California schools are sitting on arts money. A change in law might get them to spend it

A proposed bill in California aims to clarify how the state's $1 billion annual investment in arts education should be spent, as it heads for Governor Gavin Newsom's desk. The legislation, AB 2440, was reached after legislators reached a deal with a key proponent of the original initiative, Proposition 28. The bill is designed to streamline and clarify the intentions of Proposition 28, which was passed by voters in 2022.

Proposition 28 requires schools to use their new arts funding to supplement, rather than replace, existing programs. However, the ambiguity surrounding Prop. 28's rules has led numerous districts to return their arts money to the state, fearing potential legal repercussions if they spend it incorrectly. This issue is currently being addressed in a lawsuit filed by Los Angeles Unified, which claims the district cut existing arts programs and replaced them with Prop. 28 funds.

Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, a Democrat from Torrance, introduced AB 2440 to alleviate schools' concerns about spending their arts funds. The bill aims to align Prop. 28 more closely with the state's existing arts framework, providing a clear definition of what constitutes an arts class. Additionally, the legislation specifies that schools can pool their Prop.

28 funds and share arts teachers and resources. The bill also clarifies whether arts funding from external organizations, such as band boosters or nonprofits, counts towards schools' existing arts budgets.