On March 30, 2006, four leading philanthropic foundations announced a multimillion dollar education research project to help determine what reforms are needed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the California school system, and how much it should cost to provide every child in California with a quality education.  This publication is a four-page summary of the research initiative, which consists of more than 20 studies. The initiative, specifically requested by the Governor’s Committee on Education Excellence, Democratic leaders in both chambers of the state Legislature and Jack O’Connell, Superintendent of Public Instruction, is designed to provide California’s policymakers and other education stakeholders with the comprehensive information they need to raise student achievement and reposition California as an education leader.   For more information, refer to http://irepp.stanford.edu/projects/csfg.html