By Payton Bayes
As of April 2026, Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, introduces proposition 98 explaining a state budget plan. This is causing California schools to experience major financial issues and declining enrollment.
What is proposition 98? The proposition guarantees schools for K-12 to optimize for the minimalist annual funding. This is shown to keep pace and status with the economy. Because of the budget lowering, this stands as a problem for California schools all over.
Proposition 98 has an effect on our schools and has dropped significantly as said in the California Budget and Policy Center. They state, “Based on revenue estimates in the governor’s January 2024 budget proposal, the Prop. 98 minimum funding guarantee dropped by $14.3 billion across the three-year budget window (2022-23 to 2024-25) compared to assumptions made last June.”
The reason this is an important address is because this action may increase class sizes, less teachers, and cuts from certain positions of schools across the Bay Area. Schools can experience even more deficiency in money than already seen. Schools would be losing about $900 per student across the state and around 9,500 educators could lose their job.
Other problems may see their way through this as an opportunity to bring up things such as AI. This is a way for AI to take the spotlight and shine over teachers since as we know, teachers will be reduced. Profe. Alma, a spanish teacher at Benicia High School says, “I feel disappointed because it is a huge mistake and will affect students and also school districts in general, it makes me sad especially since my job is at risk.”
As of May 2026, CSBA is suing the state over funds within the last year and staving teachers jobs. Advocates say it’s not too late to stop proposition 98 and they are trying to make that happen.
beniciapaw.com 