Despite decreases in revenues from January, the Governor’s revised budget proposal includes critical funding for key CLBC legislative priorities, including transformative K-12 accountability changes and a tandem $300 million “Equity Multiplier” investment, expanding restorative justice practices in the classroom, and an investment in a leading research hub focusing on Black life. “With the May Revision, the Governor is again putting money where his mouth is — and where California needs to be — investing in bold and transformative proposals to advance equity and address persistent disparities in Black communities and in the classroom,” said CLBC Chair Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D–Suisun City). “In particular, the accountability measures to leverage the entire $80 billion Local Control Funding Formula to focus on low-performing student groups and schools, and specifically require districts to publicly identify and address where Black student performance is low,while providing additional services at high-need schools using thecomplementary $300 million Equity Multiplier are what the Black Caucus has been fighting for — for years. We’re grateful to see this transformative proposal so close to the finish line. Especially in a constrained fiscal environment, we can’t let our foot off the pedal for equity and investment in our communities.” Among the proposals in the Governor’s revised budget announced today, key CLBC priority investments include:

• LCFF Accountability Changes and the Equity Multiplier – $300 Million: The accountability proposals ensure that local districts focus resources on student group and school-level equity gaps and the May Revision continues the commitment to add $300 million ongoing for schools that serve the highest concentration of students with economic need.
• Ralph J. Bunche Center at UCLA – $5 Million: This funding is for the only Organized Research Unit in the UC system and the leading hub of research and policy on the conditions of Black life. The Bunche Center is core to the research and development of critical policy interventions that support equity, justice, and Black students and community members.
• Restorative Justice Fund – $7 Million: This fund provides resources to local educational agencies that elect to implement the Restorative Justice best practices that will be developed and posted on the Department of Education’s website by June 1, 2024, pursuant to AB 2598.

The CLBC will continue to work closely with the Senate pro Tempore, the Speaker of the Assembly, Legislative Budget Chairs, and the Governor’s administration to ensure targeted investments to increase academic performance for Black students, advance equity, and empower our communities are adopted as part of the final budget agreement.