California's K-12 Public Schools: How are They Doing?

by Carroll, Stephen J.

• ISBN13: 9780833037169
• ISBN10: 0833037161
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-12
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

Describes the condition and performance of California's K-12 public schools in terms of student population, resources, and outcomes, analyzing trends and comparing California to other states and the nation as a whole.

Table of Contents

Foreword	iii
Preface	vii
Figures	xiii
Tables	xix
Summary	xxiii
Acknowledgments	xxxix
CHAPTER ONE Background, Scope, and Organization	1	(10)
This Study	2	(2)
K-12 Reforms in California	4	(5)
School Finance Reform	4	(1)
Class Size Reduction	5	(2)
Charter Schools	7	(1)
Vouchers and Open Enrollment	7	(1)
High-Stakes Testing and Accountability Systems	8	(1)
Report Overview	9	(2)
CHAPTER TWO Demographic Overview of California's K-12 Public School Student Population	11	(16)
Historical Perspectives	11	(1)
Racial/Ethnic Diversity and Fluency in English	12	(3)
Age Composition	15	(1)
Child Poverty	16	(2)
Geographic Redistribution	18	(1)
School Enrollment	19	(3)
Access to Computers and the Internet	22	(2)
Conclusions	24	(3)
CHAPTER THREE California's K-12 Public School Finances	27	(30)
Evolution of the Finance System	27	(3)
California K-12 Revenues	30	(13)
Sources of Public K-12 Revenues	30	(4)
Per-Pupil K-12 Revenues	34	(5)
Categorical Aid as a Share of K-12 Revenues	39	(4)
California K-12 School Expenditures	43	(6)
Per-Pupil Expenditures in K-12 Public Schools	44	(2)
K-12 School Spending on Various Categories	46	(3)
California's K-12 Funding Capacity and Effort	49	(5)
Conclusions	54	(3)
CHAPTER FOUR California's K-12 Public School Teachers	57	(32)
Teachers and Other Staff	57	(3)
Profile of Teachers	60	(12)
Teachers Without Full Credentials	62	(5)
Distribution of Teachers Without Full Credentials	67	(5)
Teacher Salaries	72	(8)
Pupil-Teacher Ratios	80	(4)
Conclusions	84	(5)
CHAPTER FIVE California's K-12 Public School Facilities	89	(20)
Condition of Schools	92	(4)
Growth in Construction Expenditures	96	(5)
Financing of School Facilities	101	(6)
Conclusions	107	(2)
CHAPTER SIX California's K-12 Public School Student Academic Achievement	109	(34)
Data Sources	110	(7)
California's Statewide Testing Programs	110	(3)
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)	113	(4)
Results from State Assessments, 1998-2003	117	(5)
SAT/9 Results, 1998-2002	117	(2)
CAT/6 Results, 2003	119	(1)
Performance of Students Disaggregated by Race/Ethnicity	120	(2)
Results from NAEP	122	(18)
Overall NAEP Scores	122	(3)
Performance of Students Disaggregated by Race/Ethnicity	125	(2)
Average State NAEP Scores and Family Characteristics	127	(5)
Scores for Students from Similar Families	132	(2)
Recent NAEP Score Gains	134	(2)
Average Gains Adjusted for Family Characteristics	136	(3)
California NAEP and SAT/9 Compared	139	(1)
Conclusions	140	(3)
CHAPTER SEVEN Other Indicators of Student Progress	143	(26)
Teenage Pregnancy	145	(6)
Background	145	(3)
Teenage Pregnancy in California and Other States	148	(3)
Substance Abuse	151	(4)
Background	151	(1)
Substance Abuse in California and Other States	152	(3)
Juvenile Delinquency	155	(3)
Background	155	(1)
Juvenile Delinquency in California and Other States	156	(2)
High School Graduation	158	(6)
Background	158	(1)
High School Graduation Rates in California and Other States	159	(5)
College Continuation	164	(2)
Background	164	(1)
College Continuation Rates in California and Other States	165	(1)
Conclusions	166	(3)
CHAPTER EIGHT Summary and Conclusions	169	(8)
Summary	169	(6)
Student Population	169	(2)
School Funding	171	(1)
Teachers	172	(1)
School Facilities	173	(1)
Student Achievement Outcomes	174	(1)
Other Indicators of Student Progress	175	(1)
Conclusions	175	(2)
APPENDIX
A. Additional California Test Score Data and Analyses	177	(14)
B. Data and Methods Used to Describe Nonacademic Indicators	191	(10)
Bibliography	201