‘Getting Down to Facts’ revisited - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess
The principal author and other contributors to the massive research project on California education known as Getting Down to Facts are marking the fifth anniversary of its release by examining its...
View ArticleSchools under heavy stress - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess
A new report out today examines internal and external stresses from budget cuts and economic contractions on the states’ 30 largest school districts. When handled singly, districts have been able to...
View ArticleWeighted formula in waiting - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess
With the cancellation of today’s joint hearing with the Senate and Assembly Education Committees, the Brown administration has dodged – for now – tough questioning on the governor’s plan for a weighted...
View ArticleK-12 schools spared, for now - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess
The state budget for next year has deteriorated by $6 billion since January, but Gov. Jerry Brown is not proposing to cut money for K-12 schools – immediately. But if voters in November reject Brown’s...
View ArticleBig changes to weighted formula - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess
Responding to criticisms of his plan for school finance reform, Gov. Jerry Brown has significantly revised his weighted student formula, raising the base amount that all districts will receive,...
View ArticlePersuade, not threaten, me to vote for your initiative, Governor - by Arun...
A few Saturdays ago, my kids and I walked through a crowd of signature gatherers for ballot initiatives outside Trader Joe’s. Some of them all but tackled me as they pitched their proposals. All of...
View ArticleCA breaks another bad record - by Kathryn Baron
More California school districts than ever before are heading toward insolvency. The State Department of Education’s Second Interim Status Report for 2011-12, released yesterday, named 188 districts...
View ArticleFiguring districts’ weighted funding - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess
The state Department of Finance has released the district allocations under Gov. Jerry Brown’s revised plan for weighted student funding that shaves off the peaks, fills in the valleys, and includes...
View ArticleFirst, keep the lights on - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess
Given more control over how they could spend state money, school districts not surprisingly chose survival over experimentation. And if legislators want otherwise – to encourage districts to innovate...
View Article160-day minimum year coming - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess
Call it a last-minute clarification or a June surprise, another piece of bad news: A trailer bill that the Legislature will vote on Wednesday permits districts to slash the school year by an additional...
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