In California, about 1,000 elected school boards, in concert with superintendents and other administrators, make decisions that shape the local schools, the programs for students, and the working environment for teachers and other employees.

They approve a budget and choose the programs that are uniquely fitted to the school district. But they do this within a system that is created and firmly overseen by the state Legislature and governor, from the details of the Education Code to how much local property tax money will go to local schools. And, in recent years, the federal government has been investing more money and thereby exerting more influence over California's school policies.

This page describes the various levels of government and their role in the governance of California's K-12 schools. (Also see: Community College Governance.)

At the State Level

Funding for public education in California is almost entirely controlled by the state government. In addition the governor and Legislature can make laws that influence every facet of school operations.

• The governor and Legislature  

  • The governor kicks off the annual budget process with his January budget proposal which looks at revenue estimates and sets priorities for how the money should be spent. In addition to playing a major role in shaping the state's budget, the governor appoints the State Board of Education, which sets education policy and governs the California Department of Education (CDE). Through the selection of advisers, the governor sends signals about the priority he or she places on education and the administration’s relationship to the CDE, which implements and enforces policy. The governor can also sponsor or block legislation related to schools, and through the power of the bully pulpit, influence the state's approach to education.
  • The Legislature must pass the state budget, which determines how much money each of California's nearly 1,000 school districts and 112 community colleges will receive each year. The legislature also passes laws that affect every aspect of education from teacher evaluation to funding to student testing, charters, and more.
• The State Board of Education (SBE) is appointed by the governor with the approval of the state Senate. It is the governing body for the CDE. The SBE is responsible for approving curriculum frameworks, textbooks, statewide assessments, and standards for student performance. It acts as a court of appeals for local decisions (e.g., school district reorganization).
  
  
  • California’s Secretary of Education is a position not required by the state Constitution, and upon taking office in January 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown eliminated this position.

• The California Department of Education (CDE) administers and enforces state education laws; advises school districts on legal, financial, and program matters; and collects, analyzes, and disseminates financial, demographic, performance, and other data about public education, including data necessary to satisfy federal requirements.

  • The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) serves as an important and visible advocate for the state's schools and students. Elected by the voters, the SPI administers the day-to-day operations of the CDE under the policies of the State Board of Education. The SPI—with approval by the State Board—also drafts regulations to implement new laws.

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At the Local Level

School Districts

Every school district has a publicly elected board responsible for governing and managing local schools within the limits of state and federal law. Together with school district administration, the School Board is responsible for many fiscal, personnel, and instructional policies, such as adopting the budget, hiring or firing the superintendent, and negotiating with employee unions.

As head of a school, the principal often works as both a manager and a leader. The principal is responsible for helping teachers improve student academic achievement, developing a positive school culture, and managing personnel and operations effectively. The role of the School Site Council and other parent groups varies based on district practice and programs at the school. Site councils in schools with selected state and federal categorical programs develop the Single Plan for Student Achievement for their schools. The plan addresses how the categorical funds will be used to improve academic performance.

Charter Schools
A charter school is a public school governed by a contract (“charter”) between the school’s operators and a chartering authority. Charter schools typically are more independent of their chartering authorities than “regular” public schools are of their districts and are free from many state regulations.
More about charter school history and policy >

County Offices of Education

All 58 county offices of education (COEs) in California are operated by a superintendent and board, but the methods for selecting the members of the governance team vary. In general, county offices provide business, administrative, and curriculum services to school districts; financial oversight of districts and charter schools; and support for and oversight of low-performing schools.

COEs also provide educational programs for certain students, such as classes for homeless students and pregnant minors. By law, some statewide programs, such as Juvenile Hall, are offered only by county offices. In other cases, both county offices and school districts provide similar services, such as Career Tech education and Special Education for students with disabilities.

COE services are affected by the type of districts within the county, the location and size of the county, and the special needs of students that are not met by districts within the county. Generally, county offices provide more services to smaller districts.

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At the Federal Level

The federal government has historically influenced the governance of public schools primarily through requirements that the state must meet in order to receive funding for special purposes. The most notable of these are Special Education and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently called the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Congress will likely be reauthorizing ESEA during the next term, which means that the law and its requirements could change dramatically. These affect the state's systems of testing and accountability. 

Since President Barack Obama's election in 2008, the administration has increasingly used an incentive strategy to encourage education reform with a series of competitive grants. While the Race to the Top competition prompted a variety of policy reforms at the state level and in some large school districts, California's effort to get extra funding in that competition fell short. That said, the state has garnered more than $10 billion through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act since 2009. In 2009-10, about 14% of total funds for schools came from the federal government, including stabilization funds that helped mitigate state funding cuts. 

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