Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1545867
Prop. 98: Short-changing students by billions T H E G O V E R N O R and State Legislature came to an agree- ment on a 2026–27 state budget that underfunds Prop. 98's public education funding guarantee by nearly $4 billion. Vio- lating that guarantee causes serious harm to public schools and contributes to overcrowded, under-resourced, destabi- lized classrooms. CTA President David Goldberg expressed disappointment in the Prop. 98 actions of California politicians. "At a time when both public schools and the voting rights of our communities face growing attacks from the federal government, California lawmakers should be standing up for our students and exercising the democratic principles that have made California the nation's progressive leader," Gold- berg says. "Ignoring the state constitution, the Governor and Legis- lature withheld $3.9 billion from the voter-approved Prop. 98 public school funding minimum. This, while also proposing that the role of the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction — the role responsible for the California Depart- ment of Education — become an appointed position after millions already voted for candidates in the June primary." Final Agreement Includes Major Victories for Our Union T H E F I N A L B U D G E T includes a number of major wins for our union, including paid pregnancy leave for all school employees and a "super " cost-of-living adjustment of 4.31%. It also includes a $2.4-billion increase in special education funding, $1 billion for community schools and increased investment in expanding the teacher pipeline. Also included is funding for a historic victory after years of fighting — 14 weeks of paid pregnancy leave for educators. "While there were some wins, California families are living in an era of unprecedented economic uncertainty." Goldberg says. "State leadership must prioritize efforts to increase revenue, especially when California boasts the fourth largest economy in the world, yet educators are forced to regularly fight back against layoffs and cuts to their health benefits. This creates classroom instability and hurts students. We are committed to continuing to fight alongside our communities for the fully funded schools California students deserve." Highlights of the approved budget include: • Augmented Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) — The budget approves an augmented COLA of 4.31%, which is 1.44% above the statutory 2.87% COLA and 2.01% above the 2025–26 COLA. • Paid Pregnancy Leave — The budget provides up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave for school staff starting Jan. 1, 2027. It is estimated to cost roughly $218 million per year and school districts must use Education Funding in the 2026–27 State Budget By Julian Peeples 26 cta.org Advocacy