Lawrence O. Picus

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Lawrence O. Picus
Richard T. Cooper and Mary Catherine Cooper Chair in Public School Administration, Professor of Education Finance, Policy, and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Rossier School of Education,
University of Southern California

Lawrence O. Picus is the Richard T. Cooper and Mary Catherine Cooper Chair in Public School Administration, professor of education finance and policy, and associate dean for faculty affairs in the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. He was also past president of the Association for Education Finance and Policy and has served on the board of directors for EdSource. Picus is an expert in public school finance, focusing on equity, adequacy, and resource allocation. He co-developed the widely used Evidence-Based method for estimating the funding resources needed to ensure all students have the opportunity to meet performance standards. He has consulted extensively on school finance issues in more than 20 states. Picus earned his BA in economics from Reed College, an MA in social science from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in public policy analysis from the RAND Graduate School.

updated 2025

Contributing topics
Education finance
Educational governance & policy
Educator workforce & effectiveness
Understanding, measuring & improving student outcomes
Contributing initiatives
COVID-19 Recovery
PACE/USC Rossier Voter Poll
Lawrence O. Picus in the Media
: With Defeat of California’s ‘Split Roll’ Tax, Advocates Wonder How to Increase Educational Equity
: Majority of Californians Support Prop. 30, Poll Says
Publications by Lawrence O. Picus
Conceptualizing Equity in the Implementation of California Education Finance Reform
Conceptualizing Equity in the Implementation of California Education Finance Reform
This article uses case studies to explore how district administrators' conceptions of equity relate to finance reform implementation. The authors identify two conceptions of equity: greater resources for students with greater needs, and equal…
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Crucial Issues in California Education, 2006
Rekindling Reform
This report discusses key education policy challenges in California, including funding, teacher quality, achievement gaps, and school accountability. The report highlights the need for equitable funding and effective teacher training and retention…
Funding California’s Schools: How Do We Assure An Adequate Education for All?
Funding California’s Schools
How Do We Assure an Adequate Education for All?
California ranks 44th in the nation in education spending, spending only 86.1% of the national average per pupil in 2001-02. The recession of the early 2000s resulted in dramatic budget deficits for the state and substantial reductions to the…
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The Effects of State Control on School Finance in California
Funding for education in the US has grown significantly since World War II, but in California, spending for schools has lagged behind other states. Reasons for this include the taxpayer revolt of the late 1970s, competition for funds, changing…