Report finds increased funding and access but low standards for California pre-K programs

California increased its early childhood education funding and enrollment in 2017–18, but fell below the national average for meeting minimum quality standards, according to “The State of Preschool 2018” annual report from the National Institute for Early Education Research. The pre-K programs — composed of […]

Expansive research provides further evidence of need for Full and Fair Funding

To adequately educate every student, California needed to spend $16,890 per pupil in the 2016–17 school year. The state spent $12,204. The vast funding gap was the highlight of Getting Down to Facts II research presented by Policy Analysis for California Education at an April […]

New study shows California schools critically underfunded in quest to close achievement gap

A new report released by the Albert Shanker Institute and co-authored by Bruce Baker, a top school finance expert from Rutgers University, points to the importance of increased school funding in bridging the achievement gap. “The Adequacy and Fairness of State School Finance Systems” examines […]

The Sacramento Bee selects CSBA CEO Vernon M. Billy as one of most influential Californians

As part of The California Influencer Series, Billy joins a group of 100 leaders in analyzing important issues facing the state The Sacramento Bee has selected CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy for its 2019 California Influencer series, which surveys 100 of California’s […]

Coalition rallies at Capitol with funding message of ‘Our students deserve more!’

Alameda County school board members, teachers, administrators, other staff members, students and parents rallied at the Capitol steps in Sacramento on April 3 behind a unified call for increased state education funding. More than 300 people attended the event organized by the East Bay Coalition […]

Experts share insights on future of Prop 64 funds for youth health programs

Experts from Washington and Colorado, two states which legalized recreational marijuana before California, weighed in at a Capitol briefing on the best ways to design youth drug prevention and health programs using cannabis tax revenue. The March 26 event was hosted by Assemblymember Reginald Byron […]

Digital divide largely closed at California schools, but large gaps remain in homes

California has closed the digital divide at its K-12 schools, but internet access at home remains a persistent problem, a new report finds. Analysis by the Public Policy Institute of California  shows that 90 percent of the state’s schools met the Federal Communication Commission’s minimum […]

What districts should know about first run of optional California Spanish Assessment

A new, optional test will be administered for the first time when the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress testing window opens April 1, 2019. The California Spanish Assessment will be offered to third- through eighth-grade and high school students seeking a measure of […]