Join Getting Down to Facts III researchers for a closer look at the evidence from this landmark independent study of California’s education system. Drawing on 55 technical reports and 22 research briefs from researchers across the country, each webinar will examine a critical area of California education highlighting what the research tells us, where challenges and opportunities remain, and what the findings mean for policy and practice. What You’ll Gain: A Clear Synthesis of the Evidence: Understand the most important findings on each topic. Insights Directly from Researchers: Hear

We are pleased to invite you to the Getting Down to Facts III Central Valley Convening, a gathering of educators, school board members, families, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders committed to strengthening educational opportunities for students across California's Central Valley. Hosted by Stanford University's SCALE Initiative in partnership with the University of California, Merced, the Central Valley Multilingual Consortium, Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) and Californians Together this regional convening will

We are pleased to invite you to the Getting Down to Facts III Bay Area Convening, a gathering of education leaders committed to strengthening educational opportunities and outcomes for California's students. Hosted by Stanford University's SCALE Initiative, EdTrust—West, and Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), this convening will bring together educators, policymakers, researchers, advocates, and community leaders from across the Bay Area to explore what the latest findings from Getting Down to Facts III mean for our schools, communities, and the future of public education. Event

Event update: Registration for the Getting Down to Facts III 2026 Conference is presently at capacity. Thank you for your interest. About the Conference Co-hosted by Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) and Stanford University’s SCALE Initiative, the Getting Down to Facts III 2026 Conference: Aligning Governance, Policy, and Capacity to Support Student Success Conference will bring together 250 state leaders, educators, researchers, and advocates to engage with new, policy-relevant research at a pivotal moment for California’s education system. What to Expect Building on the legacy

Join Susanna Loeb, Professor and Faculty Director of the SCALE Initiative at Stanford University, and a team of leading researchers for the official release of Getting Down to Facts III—a landmark, independent study on California’s education system. This webinar will unpack important findings from the research, highlight the challenges facing students and schools today, and outline a forward-looking vision for building a more effective and equitable system for the future. What You’ll Gain: A clear synthesis of key findings across the full research portfolio Practical insights on designing

PACE’s annual conference brings together nearly 300 California policymakers, researchers, and education leaders to discuss new research and approaches to improving educational outcomes for California’s students, from early childhood through higher education.

Join us for a seminar in which Getting Down to Facts II Researcher Paul Bruno, will present his PACE report on the challenges of employee and retiree health benefit costs for California districts. Sac City Unified Superintendent Jorge Aguilar will discuss the particular situation in Sacramento City, and CEO Michael Fine of FCMAT, will provide a broader perspective on districts across the state and what some possible approaches are to solving the financial pressures facing school districts as a result of escalating health care costs.

Over the past 10 years, California's PreK-12 public school system has seen transformative changes in almost every arena, from academic standards and accountability to resource allocation through the funding formula. The Getting Down to Facts II project brought together over 100 of the country's top education scholars to examine these changes and assess our progress. The project's 36 studies focused on student success, governance systems, personnel issues, and school finance, and together, they can help build a common understanding of where we are that can be used to guide further improvements.

Since the adoption of the LCFF, CA’s public school funding structures have become more straightforward, transparent. Additionally, per pupil spending has increased, but remains below the national average. Comparisons between CA and other states in terms of funding levels and policy put CA’s public school spending in context and help to identify opportunities for improved funding measures. PACE researchers summarize findings on CA’s funding structures and trends, detailing gaps between current and adequate spending.

In 2014, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1469 requiring teachers and school districts, along with the state government to substantially increase their respective contributions to the California State Teachers' Retirement System. The state has accrued significant pension debt for an extended time totaling approximately $107 billion, and there is no short-term solution to solving this problem. In this seminar Cory Koedel provides the background for how and why CalSTRS finds itself in this situation and discusses potential policy options for reform moving forward.

Public school funding is a complex but vital area of interest in CA. In this seminar, the challenges of financing public education are highlighted in two areas: funding for facility maintenance and modernization, and special education for students with disabilities. CA’s vast inventory of school facilities vary widely in age and condition, and estimates for CA school facility maintenance and modernization over the next 10 years top $100 billion. With the advent of the LCFF, there has been increased focus on helping students with disabilities succeed in school but many districts lack funding.