Last week, Governor Newsom signed his first state budget, and there are some noteworthy items in education. This budget increases spending on public education. Here are some details:
- $103.4 billion has been set aside for education from kindergarten through 12th grade.
- The state will no longer be able to retroactively lower the mandatory level of education spending.
- The budget includes $300 million to expand full-day kindergarten classes.
- There is funding for 15,000 extra spots at UC and Cal State schools, which is really important given how impacted the CSU and UC systems.
- More money for Cal Grants ($41.8 million increase to competitive Cal Grant awards) and housing for college students.
- 2 year of community college free for all first-time students.
These are considered historic investments in education given the trend in the past decades where there had been less of an investment in public education. Right now, funding for education in the state is at a record high. That said, many districts are still feeling squeezed financially because of obligations for healthcare costs and retirement for personnel, declining enrollments, and the growth in the costs for special education.
What do you think?
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