Report examines benefits to identifying low-income youth differently under LCFF

Using free and reduced-price meal (FRPM) enrollment as a proxy to identify how much additional funding local educational agencies receive under California’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) may be leaving out children and undercutting schools’ efforts to support them. LCFF allocates additional funding to LEAs […]

Governor’s Administration releases 2025–26 education budget trailer bill language

In keeping with the requirements of statute, the Governor’s Department of Finance released their budget trailer bills. Providing greater clarity on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January Budget Proposal, the trailer bills provide the details where specific statutory amendments are proposed on how specific programs and proposals are intended to operate. As part of that release, the education trailer bill helps to shed light on significant proposals made last month.

Governor’s Department of Finance presents the January Budget Proposal for 2025–26

On Jan. 10, California’s Department of Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw formally presented the Governor’s January Budget Proposal. A continuance of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s sneak peek presentation of his proposed budget on Jan. 6, the theme for the 2025–26 budget proposal is one of caution and […]

Governor Newsom provides a sneak peek of his proposed 2025–26 State Budget

On Jan. 6, Gov. Gavin Newsom provided a topline preview of his proposed 2025–26 budget. Highlighting the main themes of the budget, he deferred much of the detail typically included in the January Budget Proposal announcement to Friday, Jan. 10, when the state’s Director of […]

New report tallies the costs of conflict for public schools

A national survey of 467 superintendents conducted over summer 2024 considered the societal and fiscal costs of recent conflicts happening in schools and found that two-thirds of respondents, who represent 46 states, have experienced moderate to high rates of culturally divisive clashes in their local educational agencies since the pandemic.

LAO releases much-anticipated state budget revenue projections for 2025–26

Slightly higher state revenues driven by continued stock market growth means the LAO’s assessment offers a brighter picture than last year’s dismal forecast, but storm clouds remain on the horizon due to weakness in the overall state economy, the unpredictability of future tax revenues, and fiscal pressures that are problematic for local educational agencies.

Report spotlights need to continue social-emotional services even after federal pandemic funding ends

With Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds that have been essential to local educational agencies’ efforts to support students’ mental health and academic needs running dry, a report by EdTrust calls on state leaders to take stock of what worked and prioritize using […]