Governance and Policy ResourcesResearch, guidance and services for effective school board governance
Research & Policy Briefs
COVID Relief Spending
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Instruction
Universal Transitional Kindergarten
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Effective Governance
Conditions of Children
LCFF & LCAP
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The School Board Role in Creating the Conditions for Student Achievement (Full report 5/17) | (Summary 12/17) | [PPT presentation]
Meeting California's Challenge: Access, Opportunity, and Achievement: Key Ingredients for Student Success (Full report, 5/17) | (Summary 9/17)
California's Challenge: Adequately Funding Education in the 21st Century (11/15)
CSBA develops, communicates and advocates the perspective of California school districts, county offices of education and regional occupational programs on critical education issue areas. Our research and work is focused around four pillar areas:
Student Achievement. School boards and districts must provide al students high quality teaching and learning driven by curricula for post-high school success; research-based instruction; timely assessments that accurately measure student performance, and strong professional teacher development. Learn more
Conditions of Children. Boards realize that proper nutrition, physical and mental health; support for learning; safe school environments, and access to community resources help students reach their maximum educational potential, and boards must establish policies and practices to overcome the barriers that students face. Learn more
Fair Funding. Public school funding in the state of California must be sufficient for high quality teaching and learning for all students in every school. The funding of programs and facilities must be guaranteed, stable and equitable. Learn more
Effective Governance. California schools are public institutions that belong to the communities they serve. Local boards must have authority and flexibility consistent with their responsibilities to ensure student achievement for all students and the long-term fiscal stability of the schools. Learn more
List of all policy briefs, fact sheets and reports
Advancing Universal Transitional Kindergarten (4/22) (Additional resources available on CSBA's UTK page)
Student School Board Members in California: Student Voice and Democratic Action (11/21)
Asian American and Pacific Islander Students in Focus: Demographics and Enrollment Data (5/21)
Asian American and Pacific Islander Students in Focus: Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic (5/21)
Supporting California Students in a Time of Crisis (5/21)
Understanding and Addressing Disruptions to Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic (5/21)
Challenging and Supporting English Learners in STEM Learning at a Distance (4/21)
Creating and Maintaining a Pipeline for K-12 STEM Teachers in California (10/20)
Supporting STEM Access, Equity, and Effectiveness (10/20)
The Uncertain Road Ahead: Reopening Schools in the Time of COVID-19 (6/20) [Two page summary]
Effective Family Engagement: A Lesson From Common Core Math (3/20)
The Preschool Landscape in California and Strategies for Expansion (1/20)
Shifting K-5 Science Instruction with Next Generation Science Standards Curriculum Adoption (11/19)
Policy and Programs Annual Review 2019 - a 116-page compendium of briefs, fact sheets and research (12/19)
2018-19 CAASPP Results for English Language Arts and Mathematics (11/19)
Educational Equity: The Need for Boards to Support Equity-Based Decisions (10/19)
Disproportionality in Math Placement (9/19)
The Importance of Early Childhood Education Programs (8/19)
Supporting STEM Access, Equity, and Effectiveness: STEM and CTE Work for California's Economic Future (7/19)
Ethnic Studies: School Board Member Attitudes and Recommendations for Implementation (7/19)
Report: The Landscape of Special Education in California: A Primer for Board Members (5/19)
Six Essential School Board Roles in LCAP Implementation and Development (5/19)
Why Schools Hold the Promise for Adolescent Mental Health (5/19)
California LGBTQ Youth Report, by Human Rights Campaign Foundation (1/19)
2017–18 CAASPP Results for English Language Arts and Mathematics
Supporting STEM Access, Equity, and Effectiveness: Equitable Access to Rigorous STEAM Coursework
The Impact of Marijuana Legalization on K-12: The Effect of Marijuana on the Brain (11/18)
The Impact of Marijuana Legalization on K-12: Use of Medical Marijuana in Schools (11/18)
Native American Students in California Public Schools (10/18)
The California School Dashboard and Small Districts (10/18)
Supporting STEM Access, Equity, and Effectiveness: The Path to Full Implementation of Next Generation Science Standards in California (10/18)
The Impact of Marijuana Legalization on K-12: Current Status and Future Expectations (10/18)
Latino Students in California's K-12 Public Schools - Fact Sheet (10/18)
School Board Members Get Down to Facts: Results of a CSBA Survey of Trustees on Key Education Topics (10/18)
