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Theeducational system in California consists ofpublic, NPS, andprivate schools in theU.S. state ofCalifornia, including the publicUniversity of California,California State University, andCalifornia Community Colleges systems, private colleges and universities, andelementary,middle, andhigh schools.
California is the most populous state of the U.S. and has the most school students, with over 6.2 million in the 2005–06 school year, giving California more students in school than 36 states have in total population and one of the highest projected enrollments in the country.[1] About 25% of school students are English learners, compared to 9% nationally. Approximately 22% of African Americans and Hispanic Californians are living in poverty and only 68% of students living below the poverty line will graduate from high school.[2] The state of California implemented the Dropout Recovery and Prevention Act (SB 65) in 1985 to address high school and elementary dropout rates. The program was expanded in 2004 due to its success in lowering the state's dropout rate. Senate Bill 65 initiated three new dropout prevention efforts: the Pupil Motivation and Maintenance Program, the Alternative Education Outreach Consultant (AEOC) Program, and the Educational Clinic Program.[3]
According to GovernorJerry Brown in 2014, "almost 30% are either undocumented or don't speak English."[4]
In the 2024,National Assessment of Educational Progress California 4th graders' test scores in the subjects of mathematics and reading were in the bottom 15 of all states and territories.[5]
For the 2022-2023 school year, California K-12 public school teachers had the highest average pay in the nation, at $95,160.[6]
In 2016, California's K–12 public school per-pupil spending was ranked 22nd in the nation ($11,500/student vs. $11,800 for the US average).[7]
For 2012, California's public schools ranked 48th in the number of employees per student, at 0.102 (the US average was 0.137), while paying the 7th most per employee, $49,000 (the US average was $39,000).[8][9][10]
California public schools are funded through four main revenue streams: Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), Federal Revenue, Other State revenue, and Other Local revenue.[11] LCFF makes up the largest chunk of public school funding, including property and local taxes. Federal revenue is a significantly smaller portion of funding, given as part of free or reduced lunch programs and other federal-based aid programs.[12]
Other state and local revenue make up less significant revenue streams. Schools receive a general, “basic aid” amount, based on a formula for the grades a school holds, number of students, etc… In a "basic aid" district, property taxes generate more revenue than the funding limit, a benchmark set by the state to qualify for additional funding.[12] Of the 944 school districts in California, 80 are labeled basic aid, 40 of which are in the Bay Area.[13]
Because LCFF is the largest portion of public school funding, schools capable of generating more LCFF funding often have more overall funding per student, but it’s those same districts that already have well-off families and students. This issue is prominent in East San Jose, CA, where Alum Rock Union School District receives about 25% less funding than Saratoga Union School District per student. Homes in the Alum Rock region sell for between $589,100 and $686,100 and Saratoga homes sell for over $2 million.[14]
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Many public school facilities throughout California are in various stages of disrepair. In a report to the public, the federal government noted that 75% of California schools, 13,096 in total, were in need of renovation and modernization. Furthermore, the renovations and modernizations needed were required to elevate the schools standing/rating to "good".[15] In a 2007 financial analysis report, published by theU.S. General Accounting Office, it was estimated that it would cost $112 billion to bring allK–12 public school buildings in line with building codes.[15][failed verification]
“Nonpublic, nonsectarian school” (NPS) means a private, nonsectarian school that enrolls individuals with exceptional needs pursuant to an individualized education program and is certified by the department.[18] Unlike private schools, tuition for the NPS is paid for by the Local Educational Agencies (LEA) and the schools must conform toCalifornia Department of Education standards.[19]
The main state research university is theUniversity of California (UC). The University of California has ten major campuses.[20] Each major UC campus is headed by a chancellor that is appointed by theRegents of the University of California.[21]
The ten major campuses of the University of California are located inBerkeley,Los Angeles,San Diego,Davis,Santa Cruz,Santa Barbara,Irvine,Riverside,Merced andSan Francisco. The University of California, San Francisco, teaches only graduate health-sciences students. TheUC Hastings College of the Law, also in San Francisco, is affiliated with UC, but is not administered by the UC Regents. The UC system was originally intended to accept students from the top one-eighth (1/8th) of California high school graduates, however several of the schools in the UC system have become even more selective. The awarding of doctoral degrees from California public universities was originally intended to be the sole domain of the UC system, however several doctoral degrees are now also awarded by the Cal State system.
The University of California also administers one national laboratory directly for theUnited States Department of Energy:Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The university indirectly managesLos Alamos National Laboratory throughLos Alamos National Security, LLC andLawrence Livermore National Laboratory through Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
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TheCalifornia State University (CSU) system describes itself as the largest four-year public university system in theUnited States.[22] The CSU was originally intended to accept students from the top one-third (1/3rd) of California high school graduates, however several of the schools in the CSU system have become much more selective. Many of the larger campuses, such asCal Poly,Cal Poly Pomona,Long Beach State,Cal State Fullerton,Cal State San Bernardino,Fresno State,Sacramento State,San Francisco State,San Diego State, andSan José State (the oldest public university in California) have become more research oriented than they were in the past. A marked change and a shift from theCalifornia Master Plan for Higher Education began in 2007 with the CSU gaining the ability to grant doctoral level degrees in education (Ed.D.). The CSU has since gained the authority to grant many otherDoctoral degrees, such as theDoctor of Nursing Practice, theDoctor of Physical Therapy, and theAu.D. The CSU also has the ability to grant jointPh.D.s with other universities.Kevin Starr (State Librarian emeritus) and others have argued that this small change is the beginning of a larger reorganization of higher education in California.
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TheCalifornia Community Colleges system provides lower division "General Education" courses, whose credit units are transferable to the CSU and UC systems, as well as vocational education, remedial education, and continuing education programs. It awards certificates and associate degrees. It is composed of 112 colleges organized into 72 districts, serving a student population of over 2.9 million. The system also provides the education certification, basic training, and some advanced training to all police officers, fire fighters and Emergency Medical Tech's in the state either directly (via on campus academies) or indirectly (via affiliations with police / sheriff department's and fire department's "in house" academies).
California has hundreds of otherprivate colleges and universities, including many religious and special-purpose institutions. This leads to many unique entertainment and educational opportunities for residents. TheSan Francisco Bay area andgreater Los Angeles have an abundance of these private universities, with some of the highest densities of post-secondary institutions in the world.
I think that will building for the future because so many of our kids almost about 30% are either undocumented or don't speak English.
California is ranked in the bottom 15 states and territories for 4th grade math and reading.
California teachers' salaries are determined by experience and education level. The average salary of a public school teacher for the 2021-22 school year was $88,508 and $95,160 for the 2022-23 school year – the highest in the nation.
NOTE: Adult education, community services and other nonelementary-secondary program expenditures are excluded.
This chart includes two places, District of Columbia, and the US average, so the number rankings rank 52 total entities; this needs to be understood when viewing these rankings.
For state and local government spending, we rely primarily on the US Census Bureau's Census of Governments Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances for fiscal year 2012, as revised and released on October 23, 2015.1. For state and local government employment and payroll, we draw from the US Census Bureau's Census of Governments Government Employment and Payroll survey for full-time equivalent employees in March 2012.
... California spending per resident on K–12 schools was about average among the states, but while teacher pay was among the highest, the state trailed others in teachers and support staff per student.
According to a federal study, 75 percent of schools in California, a total of 13,096 schools, reported that they needed funds for repairs, renovation and modernization, just to bring their schools up to a level they would consider "good."
