Gov. Gavin Newsom has allocated $2.4 billion to bolster special education programs in California's public schools, marking a 43% increase from the previous year. This substantial investment, part of the state's recently signed budget, is designed to fund essential services such as literacy aides, behavioral health assistance, and other specialized support for students with disabilities.
The allocation reflects a per-pupil cost of $1,340, a record high that incorporates cost-of-living adjustments and accounts for the growing number of students requiring special education services. Newsom signed the budget trailer bill, Assembly Bill 126, alongside schoolchildren who participated in a mock signing ceremony.
"These investments mean more reading specialists, more behavioral health aides, and more one-on-one support that will directly improve student outcomes," said Assemblymember David Alvarez, who attended the event. The governor also described the funding as "historic."
Additional funding includes $80 million in reimbursements to districts for specialized student services, a $30 million increase for the Supporting Inclusive Practices Project aimed at enhancing school disability access, $25 million for increased opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and $10 million to support alternative pathways to high school diplomas for students with disabilities.
This funding increase coincides with a notable rise in the proportion of students qualifying for special education services in California. The share of students with documented disabilities climbed to 15% for the 2024-25 academic year, up from 13% in 2018-2019, according to EdSource. This trend has occurred even as overall public school enrollment in California has declined. In the early 2000s, students requiring special education services represented 10% of the student population.
While most students with disabilities have conditions such as speech impediments or learning disorders like dyslexia, the number of students with more severe conditions, including certain forms of autism, has doubled over the past 25 years, according to state data.
Newsom's administration has also pursued other significant changes in the state's education system. In a budget agreement with the Legislature, the governor's office assumed greater control over the Department of Education by stripping duties from the state superintendent of schools and appointing a commissioner. This move was reportedly unexpected by current Superintendent Tony Thurmond, who characterized it as "undemocratic."