Nonclassroom-Based Advocacy Update

Colin works to ensure charter schools have a favorable legislative, budget and regulatory environment at the state level through liaison with state agencies, boards and commissions and the state Legislature. Colin also works with Association staff and membership to interpret and implement legislative, budget and regulatory actions of the state and to represent members concerns in Sacramento.

Edgar Cabral is a Deputy Legislative Analyst at the CA Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), overseeing the office’s analytical work related to K-12 education and child care. Over the past 16 years, Edgar has worked on a variety of education issues at the LAO, including school finance, school accountability, community colleges, and early childhood education. In December 2019, Edgar became the Deputy Legislative Analyst for the K-12 education unit. He has a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Mathematics from the University of California, Irvine and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

Michael Alferes is a Fiscal and Policy Analyst at the CA Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), the nonpartisan advisor to the California Legislature. In his work in the K-12 education unit, Michael analyzes the Governor’s proposed budget, provides recommendations to the Legislature, testifies in budget committee hearings, writes policy reports, and responds to requests from the Legislature. Over the past four years, Michael has covered a variety of issues for the office including LCFF, charter schools, career technical education, and alternative education. Michael has a B.A. in Sociology and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

Mike became FCMAT’s Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2017. Before joining FCMAT in 2015 as the agency’s Chief Administrative Officer, Mike served a combined 25 years as interim superintendent, deputy superintendent of business services and governmental relations, and assistant superintendent. Prior to school business, Mike spent ten years in financial management for a defense contractor. Mike has a long history in governmental relations, working closely with policy makers in Sacramento on behalf of California’s K-12 students.