To offset economic challenges within schools, there has been a recent increase in foundation funding to school districts. This has created a significant social justice issue in student access and student participation across the state of California. The competing interests of local school communities to shore up inadequate state funding often…

In the Serrano decisions, the courts found California's method of financing schools to be unconstitutional and gave the state until September 1, 1980 to reduce wealth-based expenditure differences to substantially less than $100 per pupil. The courts found three features of the state's system to be particularly onerous--the failure of the state to…

The recent passage of legislation providing expanded financial support to elementary and secondary schools in California and its implications for educational improvement are discussed in this article. (JD)

This paper analyzes the potential implications of ceasing or lowering the funding for developmental studies programs in California community colleges. After an initial discussion of the financial constraints impinging upon community colleges, the possible effects of fiscal reductions on college missions, and the role of developmental education in…

In light of the passage of Proposition 13 in California, which requires rethinking of the state's school financing structure, the author assesses the advantages and disadvantages of complete state financing v retaining some proportion of the revenue function at the local level. (Author/SJL)

Prepared in response to the legislative mandate contained in California's Education Code, this report on program-based funding in the California community colleges recommends criteria and standards for the purposes of making budget requests to the governor and legislature for the colleges and allocating state general apportionment revenues. Part I…

This article reviews the current status of school finance in California in the aftermath of Proposition 13 and the Serrano v. Priest decision (which required determination of school funding on some basis other than district property wealth). Specific trends and directions regarding reform issues of the future are identified. (TE)

Discusses alternative sources for school funding to replace the traditional heavy reliance on local property taxes and addresses the problem of financial inequity between school districts. Proposes complete state financing of all school districts and an increased state income tax as possible alternatives to local property tax-based school funding.…

Using examples from California, the author analyzes the increasing trend for states to assume a guiding or dominant role over local school districts in important aspects of American education. He considers the main reasons for this trend to be public concern over academic standards and the increasing cost of education. (Editor/SJL)

Today's education governance reform efforts call for new ways of allocating resources to public education to allow for more local control of budgetary decision making. This research begins by exploring the federal, state, and local mechanisms by which public education is supported in California before turning to an examination of how those…

The role of the state in funding California's community colleges may change in the wake of Proposition 13 cutbacks. Any system of statewide support must be developed around several assumptions: (1) state support will increase; (2) the college mission will remain unchanged; (3) educational demand will continue to play a substantial role in how the…

The ability of California to provide quality education for its youth depends both on the state's capacity to fund K-12 education and on how the education dollars are used to provide educational services after they are allocated. This report examines how California's federal, state, and local education dollars are spent after they are allocated to…

This advisory for superintendents on the California Mentor Teacher Program provides background information, discusses issues in initial program planning, describes the state department of education's role and upcoming activities in program implementation, and gives information on funding for the program. The background section describes the…

A staff report to the California Postsecondary Education Commission analyzes the California governor's 1989-90 budget and describes provisions for postsecondary education. Topics of the report are: factors constraining the budget; proposed educational expenditures (for public school expenditures, University of California, California State…

Developed to assist two-year college administrators in understanding the application of the funding formula for California's community colleges that became effective July 1, 1991, this paper reviews revenue base limits; practical implications of the revenue base; the role of institutional growth in increasing base revenues in the absence of cost…