PROP 28 FAQs

QUESTIONS ABOUT CALIFORNIA’S PROP 28?

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What is California’s Prop 28 arts and music education funding initiative? Here is what your school needs to know.

The Basics/Rules

Q. What is Prop 28?

A: Prop 28 is a California state referendum that will increase funding he state’s arts and music education programs in PK-12 schools. It was voted on and approved by California votes in November 2022 with 64% of the vote. The funding will provide a minimum source of annual funding in PK–12 public schools, public charter schools, and every preschool and transitional kindergarten.

Here’s a link to a summary from the Legal Analyst Office: https://lao.ca.gov/ballot/2022/Prop28-110822.pdf

Q. How can schools spend Prop 28 funds?

A: At least 80% of the funds should be used for credentialed or classified employees. 19% of the funds can be used for professional learning and materials. This includes professional learning, field trips, equipment, supplies, etc. Please note that funds can be rolled over for up to three years.

Q. When will Prop 28 funds be disbursed to schools?

A: We are now hearing that it could be between October and December of 2023. Funds will be dispersed annually each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) starting July 1, 2023.

Q. How much funding will each school/school district receive?

A: The May revision of the governor’s 2023–2024 proposed budget estimates the initial amount for the program statewide is $933 million. Funds will be distributed throughout California to PK-12 schools each fiscal year. Preliminary estimates indicate that each LEA will receive $113.45 for each non-Title 1 student, and an additional $84.15 for each Title 1 (low-income) student. For the 2023/2024 school year, funding amounts will be updated the week of November 14, 2023. Check back in to find out how much your school will receive on this website.

Q. Will the amount of funding for each fiscal year change?

A: Yes. Before the start of each fiscal year cycle, the amount available for the AMS program will be estimated by the Department of Finance (DOF). The final amount will be provided by the DOF the following January. As a result, funding will be recalculated, and LEA allocations may be adjusted.

Q. What type of arts programs qualify for Prop 28 funding?

A: “Arts education program” includes (but is not limited to) instruction and training, supplies, materials, and arts educational partnership programs for instruction in dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts including folk art, painting, sculpture, photography, craft arts, creative expression including graphic arts and design, computer coding, animation, music composition, ensembles, script writing, costume design, film, and video.

Q. What can schools do to prepare for the increased arts and music funding?

A. Check out this Prop 28 planning document to learn about the steps you can take as a teacher or administrator to make the most of this new funding resource. Acting now will help you provide the best music education possible for your students. Also, the sooner you reach out West Music, the better. We can set you up for easy, seamless purchasing for the entire school year by becoming part your school district’s approved vendor program. School districts, administrators, and music educators: call or email us today for priority service:

California Music Education Hotline: 319.688.6698

California Music Education Email: nationalconsultants@westmusic.com

Q. How does the state determine how much Prop 28 money each school gets?

A. California will use a detailed formula based on factors like the current fiscal year’s Prop 28 funding amount, your annual admin costs, the number of PK-12 students enrolled in your school/district, and the number of PK-12 students enrolled statewide.

Find out how much your school will receive on this website. For the 2023/2024 school year, funding amounts will be updated the week of November 14, 2023.

Q. Are there restrictions on how schools can use Prop 28 funding?

A. LEAs with more than 500 pupils must expend at least 80% of the funds to employ certificated or classified employees to provide arts education instruction. The remaining funds can be used for training supplies, curriculum, professional learning, materials, and arts educational partnership programs.

No more than one percent of funds may be expended on administrative costs, including indirect costs.

Q. Who decides which program a school will offer?

A. Each school can determine which program or programs it will offer. School administrators, in collaboration with teachers, families, and students, should together make the choice that best serves students in their local school community.

Q. What are the reporting requirements for this program?

A. Each school is required to submit an annual board-approved report and post it on the school district’s and Department of Education’s websites. The report should detail the type of arts education programs funded by the program; the number of full-time equivalent teachers, classified personnel, and teaching aides; the number of pupils served; and the number of school sites providing arts education programs with such funds.

Materials

Q. Can Prop 28 funds be used for an added music teacher on campus?

A. Yes. At least 80% of the funds can be used for credentialed and classified employees.

Q. What happens to any portion of Prop 28 funding that we cannot spend?

A. Any portion you cannot spend will return to the Prop 28 fund at the state level. Again, please note that funds can be rolled over for up to three years.

Q. Can schools pool their AMS funds, and can school districts help to facilitate inter-school programs?

A. Yes, schools can share teachers and teacher aides as well as community arts partners, and school districts can help facilitate this sharing among schools. For example, a teacher could teach at one school on Monday and Tuesday and at another on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. However, other restrictions outside of AMS could prohibit or restrict this.

Hiring

Q. Can Prop 28 funds be used for an added music teacher on campus?

A. Yes. At least 80% of the funds can be used for credentialed and classified employees.

Q. Can districts use Prop 28 funding to pay for current arts/music teachers’ salaries instead of hiring new teachers?

A. No. The funds are to be used to supplement, not supplant.

Q. How will schools hire new arts teachers when they can’t fill many current vacancies?

A. Here are some recommendations:

Hire early, recruit out of state, and start recruiting for new teachers to enter music education in college.
Address additional pathways to certification, per the CDE.
Think about sharing FTEs across sites.

Q. Is there any kind of waiver that might allow a district to use a portion of the Prop 28 funding in other ways, for instance over a two-to-three year hiring process?

A. The funds can be rolled over for up to three years and can be used for both certified and/or classified employees. After the three-year rollover window expires, the funds will be returned to the Prop 28 fund at the state level.

Q. How are schools going to handle the need for more classrooms? Where will new teachers teach?

A. There will be a facilities and scheduling conversation to ensure that the available rooms are used to the maximum amount. Master scheduling might be able to solve this issue internally. Teachers can also share a classroom during their prep period.

Q. Will school districts be allowed to pool their Prop 28 funds to hire new teachers?

A. Yes. In fact, you can share an FTE between sites.

Q. If teacher allocations were reduced, or if teachers were reassigned prior to this school year due to shifting enrollment/reduction in student numbers, can Prop 28 funds be used to reinstate them?

A. Yes.

Q. Can Prop 28 funds be used to pay for teachers and classes that were previously paid for by parent groups?

A. It depends. If the club/parent group gives money to the district and the district then cuts the paycheck, the answer may be yes.

Professional Learning

Q. Guidelines state that 19% of funds should be allocated for “professional learning". Who decides what qualifies?

A. Usually individual school districts decide what qualifies for professional learning. Professional music education conferences often qualify. Online courses and professional development opportunities, such as those offered by Music ConstructED, may also likely qualify. You will need to seek approval per your district’s approved training request process (usually a write-up).