EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom, with the help of students, signed legislation Thursday investing in California’s education that would support special needs students.
“Everybody has the capacity to thrive,” Newsom said during the Thursday news conference. “And that’s the spirit that brings us here in particular, the spirit that defines the $2.4 billion investment.”
According to Newsom’s office, the $2.4 billion increase in special education funding — a 43% increase from the 2025 Budget Act — ensures all local educational agencies in the state can receive special education funding at the same rate and will increase the per-student rate to $1,340.
Among the officials at the event were Davis Joint Unified School District Superintendent Matt Best and Assemblymember David Alvarez, who represents the San Diego region.
“These historic investments in education will help us to support students in reaching their potential,” Best said.
“I’m proud of the budget the governor signed,” Alvarez said, adding that as a father of a middle and high schooler, he was proud of the reimagining of both middle and high schools, with the investment in dual enrollment in colleges that would help some spend less during their college years.
California’s 2026 budget, which Newsom signed earlier this year, includes $80 million in ongoing funding for the special education extraordinary cost pool, which provides reimbursements to special education local plan areas for students with specified high-cost service needs, and the low-incidence disabilities add-on, which provides additional funding to support students with rare, highly specialized needs.
Newsom’s office also said the budget provides a one-time increase of $30 million for the Supporting Inclusive Practices Project, which provides resources to schools and educators to expand access to the general education environment for students with disabilities.