Story perspectives

Newsom Signs $2.4B Special-Ed Boost, Sparks Union Outcry

7/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill adding $2.4 billion to California’s special-education budget, a 43 % increase and the program’s largest investment.
The bill shifts the Department of Education’s executive duties to a governor-appointed commissioner, expands State Board of Education to 13 members.
Teachers unions warned the reforms threaten democratic accountability.
The budget provides $146 million for homeless students, $100 million for California New Americans in Schools, and a 4.31 % cost-of-living increase for staff.

History

Historical Context

President Gerald Ford’s 1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act gave states $1.3 billion in federal grants, launching universal special-education services. Decades of steady enrollment growth have made special-education spending exceed $50 billion annually. In 2024 Governor Gavin Newsom approved a $2.4 billion California boost, expanding oversight and aiming for a 15 % enrollment rise.

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Story summary

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill adding $2.4 billion to California’s special-education budget, a 43 % increase and the program’s largest investment.
The bill shifts the Department of Education’s executive duties to a governor-appointed commissioner, expands State Board of Education to 13 members.
Teachers unions warned the reforms threaten democratic accountability.
The budget provides $146 million for homeless students, $100 million for California New Americans in Schools, and a 4.31 % cost-of-living increase for staff.

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