California

Overall Ranking: Significant Development and/or Local Proof Points


Statewide EduDemocracy Analysis

Deep Dive Research

Rank Choice Voting

In California, San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, and San Leandro have used RCV for over a decade. Albany adopted Proportional RCV in 2020, while Eureka, Ojai, and Redondo Beach voted for RCV in 2020, 2022, and 2023

Students on School Boards

California is one of three states that State law mandates that a school district must appoint a student school board member if a petition is signed by 10% of high school students in the district or by 500 high school students requesting representation

Overall Education Profile

To take a closer look at Californias education system you can reference

https://ballotpedia.org/Public_education_in_California

This page offers a high level overview of Californias K-12 public education system, contextualizing key factors that shape the state’s educational landscape. Explore data on student enrollment, teacher numbers, school demographics, and graduation rates, alongside an analysis of per-pupil spending and education funding. Comparisons with neighboring states and national averages provide a deeper understanding of how such systems perform in areas like student-teacher ratios and academic outcomes. Additionally, the page discusses broader themes such as school choice, teacher salaries, and the influence of unions, offering insight into the complexities of the state’s education infrastructure

Last Updated August 2024

The map is ongoing research and IN PROGRESS - if you see something that you feel does not represent current policy, pathways, and possibilities or something we have missed please share at connect@cornerstonedemocracy.org

Public Financing

Los Angeles has public financing for city office candidates, including the LAUSD Board of Education, to further broader election participation and reduce the influence of private donations. The program matches small donations with public funds.