California School Finance for the 1990s

California's public schools have been trapped in the state's fiscal and political gridlock. Since the 1983 reforms, California has not supported a cohesive education reform strategy. Further, a series of publicly enacted initiatives, including Proposition 13, the Gann Limit, and Proposition 98 have severely limited the ability of state policymakers to fund schools adequately, and have curtailed the ability of local leaders to add to the education funding pot. Higher-than-projected enrollment growth and the 1991 recession exacerbated the education funding crunch.

Dramatically improving California's elementary and secondary education system will require several new interrelated policy initiatives. California's state and local fiscal structure—including Proposition 13—will need to be overhauled. In addition, a new comprehensive reform agenda needs to be formulated and supported by both the political and educational leadership.

This policy brief summarizes a chapter by Allan Odden entitled "California School Finance for the 1990s," California Policy Choices, University of Southern California, School of Public Administration.