Governor Newsom’s proposed 2026-27 state budget includes several key initiatives that will impact California’s education landscape. Here are five important things to know about the governor’s proposed budget:
1. A Promising Proposal to Expand Community Schools
The proposed budget reaffirms the state’s commitment to the Community Schools initiative, recognizing the powerful role that integrated services and strong community partnerships play in supporting student success. As we mentioned in our Black Minds Matter 2025 report, California can leverage scaling up the community schools model to create supportive spaces for Black student success (for more on the positive impact Community Schools are having on student outcomes, check out this report from the Learning Policy Institute). The proposal includes $1 billion in ongoing funding to continue existing programs and expand the community school model to more school sites serving students from low-income backgrounds, English learners, and youth in foster care. We’re pleased this proposal expands access and includes clear guidance on how the funds can be used.
Want to learn more about the positive impacts of the Golden State Teacher Grant Program? Read EdTrust-West’s “Advocacy Works” blog here and show your support by signing onto this support letter.
2. Continuing the Golden State Teacher Grant
The Golden State Teacher Grant Program (GSTG) is critical to the state’s strategy for recruiting and retaining diverse, high-quality teachers. The GSTG Program provides financial aid awards (up to $10,000) for student teachers who commit to working in a priority school. While it is already demonstrating positive impacts, including helping to shrink California’s teacher shortage and increase teacher diversity, the GSTG Program is scheduled to end in 2026 unless state policymakers act to invest new funding. We need lawmakers to make this funding ongoing and increase it to $100 million to ensure this critical program supports schools all across the state.
Learn more about the positive impacts of the Golden State Teacher Grant Program in EdTrust-West’s “Advocacy Works” blog here, and show your support for the Program by signing onto this support letter.
3. A Proposed Increase in Support and Resources for a Proven Pathway to College
Dual enrollment allows high school students to take college courses, earning high school and college credit simultaneously, saving them time and money. Governor Newsom is proposing to strengthen this proven strategy that boosts both high school and college graduation in the 2026-27 budget by increasing funding for the College and Career Access Pathways program (CCAP) by $100 million in one-time funds. We’re thrilled to see this type of investment in the governor’s proposal, particularly as this is a proposal EdTrust-West led on and championed with the California Community College Chancellor’s office and state policymakers. It prioritizes schools serving high proportions of historically underserved students – a big win for increasing opportunity in college access.
Interested in joining us to support the CCAP budget proposal? Click here to sign onto a support letter to California’s state leaders, and mark your calendars to participate in the Dual Enrollment Digital Week of Action, April 13th-17th.
4. A Transformative Shift for Education Governance
The governor also included a proposal to align leadership of California’s education system at the state level by placing the California Department of Education under a single executive authority, while preserving the State Board of Education’s role in setting standards and statewide policy. This structure brings policy and implementation into closer alignment, creating a clearer line of responsibility for results and a stronger foundation for supporting schools and educators. This proposal follows numerous education advocacy organizations, including EdTrust-West, highlighting how the current disjointed system of governance hinders student success. We are both supporting the proposal and eager to see how it evolves through the budget process.
We look forward to discussions with state leaders about how a new approach to education governance can strengthen the state’s ability to close opportunity gaps and deliver on equity commitments.
Click here to learn more from PACE (Policy Analysis for California Education) about the state’s education governance system and options for reimagining it. And show your support for this important shift by signing onto our coalition letter here.
5. Opportunities for Advocacy – Join Us for Advocacy Day in May!
While the budget process kicks off with an initial proposal from the governor, the final state budget for 2026-27 will be a result of months of input from Californians and countless hours of debate, discussion, and refinement from California’s elected leaders. Students, parents, educators, and other advocates from across the state can and should be part of that input process. Key opportunities and deadlines include Senate and Assembly hearings from March to May 2026, during which you can testify or submit letters to specific education-related budget subcommittees.
And this year, EdTrust-West is excited to invite advocates to Advocacy Day 2026, on Monday, May 18th, in Sacramento. EdTrust-West’s Advocacy Day will provide an opportunity for education equity advocates to learn more about budget proposals and to participate in meetings and other activities designed to ensure that state legislators hear directly from community members. Register now to join us for Advocacy Day!
Eager to learn more about the Proposed California Budget 2026-27? Click here to watch the recording of our Budget Webinar (passcode: 9Fe44!q&).
