The pandemic demonstrated what so many of us already knew – normal wasn’t good enough before, and it’s certainly not good enough today. As California’s schools, districts, and colleges move forward from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are responsible for reimagining how we think about what is possible for our education systems. Our state has both the financial resources and a timely economic responsibility to invest in education equity and address long-standing fiscal adequacy issues in early learning, K-12, and higher education sectors.
The Education Trust—West has outlined the policy priorities we recommend if California is serious about recovering from the pandemic while leading the nation in progressive policymaking to advance racial equity in education. In Moving Forward Together: A Policy Agenda for Racial Equity in California Education Systems in 2023, we share the 11 key policy priorities we’re championing in Sacramento and across the state.
5 things advocates should know about California’s 2024-25 state budget proposal(s) and process
Each year, California state leaders spend months proposing and refining the state’s budget, making decisions about programs and resources that directly impact students, schools, and colleges.