Proposition 28: Provides additional funding for arts and music education in public schools

Proposition 28 would increase spending from California’s general fund for arts and music education in public and charter schools by about $1 billion annually, according to the California voter guide. It will not raise taxes.

Specifically, it increases the spending on arts and music by 1 percent of California’s total spending on education from the previous year, according to LAO. The proposition distributes that money to schools based on enrollment and proportion of low-income students.

It also stipulates that 80 percent of the funding be spent on hiring new staff and requires schools to report how they spend the money.

Supporters, including instrument companies and teachers, argue that the funding will help youth mental issues stemming from the pandemic and that it will create jobs for educators. 

“I’m in total support of the proposition to fund arts and music programs,” ceramics teacher Jonathan Ridley said. “In regions where parents might have enough money to donate to arts and music programs, [Proposition 28] could add much more money for them.”

There are no opposition groups against Proposition 28, though the proposal has been criticized for potentially taking away funding from other important programs.