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Education

California’s K-12 Public School System:

• 6.3 million students (approximately 48% Hispanic, 29% White, 8% Black, 8% Asian, and 6% other)
• 308,790 teachers
• 1056 school districts
• 9,557 public schools

The California Department of Education oversees the state's K-12 public school system. It is run by the State Superintendent for Public Instruction, a non-partisan elected position. Policies for the CDE are made by the State Board of Education. There is also a California Office of the Secretary of Education (OSE), appointed to advise the Governor on education issues.

See the Legislative Analyst’s Office most recent “Cal Facts” about K-12 spending and performance and Edsource’s most recent School Finance Overview.

Higher Education

California has three higher education systems:

• 109 Community College campuses (1.7 million students)
• 23 California State University campuses (405,000 students)
• 10 University of California campuses (210,000 students)

Education on the ballot

There are no state propositions affecting Education in the June 3, 2008 election:

Additional resources

You may have different issues with education than these. Here are additional resources to help you shape and share your perspective about education:

• National Education information from the Public Agenda Foundation

• An adult student worksheet about education issues

• What should our children learn in school? is a 4-page guide designed to help facilitate a discussion of education issues