California’s public school students recently showed historic declines in standardized test scores due in part to school closures and other COVID-19 pandemic-related learning disruptions. Amidst a growing state budget device, state legislators and local school leaders need to help students get back on track with smart policymaking.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recently-released budget projects a $22.5 billion deficit, which means school districts, especially those experiencing dramatic student enrollment declines like the Los Angeles Unified School District, will likely need to rightsize operations. School districts should be finding cost savings in areas such as reductions to the currently very generous post-employment health