It is the worst of times for state budgets. But across the country, some elected officials say it's the best time to rethink how their states spend money on education. Governors and other officeholders are arguing that their states have no choice but to re-examine assumptions about how schools are using the money they currently receive, given…

A review is provided of the major fiscal, historic, and management issues influencing the debate about community college finance and governance in California. The report begins with a brief discussion of the major points of difference between the funding mechanisms for the community colleges and for the state's two public university systems. These…

This handbook begins with a history of funding in California's community colleges, explaining that financial support for community colleges has evolved over the years, as have the colleges themselves and the purposes they serve. Following this history of funding is a discussion of 1988's Proposition 98, which guaranteed annual funding and revenue…

Materials from Southwestern College, the Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges, and the California Research Bureau (CRB) are presented to help community college practitioners calculate curricular costs. First, a set of charts and forms from Southwestern College include the college's definition of curriculum efficiency,…

This report presents information on length of operation of Section 3 programs, personnel, program components, summer program planning, and problems brought about by funding uncertainty. The information is grouped by region and community type, where applicable, to denote the differences and similarities of the programs in various regions and…