As we begin the new year, our thoughts are with the southern California communities impacted by the devastating fires. We are deeply grateful for the bravery and dedication of our first responders who continue to work tirelessly to protect lives and property.
Last Monday, Governor Newsom previewed his upcoming budget proposal but had to shift focus to address the southern California emergency. On Tuesday, meeting the state’s constitutional deadline, Department of Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw officially presented the Governor’s proposed budget.
The overall tone of the announcement was cautiously optimistic. Stephenshaw noted that California’s financial standing is better than expected, with a $16.5 billion revenue increase over last year’s projections for the three-year budget window (2023-24 to 2025-26). However, spending on previously enacted programs has also risen. The budget proposes $17 billion in total reserves for 2025-26, including $11 billion in rainy day fund balances and a $7 billion planned withdrawal to maintain the 2024 balanced budget. Stephenshaw also mentioned an upcoming proposal regarding the State Appropriations Limit, requiring voter approval, with more details to follow.
We are thrilled that the Governor’s proposed budget includes funding to implement AB 2074 (Muratsuchi) and advance the creation of a statewide implementation plan of the English Learner Roadmap. This crucial step ensures the EL Roadmap reaches every student, providing equitable opportunities for success.
In education, we are heartened to see the Governor prioritizing key areas of importance:
- Literacy Instruction: Continued emphasis on the English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) Framework as a cornerstone for literacy instruction. We fully support this focus.
- $500 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund for TK-12 Literacy and Mathematics Coaches, which builds upon and expands the existing Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program and includes a new opportunity to support mathematics coaches in addition to literacy coaches.
- $500 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund for TK-12 Literacy and Mathematics Coaches, which builds upon and expands the existing Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program and includes a new opportunity to support mathematics coaches in addition to literacy coaches.
- Transitional Kindergarten Multilingual Learner Screening: A proposed $10 million one-time allocation for statewide English language proficiency screeners to support transitional kindergarten students. This is a vital step toward ensuring our young multilingual learners receive the foundational support they need. We encourage the state to identify developmentally, linguistically, and culturally appropriate screeners.
- Educator Support: Investments in teacher preparation, retention, and professional development. While we appreciate these appropriations, we also urge increased attention to the need for bilingual teachers to address growing demand in our diverse communities.
- $150 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund to provide financial assistance for teacher candidates through the new Teacher Recruitment Incentive Grant Program.
- Extends the National Board Certification Incentive Program with $100 million one-time Proposition 98 funding.
- Provides an increase of $50 million one-time General Fund to the Golden State Teachers Grant program, for program applicants in 2025-26.
We look forward to working with the legislature and the administration. We will continue to monitor and provide updates as details unfold. Californians Together remains committed to advocating for policies that uplift multilingual learners and ensure equitable access to quality education for all students.