Gov. Gavin News announced a major victory for California and Bay public schools, the state plans to give schools a record $ 128.3 billion and increase spending per student to $ 22,850 to push the state’s education system amid a number of difficulties. throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is a figure you have never seen in California,” Newsom said on Friday, giving details of his revised state budget – a surplus of $ 97.5 billion, largely due to the economic benefits of California’s richest people. “We are talking about education reform. We are talking about a complete rethinking of the education system. “

The money will go to fund a universal transitional kindergarten, college savings accounts for all students, schools, youth mental health, teacher training and recruitment, and other needs covered by the coronavirus pandemic, he said.

School leaders and education policy experts have praised Newsom for his commitment to funding the school from kindergarten to college – for the most part. They advocated relief as the number of students in public schools declined sharply, the level of chronic student absenteeism increased, and schools lost teachers at an alarming rate.

“A revised budget totaling $ 128.3 billion is spent on education, raising critical needs, including historical funding for school mental health, teacher recruitment and retention, and literacy strategies needed to enable students to heal and recover after two very difficult years, ”Tony Thurmand, the state head of schools, wrote in a press release.

“It provides more funding per student for schools to close learning gaps and invest in people and programs that will serve all students,” he wrote.

But leaders of the California School Board Association said the governor could do more.

“While the May governor’s review makes excellent investments in a number of key areas, it is losing the ability to secure funding for home-to-school transportation. When we recover from a pandemic, it’s more important than ever for students to attend school on time, every day, “said Troy Flint, a spokesman for the California School Board Association, in a press release.

Q: So how much money is going to fund what?

The state budget provides large dollars to pay for universal transitional kindergarten and school meals, expanding summer schools and pre- and post-school programs, reducing class sizes, special education, hiring and recruiting teachers, and savings accounts in children’s colleges. Here is a partial breakdown:

• $ 8 billion in the form of a “flexible block grant,” or a one-time discretionary fund, schools can use to address students ’mental health, professional development, retirement costs, or other needs.
• $ 2.1 billion to fight refusal of enrollment in public public schools.
• $ 2.1 billion to increase the nationwide formula for funding local control, the main mechanism for distributing funds among students in K-12 schools. That’s in addition to the $ 1.1 billion cost-of-living adjustment.
• $ 1.8 billion in addition to upgrading school facilities.
• $ 1.5 billion to fund public schools
• $ 612 million for universal school meals.
• $ 500 million to fund residencies or training programs for school counselors and teachers.
• $ 403 million to accelerate day / summer school expansion.
• $ 385 million for STEM professional development.
• $ 63 million for art and music.

Stephen McMahon, deputy head of San Jose Unified, said the new program proposed by the governor’s budget is a step in the right direction, but the Gulf area has urgent needs, such as focusing on financial support for families and teachers who are all strength to stay. Many districts are unable to attract enough staff because of the high cost of housing, he said.

“We are still in a state of emergency in California with personal instructions and personal training,” McMahon said. “We need to put schools back in order before being introduced to new school curricula. They are all good priorities, but we need to make sure we strengthen the foundations and then see what we can expand. ”

Q: What about higher education?

The state is allocating a 5% multi-year base increase to the University of California and the University of California. On Friday, Newsom announced a foundation that will help Californians get higher education. Nationwide leaders are aiming for a 70% goal of completing degrees across the state, focusing on access and alignment; tuition, housing, fees and other expenses; elimination of capital gaps, increase in the number of entrants and annual reporting.

“This budget helps more underserved students achieve timely graduation and increases financial aid for low- and middle-income students in California, which combined with UC’s significant existing investment in financial aid will help more California students get an UC education.” , – Michael W. Drake, president of the University of California system, wrote in a press release on Friday.

Question: How else does the state invest in youth?

In addition to funding schools, Newsom has announced that the state will allocate an additional $ 290 million to its youth behavioral health initiative. The application brings the total state investment since January to $ 4.8 billion.

The money will go to fund youth mental health initiatives – including crisis and school crisis response, rehabilitation and care programs, youth-led social media campaigns, suicide prevention and youth outreach, and career development and parental support.