Insight
California Prop 2 School Facilities Funding: Key Updates from the March 2025 State Allocation Board Meeting
March 30, 2025
The March 2025 State Allocation Board (SAB) meeting delivered critical updates on Proposition 2 funding for California school facilities. Learn about new CTE grant timelines, emergency wildfire support, and what’s next for K-12 and community college modernization projects under the $14 billion bond.
The State Allocation Board (SAB) convened on March 26, 2025, to address key developments in California's educational infrastructure, focusing on the implementation of Proposition 2, the statewide school facilities bond passed in November 2024. This meeting marked a significant step in allocating funds to enhance and modernize public school and community college facilities across the state.
Executive Officer's Update
SAB Executive Officer Rebecca Kirk provided an overview of recent activities:
- Stakeholder Engagement: Since the previous meeting on February 26, 2025, the Office of Public School Construction (OPSC) conducted two stakeholder meetings to gather input on implementing various provisions of Proposition 2.
- March 13, 2025: The fifth stakeholder meeting focused on proposed regulatory amendments related to:
- School Facility Program Matching Shares
- Career Technical Education (CTE) Supplemental Grants for Modernization projects
- Non-Proposition 2 School Facility Program Global Amendments
- March 20, 2025: The sixth stakeholder meeting addressed proposed changes to the Facility Hardship and Seismic Mitigation Program regulations to ensure clarity and consistency. Feedback for this session was accepted until April 4, 2025.
- March 13, 2025: The fifth stakeholder meeting focused on proposed regulatory amendments related to:
Career Technical Education Funding Program Round 7
Proposition 2 allocates $600 million for the Career Technical Education Facilities Program (CTEFP). In collaboration with the California Department of Education (CDE), OPSC proposed making $300 million available for the seventh filing round of the CTEFP, with an eighth round to be announced later.
- Application Process:
- Grant Application Submission: Applicants must submit a Grant Application to the CDE by December 1, 2025.
- Career Technical Education Plans: Plans must be reviewed by the CDE, include all mandatory elements, and achieve a minimum score of 105 points to be eligible for funding.
- Funding Application Submission: Upon receiving a passing score, applicants must submit the Application for Career Technical Education Facilities Funding (Form SAB 50-10) to OPSC by June 30, 2026.
Wildfire Assistance
In response to the January 2025 Southern California wildfires, the SAB approved measures to assist affected school districts:
- Funding Reservation: Reserved remaining General Fund authority to support direct apportionments to districts impacted by the wildfires, provided they submit funding requests under Proposition 2 disaster assistance provisions by August 31, 2025.
- Reallocation of Funds: Any General Fund authority remaining after considering disaster assistance applications will be apportioned to other School Facility Program projects by December 31, 2025.
Impacted districts have been informed and may submit applications using the School District Appeal Request (Form SAB 189), available here.
Action Items
The Board approved emergency regulatory amendments to implement provisions of Proposition 2, including:
- Financial Hardship: Adjustments to eligibility criteria and assistance levels for districts demonstrating financial need.
- Modernization Eligibility for Schools on Military Installations and New Construction Eligibility for Small Districts: Specific provisions to address unique circumstances of these schools.
- Eligible Expenditures: Clarification on allowable uses of funds to ensure compliance and effective utilization.
These amendments apply to School Facility Program applications received on or after October 31, 2024, facilitating timely processing. Additional regulatory amendments will be presented in future Board meetings.
School Facility Program Approvals and Workload
The Consent Agenda included Unfunded Approvals totaling $124,545,531.
The School Facility Program Workload List, dated February 28, 2025, outlines projects valued at:
- New Construction & Charter: $1,675,478,089
- Modernization: $3,224,959,247
- Total: $4,900,437,336
The Acknowledged List, also dated February 28, 2025, includes projects worth:
- New Construction: $0
- Modernization: $429,878,082
- Total: $429,878,082
These figures reflect the ongoing commitment to improving educational facilities statewide.
Conclusion
The March 26, 2025, SAB meeting marked a pivotal moment in implementing Proposition 2, setting the stage for significant advancements in California's educational infrastructure. Through collaborative efforts, regulatory amendments, and strategic funding allocations, the state is poised to enhance learning environments for students across K-12 schools and community colleges.
For a detailed agenda and further information, please refer to the official meeting document [here](https://www.dgs.ca.gov/-/media/Divisions/OPSC/Agenda-Items/2025/03-March/032