Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Are California Schools Illegally Diverting Arts Education Money?
gvw_calmatters
By CalMatters
Published 5 months ago on
June 5, 2024

A coalition of nearly 100 arts groups says that some California school districts may be misusing Proposition 28 funding, which voters approved in 2022 to expand arts education, including visual arts, theater, dance and music. (Shutterstock)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A celebrity was in the house for the state Senate’s floor session last week: Hollywood actor Danny Glover, as “an advocate for the arts,” according to Democratic Sen. Anthony Portantino of Glendale, who introduced him. Glover’s visit comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes to slash $22.5 million in state arts funding in his latest budget plan (which Democratic legislative leaders want to mostly restore).

Author Profile Picture
Lynn La

CalMatters

But as some advocates are seeking more arts funding, others are calling for more oversight on money already set aside for the arts — in public schools.

As CalMatters K-12 education reporter Carolyn Jones explains, in 2022 voters passed Proposition 28, which earmarked $1 billion a year to expand arts education, including visual arts, theater, dance and music. The money is distributed partly based on students’ economic needs.

But a coalition of nearly 100 arts groups says that some school districts may be misusing the money to pay for existing positions and programs. At the time Prop. 28 passed, barely 1 in 5 schools employed a full-time art or music teacher.

But others, such as Modoc Joint Unified School District, are struggling to spend their Prop. 28 money due to their existing robust arts programs.

  • Tom O’Malley, Modoc Joint Unified superintendent: “Right now, the money is just sitting there, which is very frustrating when we have all these other needs.”

A spokesperson for the state Department of Education said an independent auditor is expected to review Prop. 28 spending, and that the department takes “any misuse of state funds very seriously.”

Read more about Prop. 28 spending, read Carolyn’s story.

Get a Head Start on Paying for College

More on education funding: Jacqueline Munis of CalMatters’ College Journalism Network explores an underutilized program that aims to give California families a head start on paying for college.

Established in 2022, the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program, or CalKIDS, offers newborns and some first grade students a tax-free college savings account.

Babies born between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 receive $25, and those born after July 1, 2023 receive $100. Low-income first graders receive a one-time deposit of $500; those in foster care or who are unhoused receive more.

While nearly 3.7 million students and 667,000 newborns have money invested in these accounts, most CalKIDS funds remain unused: As of March, only 6.3% of newborn accounts and 7.4% of student accounts have been claimed, despite social media, email and direct mail awareness campaigns.

Learn more about CalKIDS and see if your child is eligible in Jacqueline’s story.

About the Author

Lynn La is the newsletter writer for CalMatters, focusing on California’s top political, policy and Capitol stories every weekday. She produces and curates WhatMatters, CalMatters’ flagship daily newsletter with more than 150,000 subscribers. Lynn is based in the Bay Area. She graduated from UC Davis and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.   

About CalMatters

CalMatters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom committed to explaining California policy and politics.

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Fresno Symposium to Focus on Water’s Impact on Farmland Values

DON'T MISS

Why Trump’s Deportations Will Drive Up Your Grocery Bill

DON'T MISS

Republicans Win 218 US House Seats, Giving Donald Trump and the Party Control of Government

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Alum Is New Dean of Health and Human Services College

DON'T MISS

Who Is Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Congressman Donald Trump Picked to Serve as AG?

DON'T MISS

The Key Races to Watch: Nov. 13 Update

DON'T MISS

Feds Agree to Raise San Luis Reservoir: More Water for Farmers, Communities, Wetlands

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: What Impact Does Deportation Have on the Central Valley?

DON'T MISS

How Will Election Winners Bredefeld and Chavez Fit in as Supervisors?

DON'T MISS

California Senate Leader Calls Union ‘Morally Bankrupt’ for Opposing a Vulnerable Democrat

UP NEXT

Why Trump’s Deportations Will Drive Up Your Grocery Bill

UP NEXT

Republicans Win 218 US House Seats, Giving Donald Trump and the Party Control of Government

UP NEXT

Fresno State Alum Is New Dean of Health and Human Services College

UP NEXT

Who Is Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Congressman Donald Trump Picked to Serve as AG?

UP NEXT

The Key Races to Watch: Nov. 13 Update

UP NEXT

Feds Agree to Raise San Luis Reservoir: More Water for Farmers, Communities, Wetlands

UP NEXT

Wired Wednesday: What Impact Does Deportation Have on the Central Valley?

UP NEXT

California Senate Leader Calls Union ‘Morally Bankrupt’ for Opposing a Vulnerable Democrat

UP NEXT

R&B Concerts, Comedy, & Worship Take Center Stage This Weekend

UP NEXT

Speaker Mike Johnson Wins GOP Nomination to Remain in Job, Faces Full House Vote in New Year

Fresno State Alum Is New Dean of Health and Human Services College

16 hours ago

Who Is Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Congressman Donald Trump Picked to Serve as AG?

16 hours ago

The Key Races to Watch: Nov. 13 Update

16 hours ago

Feds Agree to Raise San Luis Reservoir: More Water for Farmers, Communities, Wetlands

16 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: What Impact Does Deportation Have on the Central Valley?

16 hours ago

How Will Election Winners Bredefeld and Chavez Fit in as Supervisors?

17 hours ago

California Senate Leader Calls Union ‘Morally Bankrupt’ for Opposing a Vulnerable Democrat

17 hours ago

R&B Concerts, Comedy, & Worship Take Center Stage This Weekend

18 hours ago

Speaker Mike Johnson Wins GOP Nomination to Remain in Job, Faces Full House Vote in New Year

18 hours ago

ICE Immediately Moves to Bolster Surveillance of Illegal Immigrants After Trump Win

18 hours ago

Fresno Symposium to Focus on Water’s Impact on Farmland Values

Access to a reliable water supply can make or break an agricultural investment, especially in the San Joaquin Valley where aquifers are comi...

3 hours ago

3 hours ago

Fresno Symposium to Focus on Water’s Impact on Farmland Values

A shopping cart outside a supermarket in Peoria, Ariz., on Oct. 2, 2024. (Jesse Rieser/The New York Times)
3 hours ago

Why Trump’s Deportations Will Drive Up Your Grocery Bill

12 hours ago

Republicans Win 218 US House Seats, Giving Donald Trump and the Party Control of Government

16 hours ago

Fresno State Alum Is New Dean of Health and Human Services College

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks at the Republican Party of Florida Freedom Summit, Nov. 4, 2023, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP File)
16 hours ago

Who Is Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Congressman Donald Trump Picked to Serve as AG?

16 hours ago

The Key Races to Watch: Nov. 13 Update

16 hours ago

Feds Agree to Raise San Luis Reservoir: More Water for Farmers, Communities, Wetlands

Wired Wednesday Cover, 11/13/24, KMPH Screengrab
16 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: What Impact Does Deportation Have on the Central Valley?

Search

Send this to a friend