SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego Unified School District joined several other large urban school districts on Wednesday in urging Governor Gavin Newsom to increase investments in public education.
Amid uncertainty and potential cuts to federal funding, the districts emphasized the need for California to prioritize education as the state finalizes its 2026–2027 budget. Eight districts signed the letter, including Los Angeles Unified, Fresno Unified, Long Beach Unified, Oakland Unified, Santa Ana Unified, San Bernardino City Unified, San Francisco Unified, and San Diego Unified.
According to a news release, the school boards represent more than 15% of students statewide.
“Looming uncertainty around federal education funding requires the state to provide California public schools fiscal certainty,” SDUSD Superintendent Fabi Bagula said in a statement. “State investments are essential for us to be able to continue our momentum of improving student outcomes and closing persistent opportunity gaps.”
The districts called for Proposition 98, which directs excess state funds toward improving instructional quality, to be fully funded as intended.
They also urged increased funding for the Local Control Funding Formula, relief related to immigration impacts, and additional investment in special education and behavioral support services.
SDUSD is projecting a $47 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, citing special education cuts under the Trump administration and broader gaps in federal and state funding.
“Based on current projections, we are estimating a $47 million deficit between our expenses and expected revenue for the 2026–27 school year,” Bagula said. “There are several reasons for this, including the chronic underfunding of Special Education.”
In the letter, education leaders also asked the state to invest more in early learning resources, noting that short-term or targeted interventions alone do not fully address student needs. They called for stronger funding support for students with moderate and severe disabilities, arguing the current model falls short.
Despite ongoing efforts to keep schools free from immigration enforcement activity, the districts said such actions may still contribute to declining student attendance.
“The common focus of all our priorities is to ensure that the state maintains a priority for urban school students who are increasingly facing the challenges of poverty and an array of social issues,” said San Bernardino City Unified Superintendent Mauricio Arrellano.
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