California Doubles Down on Expanded Learning: A Win for Students and Families in the Golden State

Our dedication to advancing afterschool and expanded learning in California is unwavering. We believe in not just doing the work, but also in diligently attending to the landscape and sharing what we learn with our community through this blog. Let’s jump in!

Governor Gavin Newsom's recently unveiled May Revision for the 2025-26 State Budget brings continued good news for California's students and working families, particularly with its sustained and enhanced commitment to expanded learning opportunities. Amidst discussions of fiscal prudence and navigating federal economic headwinds, the state is forging ahead with the full implementation of a transformative program designed to enrich the lives of children from Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through sixth grade.

Governor Newsom, in his budget presentation, highlighted the state's dedication to these crucial programs, noting that California has "10xed" previous efforts in after-school and summer school initiatives. He emphatically called the full implementation of a 9-hour day of before-school, after-school, and summer school for TK to sixth-graders a "big damn deal," underscoring a total multi-year investment of over $4 billion in this vital space.

The detailed budget documents provide further clarity on this significant undertaking. The May Revision marks the "final fiscal implementation year for the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP)". This crucial program aims to provide comprehensive instruction and enrichment, with a particular focus on Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) serving high concentrations of low-income students, English learners, and youth in foster care (unduplicated pupils).

Key Highlights from the May Revision for Expanded Learning:

• Increased Funding: The commitment is backed by an increase in ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund support for ELOP, now proposed at $515.5 million. This is a notable rise from the $435 million allocated in the January budget, reflecting adjustments for higher-than-anticipated student participation.
• Expanding Universal Access: The program is moving towards "universal access for LEAs with 55% or more unduplicated pupils", broadening its reach from the previous 75% threshold.
• Support for Smaller Districts: An additional $10 million is allocated to increase the minimum grant for LEAs from $50,000 to $100,000. This thoughtful addition ensures that smaller LEAs can maintain robust expanded learning programs without straining other local resources.

This comprehensive approach to expanded learning is a cornerstone of California's strategy to support academic achievement, provide safe and enriching environments for children outside of traditional school hours, and offer critical support for working parents. As the state finalizes its budget, the continued prioritization of these programs signals a bright future for California's youngest learners.

The Legislature will now hold hearings to discuss the May Revision, with a constitutional deadline to pass a balanced budget by June 15th.

While many have been in doubt about the future of expanded learning and afterschool programs in the great State of California, we have been and continue to be bullish on the future of the children in the state and California serving as a model for other great economies around the world.