What Newsom's proposed budget means for education in California

"Public school districts were winners in Gov. Gavin Newsom's revised budget proposal for next year, with boosted funding that includes $2.4 billion in ongoing increases for services to students with disabilities, money that education officials have said is badly needed as the number of children who need extra help grows."

"Newsom, who overcame dyslexia as a child, called the increase for students with disabilities "the largest investment in special education in California's history," adding, "I don't know that many other states can lay claim to this kind of investment, maybe in American history.""

"The governor also proposed a 14-week paid pregnancy disability leave for TK-12 and community college employees starting or enlarging their families. "If you're going to focus on recruitment and retention, you have to be pragmatic and address the needs of young women," Newsom said."

"For California's three public higher education systems, the picture was mostly status quo, with comparatively small levels of increased funding. The fundamental driving factor behind the increased education spending is the state constitution, which, under current positive revenue projections, requires 40% of the state budget to go to public school districts and community colleges."

Public school districts receive increased funding in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised budget proposal, including $2.4 billion in ongoing increases for services to students with disabilities. Education officials say the added support is needed as the number of children requiring extra help grows. Newsom frames the special education increase as the largest investment in California history. Los Angeles Unified is expected to benefit from the funding, helping offset recent employee raises made to avoid a strike, though long-term challenges remain. The proposal also includes a 14-week paid pregnancy disability leave for TK-12 and community college employees. Funding for California’s three public higher education systems is mostly status quo with smaller increases. The spending level is driven by a constitutional requirement that 40% of the state budget go to public school districts and community colleges.

Read at Los Angeles Times