On January 10th, Governor Newsom released his State Budget Proposal for 2023 – 2024. The proposal includes new investments for arts education and a cut to the one-time Arts, Music & Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant. Create CA recognizes the difficult decisions required to close a projected $22.5 billion budget deficit. We thank Governor Newsom for prioritizing students and remain optimistic about the future of arts education funding in California.
What follows is Create CA’s analysis of the proposed budget, including implications for implementing Proposition 28.
Arts, Music, & Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant – reduced to $2.3 billion
According to the budget proposal, due to the proposition 28 investment “and the need for one-time funds to cover the costs of the LCFF in 2022-23 and 2023-24, the Budget reflects a reduction of approximately $1.2 billion … from the Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant …. taking this one-time allocation from approximately $3.5 billion … to approximately $2.3 billion.”
The discretionary block grant combined numerous education asks that made spending on arts and music a strong suggestion but optional (e.g., districts could spend the funds on financial literacy curriculum, operational costs such as pensions, etc.).
The cuts to the one-time block grant, a three-year funding source, reinforce why Proposition 28’s ongoing and voter-mandated funding is critical to correct decades of underinvestment in arts education. For example, “Creativity Challenge,” the latest report on the state of arts education in California from SRI Education, cites 9 out of 10 California schools do not provide visual arts, music, theatre, media arts, and dance as mandated by the state education code.
Proposition 28 – $941 million
The proposed budget includes $941 million to fund year one of Proposition 28 – The Arts and Music in Schools—Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act. Schools will receive this ongoing funding (i.e., allocated annually) for the expansion of arts education programs at the beginning of the 2023 – 2024 school year. Create CA anticipates that this amount will change in the May budget revise and possibly again in the final June budget.
Create CA encourages State Superintendent Thurmond to prioritize equity in Prop 28 implementation and to issue guidance on baseline funding calculations for the “do not supplant” clause and clarity for the waiver process. We also encourage all school districts to create a strategic plan for arts education and start by taking inventory of current arts education programs at their school and identifying gaps. In addition, we ask community members to share and discuss a vision for the arts with their school leaders.
Cultural Enrichment Experiences for 12th-grade students – $100 million
The Governor’s budget proposal includes $100 million in one-time funding to LEAs for “cultural enrichment” for high school seniors (roughly $200 per 12th-grade student). With this funding, seniors can access cultural enrichment experiences across the state, such as field trips to museums and live performances.
Attendance at such events is an excellent opportunity for students to experience culturally relevant arts expressions and organizations that comprise California’s vastly diverse museum and performance cultural landscape. We applaud Governor Newsom for including cultural experiences for students in his budget proposal.
Proposition 98 and the Local Control Funding Formula
The budget proposal includes a cost-of-living adjustment of about 8%. This funding would mean another record-breaking year of per-pupil financing in California: $23,723 overall, with $17,519 coming from Proposition 98 dollars. Proposition 98, passed in 1988, guarantees a percentage of the state’s general fund goes to K-14 schools.
Create CA thanks Governor Newsom for prioritizing students and creativity in his budget proposal. We look forward to continuing working with our state and local partners to ensure Proposition 28 and other funding sources are implemented equitably on behalf of California’s public school students.
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