California Forum Tackles Issues of School Funding, Accountability

EdSource, a California not-for-profit organization which encourages discussions of ways to improve California's public schools, will convene its 27th Annual Forum in two locations on March 18 and 19, 2004. The forum, entitled "Overhauling School Funding in California: The Push for Greater Adequacy, Equity, & Accountability," consists of a day-long meeting held on two days, one in Northern California and one in Southern California. The forum is open to the public and encourages a broad and diverse participation of education advocates, policymakers, and concerned citizens.

Guest speakers and experts will discuss:

What is adequate school funding and how is it calculated?

How to hold the state accountable for providing adequate resources? and

Building political will to adequately fund K-12 public schools.

The forum will provide participants with an update of the status of education advocacy and litigation efforts in California.

California education advocacy and policy groups, such as the Public Policy Institute of California, UCLA's Institute for Democracy, Education, & Access (IDEA), Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), and Public Advocates, will also participate in the forum.

Prepared January 23, 2004