2026
Advocating for
Every Student in California
The Budget Concern
For three consecutive years — 2023–24, 2024–25, and 2025–26 — state budget proposals have manipulated or withheld Proposition 98 funds. These actions undermine the stability and predictability that schools depend on:
-
In 2024–25, the state declined to count $8 billion in prior-year appropriations when calculating the following year’s Proposition 98 minimum, lowering the guarantee by billions.
-
In 2025–26, the state withheld $1.9 billion from the required minimum guarantee.
-
In the Governor’s 2026–27 January Budget, the proposal withholds an additional $5.6 billion — roughly $900 per student — from the Proposition 98 minimum guarantee.
These manipulations harm real students. Withheld funds translate directly into reduced classroom support, increased class sizes, fewer counselors, diminished mental health services, and difficulty hiring and retaining qualified teachers and staff.
What We’re Calling For
The Education Coalition calls on California’s Governor and Legislature to:
-
Fully fund Proposition 98 without manipulation or diversion
-
Restore all withheld Proposition 98 funds, including the $1.9 billion withheld in 2025–26
-
Reject the 2026–27 proposal to withhold $5.6 billion from the minimum guarantee
-
Honor the voters’ intent and maintain Proposition 98 as a stable, reliable funding floor
-
Prioritize fully funding existing programs and commitments before creating new requirements