CSBA leads coalition of statewide education leaders demanding restoration of $5.6 billion in school funding; Warn of classroom impacts

CSBA leads coalition of statewide education leaders demanding restoration of $5.6 billion in school funding; Warn of classroom impacts<_sc3a_dot _xmlns3a_sc="http://www.sitecore.net/sc">

Sacramento, CA (May 5, 2026) - Local educators, school board members and students gathered at Washington Unified School District's River City High School today and urged state leaders to reject efforts to shortchange education funding by $5.6 billion in the 2026-27 State Budget. Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposal would withhold over $900 per student from California's public schools, forcing difficult cuts in classrooms and communities across the state, creating hardships for students and placing obstacles in the path of academic progress.

"Proposition 98 is a constitutional guarantee voters put in place to protect students," said California School Boards Association President Dr. Debra Schade. "We cannot allow budget maneuvers to undermine that promise when we need to concentrate resources in the service of improved student performance and closure of persistent achievement gaps."

Education leaders emphasized that the funding loss would directly affect staffing, student services and programs.

"In every classroom, this means fewer resources and less support for students," said California Federation of Teachers Early Childhood/TK-12 Council President Steve McDougall. "Educators are already stretched thin, and this proposal makes it harder to recruit, retain and support the professionals students depend on."

District leaders warned the proposal creates uncertainty at a time when schools are coping with rising costs, instability at the state and national levels and unprecedented student need.

"When we fully fund our schools, we invest in opportunity, in stability and in the future of every community in California," said Association of California School Administrators Executive Director Dr. Edgar Zazueta. "The proposed withholding would trigger real cuts to student supports, academic interventions, mental health services, staffing and programs students rely on every day."

Local voices illustrated the real-world consequences of withholding more than $900 for every California student.

"As the superintendent, my responsibility is to make decisions that serve students and reflect the priorities of our community," Washington USD Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Hildreth said. "One of the most important responsibilities we have is ensuring that our district remains financially stable. But stability depends on trust. Trust that the state will guarantee the funding it is legally and constitutionally obligated to provide. When that funding is manipulated or withheld, it puts local decision makers in an impossible position."

"In our district, a loss of this magnitude could impact staffing, class sizes and critical student services," said West Sacramento Teachers Association President, California Teachers Association member and first grade teacher Doug Knepp. "These are not abstract numbers; they are real decisions that affect students and teachers every day."

"In fourth grade, we teach California history," said Petaluma City Schools teacher Jenny Hlebakos. "History is made by people who choose to act when it matters most. If this funding is delayed, what message are we sending to our students? Help can wait. Support is optional. This is going to have severe consequences for safety and stability at Petaluma City Schools. $8 million, that's not a number. That is people. That is support."

Closing out remarks was a student from River City High School, who provided perhaps the most personal reasons for protecting Prop 98.

"As a student, I'm the one that this funding impacts directly," said Clayton Pour. "Students want to succeed and we want to have a positive school experience, but when the state fails to provide resources we need and takes them away, it makes it that much harder. We shouldn't have to wonder whether the state will support us. If we are the leaders of tomorrow, like people like to talk about, it should be a given."

Speakers also noted that this marks the third consecutive year Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed manipulations to Proposition 98, raising concerns about long-term erosion of the school funding guarantee and the administration's commitment to honoring the voter-approved measure. In response, they called on the Legislature to:

• Reject the proposed manipulation
• Restore the full $5.6 billion in funding
• Uphold the intent of Proposition 98