Issues and Actions in California Education Policy: Setting the Stage for 2006

January 2006
With the Governor’s annual budget proposal kicking off the state’s 2006 spending deliberations, public education—at 39% of the budget—once again takes center stage. How much to budget for schools is a key question, in light of last year’s pitched battle, the defeat of the Governor’s ballot initiatives, and now a projected state revenue increase. But whatever the funding level, policymakers face multiple decisions on how to spend the funds.

This report explains the important and complex issues on the table, summarizes policy actions of 2005, and previews issues that promise to be out front this year. Some highlights:

• High school This spring, for the first time, students must pass the state’s high school exit exam to graduate. Though about 78% of the class of 2006 has passed, that includes only some 35% of special education students. Debate continues over how to accommodate students with special needs.
• School finance system Despite a likely substantial increase in school spending, direct benefits to K-12 programs may prove elusive due to spikes in other costs. With the strain on finances since 2001, many districts have cut programs in order to address rising costs for utilities, health benefits, and salaries.
• Teachers To bolster student achievement and close achievement gaps—as well as to meet federal requirements—policymakers will continue to grapple with issues of teacher supply, certification, professional development, and distribution. Controversial issues such as differential pay and pay for performance may get a hearing.
• Accountability Given the currently mismatched state and federal approaches to measuring school performance, schools that do well under one are sometimes labeled as failing under the other. Policymakers are negotiating; the hope is to resolve this confusing and potentially counterproductive situation.

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