Getting Down to Facts is an extensive investigation of CA's public education system commissioned by a bipartisan group of CA leaders. The project aimed to describe California's school finance and governance systems, identify obstacles hindering resource utilization, and estimate costs to achieve student outcome goals. The project resulted in 23 reports by scholars, which highlight that the current school finance and governance systems fail to help students achieve state performance goals, particularly those from low-income families. The reports provide a framework for assessing reform options.

The US faces critical challenges in education, such as incorporating disadvantaged students and preparing them for a competitive, tech-driven work environment. To meet these challenges, reform efforts are underway. Despite claims that educational research has produced few applicable findings, it has contributed by changing how policymakers and practitioners think about problems. The National Academy of Education argues that implementing broad-based reforms without adequate research will fail. Research must play an important role in meeting these challenges.