In June, California finalized and enacted its 2024-25 budget. Despite facing a significant deficit, California's budget demonstrates a continued commitment to K-12 education equity across the state. While the budget doesn't introduce new computer science-specific funding, it does maintain support for key initiatives that benefit CS education and drive equitable, high-quality experiences for all students.

Read on to learn more about this year’s budget and how it can help foster accessible CS learning pathways in California.

WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING

• High-Speed Internet Access: The 2024-25 California budget allocates $3.2 million to support the K-12 High Speed Network (K12HSN), which is an ongoing program in California that provides high-speed internet access to K-12 public schools across the state. Fostering widespread, equitable access to the internet is a crucial component of ensuring that all students are able to learn computer science and thrive as digital citizens. Much work remains to ensure these networks reach our students in rural areas.
• Teacher Professional Development: California continues to prioritize preparing, training, and recruiting a diverse, expert workforce of educators in public schools. This year, the budget allocates $20 million towards developing teacher training aligned with the new California Mathematics Framework, supporting high-quality student learning in a subject adjacent to CS. 
• Equity Multiplier Funding: The "equity multiplier" is a recent component of California's education funding, beginning last year and continuing this year. This initiative allocates $300 million to schools with the highest concentrations of low-income students, English learners, homeless, and foster youth students to accelerate learning gains and close opportunity gaps of historically underserved students.
• Career Technical Education: The budget continues to support Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, which often include vital computer science components. This ongoing investment is crucial as it helps prepare students for tech-related careers, equipping them with the skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital job market.

WE CAN’T LOSE SIGHT OF EQUITY — AND PLANNING FOR WHAT’S NEXT: 

California has a long history of commitment to computer science education. Programs like the Strategic Implementation Plan for Computer Science and Computer Science Standards demonstrate our legislature’s deep understanding of the need for equitable, accessible CS learning pathways. However, less than half of California schools offer computer science classes. 34% of schools serving high proportions of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Pacific Islander students offer CS courses in comparison to 52% of schools serving a greater proportion of white and Asian students. 

The budget is a pivotal component of the CS education landscape in California—and budgetary adjustments in ​​K-12 funding for computer science can help the state pave the way for more equitable learning outcomes. California must support the continuation and expansion of equity-centric professional development programs for CS educators. The Educator Workforce Investment Grant (EWIG) funds Seasons of CS, which provides computer science professional learning opportunities for thousands of California teachers, leaders, and counselors. When this funding ends next year, we call on state officials to ensure its sustainability and provide the necessary ongoing support educators need. This summer, the program’s CSPD Week convened educators from 35 counties across California for an in-person professional learning experience guided by the vision that all students should learn CS and all teachers can teach CS.

CSforCA continues to work with Governor Newsom and advocates in the legislature to explore policy initiatives—within and outside of the budget—that support equitable CS learning for all students. To meet the digital moment, California must work towards ensuring all high schools offer computer science—and that state-sponsored professional learning prepares high-quality, diverse teachers to teach it. Our state must prioritize clear and consistent data collection on CS implementation to identify and close equity gaps in order to prepare every student for college, careers, and community engagement. 

California has proven its dedication to CS education—and by continuing to take steps forward through the budget and policy, our state can create thriving CS learning environments for every student. Especially in this 21st century world, all students—regardless of background—deserve to learn the computational thinking skills necessary to navigate online life with confidence.