How College Costs and Student Loans Actually Work
College costs rose as public funding declined. Aid failed to keep pace, and loans filled the gap. The system works by shifting financial risk onto students and families.
School Governance: Who Actually Runs the System
Public schools feel local, but they aren’t governed locally. In California, authority over funding, rules, and accountability is spread across state agencies, county offices, and district boards. Each layer controls part of the system, but no one controls it all—producing limited flexibility, uneven outcomes, and slow change.