’s system of higher education, and proposes strategies for improvement.
Prisons vs. Universities Proposal Would Unwisely Lock Up Budget Flexibility | Legislative Analyst's Office ~ January 26, 2010
We urge the Legislature to reject this proposal because it (1) would unwisely constrain the state’s ability to allocate funding where it is most needed each year; and (2) is unnecessary, as the state already has the ability to shift funding among programs without this constitutional amendment.
Overview of Special Session Proposals: Education Budget | Legislative Analyst's Office ~ January 19, 2010
A presentation on the governor's K-12 education and higher education proposals.
Overview of Proposition 98 Budget | Legislative Analyst's Office ~ January 12, 2010
An overview of the state's budget problems and the governor's proposed solutions, including information about Special Education and the federally-required maintenance of effort level.
The 2010-11 Budget: Overview of the Governor’s Budget | Legislative Analyst's Office ~ January 12, 2010
The Governor proposes $19.9 billion of budget solutions in 2009-10 and 2010-11 to address the budget shortfall and create a $1 billion reserve. Although the Governor proposes to keep overall Proposition 98 spending virtually flat across the two years, his plan contains $2.2 billion in budget-year programmatic reductions. These reductions are necessitated by the heavy reliance on one-time solutions in 2009-10. The largest of the proposed reductions for 2010-11 is a $1.5 billion cut to K-12 general purpose funding (commonly known as revenue limits).
Governor's Budget 2010-11 | California Department of Finance ~ January 8, 2010
The Proposed Budget Summary includes the governor's goals and objectives for the forthcoming year and highlights significant issues, policies, and initiatives of the administration reflected in the Governor's Budget.
California's Fiscal Outlook: The 2010-11 Budget [Report] [Video] | Legislative Analyst’s Office ~ November 18, 2009
Our forecast of California’s General Fund revenues and expenditures shows that the state must address a General Fund budget problem of $20.7 billion between now and the time the Legislature enacts a 2010–11 state budget plan. The budget problem consists of a $6.3 billion projected deficit for 2009–10 and a $14.4 billion gap between projected revenues and spending in 2010–11. Addressing this large shortfall will require painful choices—on top of the difficult choices the Legislature made earlier this year.
Strengthening the Budget Process | Legislative Analyst’s Office ~ October 22, 2009
Presentation to Joint Hearing of the Select Committees on Improving State Government.
2009–10 Spending Plan: The Budget Package | Legislative Analyst’s Office ~ October 6, 2009
After considering both the February and July budget packages (including the Governor’s line–item vetoes), the 2009–10 state spending plan includes total state budget expenditures of $110 billion from the General Fund and special funds.
2009-10 Categorical Program Guidance Memorandum | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office ~ August 26, 2009
In response to California’s fiscal crisis, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law major revisions to the 2009-10 State Budget on July 28, 2009. For the California Community Colleges (CCC) these revisions imposed deep funding cuts and made significant policy changes in order to provide districts with greater flexibility to manage the funding reductions. This memo provides clarification and guidance for districts in regard to categorical programs.
California’s Key Liabilities | Legislative Analyst’s Office ~ August 12, 2009
This memo discusses California's debt, deferred payments, and other liabilities that will affect the state’s financial health in the future.
2009-10 State Budget | California Department of Finance ~ July 28, 2009
The amendments to the 2009‑10 Budget are the culmination of California's effort to restore balance to a state budget that has been decimated by the worst budget crisis in the state's history.
Webinar to Discuss New ARRA Programs | U.S. Department of Education ~ July 27, 2009
On Monday, July 27, Deputy Secretary of Education Tony Miller hosted a webinar for governors, Chief State School Officers, state legislators, mayors, superintendents, school board members, education association leaders, and other stakeholders, outlining more than $9 billion in new initiatives for states and school districts, including the $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" Fund. An archived webcast, PowerPoint presentation, and transcript are all available.
July 2009 Budget Package | California Legislative Analyst’s Office ~ July 2009
This publication summarizes the actions taken by the Legislature and Governor.
Remember: While we only select articles from reputable news sources, EdSource cannot and does not guarantee the accuracy of linked content or endorse the viewpoints expressed therein.