event Funding Education in California Aug 9, 2023 Ten years ago, California implemented a new funding plan for public K–12 education. The goal of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) was to improve student outcomes and increase equity by providing more resources to districts with larger populations of low-income students, English language learners, and foster youth. How has this funding approach served our students? Following a brief presentation by PPIC research fellow Julien Lafortune, PPIC president and CEO Tani Cantil-Sakauye will moderate a conversation with a panel of experts, including Tony Thurmond, state superintendent of public instruction; Josh Hoover, assemblymember; and Ben Chida, chief deputy cabinet secretary, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.
event Paying for Water in California Apr 10, 2014 About the Program California's latest drought highlights the need to improve how we manage and pay for our precious water resources. At this half-day event, participants will discuss where California's water finance system is failing, how we might fill the gaps, and whether significant reforms are needed to enable our water resources to support a healthy economy, society, and environment. This event follows the release of a new PPIC report, Paying for Water in California. This project is supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the California Water Foundation, an initiative of the Resources Legacy Fund. Questions? Contact Kelly Holt at events@ppic.org or (415) 291-4498.
Report Paying for Water in California By Ellen Hanak, Dean Misczynski, Jay Lund, Brian Gray ... Mar 12, 2014 California faces serious funding gaps in five key areas of water management—including safe drinking water in small, disadvantaged communities; flood protection; management of stormwater and other polluted runoff; aquatic ecosystem management; and integrated water management. These gaps amount to $2 billion to $3 billion a year. But bold efforts by state and local leaders can pave the way to sustainable solutions for California’s critical water resources. This research is supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the California Water Foundation, an initiative of the Resources Legacy Fund.
Occasional Paper, Report Local Budgets and Tax Policy in California: Surveys of City Officials and State Residents By Mark Baldassare, Christopher Hoene Sep 18, 2004 Presented at the League of California Cities annual conference, Session on the Future of Public Finance, Long Beach,California, September 18, 2004.
At Issue, Report School Finance Reform By Margaret Weston Nov 10, 2010 California’s school finance system is widely believed to be inequitable, inadequately funded, and overly complex. But the state can significantly improve the way it funds public schools by making small investments over time. This report provides an overview of the system’s current challenges, offers five straightforward principles for reform, and outlines a new direction for the state’s school finance system. This report was supported with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Equitable State Funding for School Facilities By Julien Lafortune, Niu Gao, Mary Severance Mar 14, 2022 Funding for school facilities comes mostly from local sources and depends on local property wealth. California provides some funding through the School Facility Program (SFP), but many have noted that SFP privileges wealthier districts. Policymakers will need to identify equitable funding streams that give all students access to safe and effective learning environments
Occasional Paper, Report Changing the Order of Things: Six Proposals for Local Finance Reform By Paul Lewis, Fred Silva May 19, 2000 Prepared for the Center for State and Local Taxation Conference on Local Finance Reform, University of California, Davis, May 19, 2000.
blog post Funding Special Education By Linda Strean Dec 6, 2016 A well-attended Sacramento event focused on the way the special education finance system works now in California and on PPIC’s recommendations to change it.
blog post Testimony: Special Education Finance in California By Paul Warren Mar 28, 2019 Research associate Paul Warren discusses rising school district costs for special education as well as options for strengthening state funding in this area.