Uncharted Waters: Recommendations for Prioritizing Student Achievement and Effective Governance in California's Charter Schools
Seize the Data: Using Chronic Absence Data to Boost Achievement (9/18)
Title IX Requirements (8/18)
Proposition 58 Regulations - Fact Sheet (8/18)
Preventing Catastrophic Heat Illness (7/18)
Asian, Filipino, and Pacific Islander Students in Focus (5/18)
The English Learner Roadmap: Providing Direction for English Learner Success (2/18)
Behind the numbers--The cold, hard facts of California public school funding (1/18)
The impact of pension cost increase on California's schools (1/18)
The Power of Networks: Accelerating Collaborative Learning to Improve Student Success 12/17
The California Dashboard: What Boards Need to Know for 2017–18 (11/17)
2016–17 CAASPP Results for English Language Arts and Mathematics (11/17)
Board Self-Evaluation: Results and Recommendations from an Analysis of CSBA's Board Survey Tool - Fact Sheet (11/17)
The Coherence Framework in Action: Promising Practices for Developing and Implementing LCAPs (10/17)
African-American Students in Focus, Issue 3 - Supporting African-American Teacher Retention (10/17)
Charter Schools in Focus, Issue 2: Ensuring Effective Oversight (10/17)
Local Control and Accountability Plans: Survey of School Board Member Involvement - Fact Sheet (9/17)
California Education Funding: Students Deserve Better, Fact Sheet (8/17)
Competition Cheer as Sport: AB 949 - Fact Sheet (7/17)
Research Spotlight: Unlocking Learning: Science as a Lever for English Learner Equity (4/17)
English Learners in Focus, Issue 4 — Expanding Bilingual Education in California after Proposition 58 (3/17)
Charter Schools in Focus, Issue 1: Managing the Petition Review Process (11/16)
Summer and STEAM Make an Ideal Match (11/16)
Supporting the California Next Generation Science Standards (11/16)
Promising Practices for Developing and Implementing LCAPs (11/16)
LCFF Rubrics, Issue 1: What Boards Need to Know About the New Rubrics (10/16)
English Learners in Focus, Issue 1 Updated — Demographic and achievement profile of California's English learners (9/16)
2015-2016 California CAASPP Results for Mathematics and English Language Arts (9/16)
Research-Supported Strategies to Improve the Accuracy and Fairness of Grades (7/16)
English Learners in Focus, Issue 3 — Ensuring High-Quality Staff for English Learners (7/16)
Foster Youth: Supports for Success (5/16)
Our Foster Youth: What School Boards Can Do - Fact Sheet (5/16)
What Boards of Education can do About Kindergarten Readiness (5/16)
African-American Students in Focus, Issue 2 (4/16)
Integrating Physical Activity into the School Day (4/16)
Concussions in Student Athletes and How to reduce Risk (1/16)
Recent Legislation on Vaccines: SB 277 - Fact Sheet (1/16)
Supporting the Summer Learning Strategy to Boost Student Achievement (12/15)
District Funding School Crossing Guards, CSBA Fact Sheet (9/15)
Math Misplacement (09/15)
Climate for Achievement, Issue 4 (7/15)
Climate for Achievement - Issue 3 (6/15)
Why Civic Learning is Critical (5/15)
Drinking Water Access in Schools - Fact Sheet (4/15)
Recent legislation on discipline: AB 420 - Fact Sheet (3/15)
Creating hunger-free schools through the Community Eligibility Provision - Fact Sheet (3/15)
Measles (and other infectious diseases) (3/15)
Improving Student Achievement Through Teacher Collaboration (11/14)
Attendance Awareness Month - Fact Sheet (9/14)
English Learners in Focus, Issue 2 — The Promise of Two-Way Immersion Programs (9/14)
Governing to Achieve: A Synthesis of Research on School Governance (8/14)
Promoting Healthy Relationships for Adolescents: Board Policy Considerations (8/14)
Starting a Breakfast After the Bell Program (8/14)
Defining Governance - Issue 5, Engaging the Community (7/14)
Defining Governance - Issue 4, Governance Decisions (6/14)
A Governance Perspective: Interviews with School Board Members from the Nine Linked Learning Initiative School Districts (6/14)
Brown v. Board of Education: The 60th Anniversary of the Landmark Supreme Court Case (5/14)
Turning Around a High Poverty District: Learning from Sanger- Fact Sheet (4/14)
Special Education Pupil Transportation: Considerations in the Era of LCFF (4/14)
Recent Legislation on Cyberbullying: AB 256 - Fact Sheet (4/14)
The Case for Reducing Out-of-School Suspensions and Expulsions, Fact Sheet (4/14)
Building the Resiliency of At-Risk Students (4/14)
Defining Governance - Issue 3, Governance Practices (4/14)
Legal guidance on AB 1266 - Transgender Students (3/14)
Physical Education: A Slow Start to Promising Educational Boost, Fact Sheet (3/14)
Defining Governance - Issue 2, Governing Commitments (2/14)
The Linked Learning Approach to High School Reform (1/14)
Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (12/13)
Defining Governance - Issue 1, Why Governance Matters (10/13)
Addressing the Conditions of Children - Focus on Bullying (12/12)
Bond Sales - Questions and considerations for districts (12/12)
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