School facilities funds cut as part of agreement to reduce California’s budget shortfall

An agreement between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature that will reduce the state’s budget shortfall by $17.3 billion also will mean less money for school facilities.

The agreement, signed April 4, cuts the state School Facility Aid Program by $500 million, reducing the funding from $875 million to $375 million. The program provides funds to school districts for school construction, deferred maintenance and emergency repairs.

The new agreement also delays $550 million in facilities grants for preschool, transitional kindergarten and full-day kindergarten until 2025-26. Districts can apply for funds through the program to build classrooms or retrofit existing facilities for preschool, TK or kindergarten classes.

The agreement also defers $499.1 million in funding to the University of California and California State University, and reduces funding for the UCLA Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy Project by $300 million.