New academic demands and challenges in schools require increased capacity to support instructional improvement. Capacity comes in many forms: technical, organizational, and political. In addition, there are different sources of capacity, such as the state government and networks. This report examines: (1) What sources of capacity to support instructional improvement operate in California?; (2) How are they distributed?; (3) How does California's capacity compare with other states?; and (4) How might capacity be strengthened? As it addresses these questions, this report strives: (1) To build on but not repeat prior analysis of California's education governance; (2) To focus on state structures for instructional support, but not consider all aspects of educational governance capacity; and (3) To focus primarily on state-level structures for support, with particular attention on the California Department of Education.