Our Collective Influence in California
The Education Coalition is California’s unified voice for TK–14 public school funding. We are nine statewide education organizations that set aside our individual differences to speak as one on the issues that matter most: making sure California’s schools receive the stable, predictable, voter-approved funding they are constitutionally guaranteed.
Together, our member organizations represent school administrators, school board trustees, county superintendents, teachers, classified employees, school business officials, parents, and students across every region of California.
Why Proposition 98 Matters
Proposition 98 is not just a budget line item. It is a constitutional promise to California’s 5.8 million public school students — a promise that their education will be funded.
In 1988, California voters passed Proposition 98 to guarantee a minimum level of annual funding for public schools and community colleges. Enshrined in the California Constitution, Proposition 98 was designed to give schools a reliable, stable funding floor so they can plan responsibly, retain skilled staff, and deliver high-quality education to every student.
Proposition 98 is funded through a combination of state General Fund revenues and local property taxes. Each year’s minimum funding level is established using a formula tied to attendance, enrollment, and economic growth.
The Real-World Impact
Budget solutions must not come at the expense of students. The Education Coalition insists that the State find other ways to address fiscal challenges — without raiding the constitutional guarantee voters created for public schools.
California’s 5.8 million public school students are affected every time Proposition 98 is underfunded. When schools absorb unexpected shortfalls, they are forced to make painful choices about which programs and staff to cut. The communities that rely on consistent, predictable school funding suffer most.
California’s schools serve students with a wide range of needs — from special education and mental health services to universal school meals and expanded learning programs. These programs depend on the stable funding floor that Proposition 98 was designed to provide.