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Highlights from the State Budget: What to Expect for the 2022-2023 School Year

California recently passed the final state budget for 2022-2023, which includes new and increased investments in K-12 education. Here are some highlights. 

All school districts will receive more money for the 2022-2023 school year.

Some of the big, permanent changes to school district funding include:

• A 13% increase to the funding that districts receive for every child, plus billions more in ongoing funding for school districts. 
• A $3 billion increase to the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program. This means districts will receive nearly triple the amount they received last year to provide before-school, after-school, and summer school programs for low-income, English learner, and foster youth students from preschool through sixth grade.

Estimates of how much money your district will receive from these funding sources are available in the California Department of Education’s Principal Apportionment Summary.

The state will also be distributing multiple one-time grants, including: 

• A $7.9 billion Learning Recovery Grant: Districts can use this money for the next five years (until 2027-2028) to address student learning challenges, mental health and wellness, and staffing shortages. 
• A $3.6 billion Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Grant: Districts can use this money for arts, music, learning materials, and library books in different languages. 

Districts will automatically get more money from all of these increases. Students, families and communities have a right to understand and influence how this increased funding will be spent to support student learning and well-being.

Districts should also apply for programs to improve student and family engagement.

California is increasing investments in programs to support shared decision-making at schools: 

• A $1.1 billion for more Community Schools Grants to ensure all high-needs schools can get funding to become transformational community schools: If your school or district did not get a Community Schools planning grant or implementation grant after the first round of applications, there will be an opportunity to apply again. Learn more.
• A $100 million to expand the Community Engagement Initiative: Districts can apply for training and support to improve their community engagement practices.

Everyone has a say in how this money will be spent! Ask your district to:

1. Commit to amend their Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and Budget Overview for Parents in the fall to:
   • Use the most up-to-date numbers from the final state budget.
   • Include ALL of their estimated funding, not just LCFF funds.
   • Include any unspent money from the 2021 – 2022 school year.
   • Present a plan to engage with students, families, staff, and community members on any extra money they receive as a result of the final state budget.
2. Engage students and families in the creation of transformational community schools.
3. Plan to apply for a Community Schools Grant and join the next Community Engagement Initiative cohort if they have not already. 

Download our 2022 budget highlights slides and flyer.