In the revised California state budget, what changes are being made to education funding?

Governor Gavin Newsom’s revised budget proposal for the new fiscal year has successfully closed the remaining $27.6 billion projected shortfall. The proposal includes cuts in the state’s education budget, but major programs for TK-12 and some for community colleges have been protected.

Troy Flint, Communications Director of the California School Boards Association (CSBA), expressed appreciation for the Governor’s efforts to save money while trying to prevent significant cuts to education. However, the association is prepared to take legal action if essential programs face cutbacks.

Flint raised concerns about the manipulation of the budget shortfall, suggesting that the Governor is not claiming Proposition 98 money as educational funds. Prop 98 guarantees a minimum level of funding for education, and Flint compared the state’s actions to taking out a payday loan.

Despite California’s focus on expanding transitional kindergarten, the revised budget still includes cutbacks for early education. Funding for preschool buildings, TK classrooms, and full-day kindergarten programs has been eliminated, along with a reduction in the Golden State grant program that supports teachers in underserved areas.

On a positive note, the budget maintains $60 million for community college nursing programs to address the state’s nursing shortage. San Diego City College, known for its high pass rates in the nursing program, is advocating for a bill to offer a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing.

In the San Diego Unified School District, an agreement between the San Diego Education Association and the School Board has spared most teachers and administrative personnel from layoffs next year. This agreement will ensure stability on campuses through the end of the next school year, despite significant budget challenges. Board of Education President Shana Hazan emphasized the commitment to prioritizing students’ needs and minimizing impacts on educators.