Legal update: Recent developments regarding school districts and parcel taxes

By Bode Owoyele, CSBA Associate General Counsel Parcel taxes have long been an essential part of school financing in California. Under the state Constitution, a school district may impose a special tax when a ballot measure proposing the tax is supported by two-thirds of qualified […]

Governor’s budget continues most commitments to TK-12 education despite budget shortfall

Gov. Gavin Newsom released his 2023–24 Budget Proposal on Jan. 10, outlining a $297 billion budget proposal and officially kicking off the budget season. Despite a slowing economy and what the Newsom Administration projects to be a $22.5 billion dollar state General Fund shortfall, the […]

School finance reforms prove valuable for improving student achievement

Spoiler alert: financial investments in K-12 education matter greatly when it comes to ensuring equitable access and opportunities for students and improving academic achievement. A recent Learning Policy Institute webinar “Money Matters: Evidence Supporting Greater Investment in Public Education” covered the history of school finance […]

Recent funding increases not enough to offset long-term challenges schools face

Despite record education funding levels, fiscal challenges remain, according to a fact sheet released Sept. 28 by the Public Policy Institute of California. State K-12 funding increased nearly 50 percent between 2017–18 and 2021–22, and with state, local and federal funding combined, public schools received […]

New state policy requires high school seniors to apply for FAFSA

By The California Student Aid Commission In California’s 2021–22 state budget, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature included a groundbreaking new policy that local educational agencies, including charter schools, must confirm that their graduating high school seniors complete an application for financial aid (or an […]

District leaders want deadline extension to spend federal COVID funds

Without an extension to the deadline by which districts must spend American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, officials say they will have to scale back pandemic investments while students are still in desperate need of additional academic and social-emotional supports. A majority of school superintendents surveyed […]