Tool / Toolkit
California School Dashboard
Public Advocates
A handout presenting data on measuring school success based on a wider range of information on student outcomes.
Tag: Multi Lingual Learners
Tool / Toolkit
Meaningful Local Engagement Under ESSA Issue 2
The Opportunity Institute
A handbook for state and local school leaders on engagement in school improvement efforts, including how to engage on needs assessments and priority-building, school improvement strategies, and resource alignment.
Story / Case Study / Commentary
African-American Students Would Get Extra Aid Under California’s K-12 Funding Formula In Proposal Before Legislature
Children Now
An article about California bill AB 2635, which proposed additional funding for California districts with African-American students to address the persistent low academic achievement of these students and correct the failure of the existing Local Control Funding Formula in addressing their needs.
Story / Case Study / Commentary
Facing Unprepared Kindergartners, A Rural School District Restores Preschool For All
Children Now
An article describing how the Lindsay Unified School District in California implemented universal preschool, allowing every child from birth to 4 years old, regardless of family income, to attend a preschool program for free, with the aim of preparing students for kindergarten and reducing disparities in early learning opportunities.
Tool / Toolkit
Why Engagement is Essential for Educational Equity
The Opportunity Institute
An explainer that outlines 5 promising engagement practices that can lead to meaningful engagement and promote equity-focused policy centered around student educational excellence and success.
Story / Case Study / Commentary
Districts Must Do More To Reduce Low-Income Schools’ Share Of Inexperienced, Ineffective Teachers Under New Federal Law
Children Now
An article about California's efforts to address disparities in student achievement and the distribution of experienced and effective teachers in schools, as required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Story / Case Study / Commentary
Opinion: California Still Lacks School-Spending Transparency
Children Now
An op-ed highlighting the lack of transparency in California's education funding system, particularly concerning money intended to support vulnerable student groups. Calls for a clear and accessible system to track and report how funds are spent to ensure they benefit those who need it most.
Story / Case Study / Commentary
Gov. Brown Proposes Ambitious Education Agenda In His Final State Budget
Children Now
A discussion of California Governor Jerry Brown's proposed education spending in his 2018-19 budget, which included funding to address shortages in special education teachers, connecting career pathways programs with community colleges, and allocating more resources to the state's school accountability system.
Story / Case Study / Commentary
24 Ideas For Improving The Local Control Funding Formula
Children Now
A collection of recommendations from 24 school leaders, student advocates, legislators, and others for the most important improvements needed to make California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) for effective, equitable, and truer to its promise.
Story / Case Study / Commentary
Jerry Brown’s Dilemma: Fix School Funding Formula Now Or Watch Others Do It Later
Children Now
An article exploring potential improvements to California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) to address criticisms related to fiscal transparency, low funding for basic expenses, and the burden of the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).
Story / Case Study / Commentary
Stagnant California Test Scores Pose Problem; State Board May Rejigger How To Rate Districts
Children Now
An article describing the challenge faced by the California State Board of Education as stagnant test results could require hundreds of school districts to seek county assistance due to their failure to raise English language arts and math scores, prompting consideration of changes to the criteria for rating schools and districts to reduce the number of poorly performing districts.
Story / Case Study / Commentary
New Poll: Safe And Positive School Environment More Important Than Higher Test Scores
Children Now
An article discussing the findings of a poll which showed that California voters prioritize creating a safe and positive school environment over higher scores on standardized tests when evaluating school performance, and express concerns about bullying, violence, and harassment on school campuses.
Policy Brief/Proposal
California’s Golden Opportunity: Taking Stock, Leadership from the Middle
Michael Fullan Enterprises Inc.
An information feedback report on the evolution of California's education reform enacted in 2013-2014, which radically redefined the policy direction in education based on the principle of decentralization of resources to local levels, expressed in the new Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).
Tool / Toolkit
Meaningful Local Engagement Under ESSA
The Opportunity Institute
A handbook for state and local education leaders that includes information about why engagement is essential to planning, strategies for making engagement more effective, and tools for building an engagement strategy.
Research/Report
Six Ways School Districts Can Leverage the Local Control Funding Formula for Equity in the Early Years
Education Trust, Inc.
Recommendations and examples of districts using Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds to increase early learning options for families of color, families facing poverty, and families of dual language learners.
Research/Report
Unlocking Learning: Science as a Lever for English Learner Equity
Education Trust, Inc.
A blueprint for increasing access and achievement in science for California's English learners, featuring real world examples of high-performing school, high quality professional development, and innovative classroom practices.
Story / Case Study / Commentary
State Board Rethinking How To Measure Performance Of Alternative Schools
Children Now
An article discussing the challenge of developing a comprehensive accountability system for alternative schools in California and exploring potential metrics that could be used to assess their performance while integrating them into the larger system of accountability and school improvement.
Story / Case Study / Commentary
State Education Officials Call For Clearer Directives To Close Achievement Gaps
Children Now
An article highlighting the discussion and disagreements within the California State Board of Education over the next version of the state's plan to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Story / Case Study / Commentary
Clarity On School Funding: Are English Learners Getting Their Due
Children Now
An op-ed criticizing the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) in California for not fulfilling its promises to direct additional resources to help English learners, foster children, and impoverished students.
Story / Case Study / Commentary
Local Control Formula Closing Funding Gap But Not Equity Gap, Report Says
Children Now
A discussion of a report from the student advocacy organization Education Trust-West, which highlights the need for more transparency and innovative approaches to distributing funding under the Local Control Funding Formula in California, as the infusion of funding hasn't yet resulted in visible improvements for low-income students and English learners.