California Schools Facing Budget Cuts - The First in a Decade

California is facing a drop in Prop. 98 funding for the first time following a decade marked by increases. The projected drop in 2023-2024 will erode gains of $31.3 billion seen over the past two years. Even with these decreases, funding per student is set to increase next year, but not for positive reasons. Enrollment is set to decline even more next year, which explains the increase in per-student funding. Our students are not being given more resources; they're being driven out of the California education system. To make up the $3.5 billion difference in funding from last year to this one, Governor Newsom plans to delay funding for Kindergarten facilities, cut $1.2 billion from discretionary funding for arts and instructional materials, and apply other unused one-time funding.

Our students should receive consistent and ample funding for their education, and they shouldn't have to bank on other students unenrolling in order to receive equitable resources. Continually prioritizing public education funding should drive budget decision-making. We cannot minimize the impact of decreasing the education budget by citing increases over the last ten years; California schools are still underfunded and in dire need of fiscal, personnel, and physical resources. We must continue the fight forward and fully fund our public education system!

California schools, community colleges to face slight drop in funding, first in a decade.

By John Fensterwald, EdSource | 1/10/2023