Federal education funding got a win this year when Congress passed a bipartisan FY2026 spending bill, maintaining most K-12 programs at current levels and rejecting deep proposed cuts. For school counseling leaders, this means Title I, Title II-A, Title IV-A, and Perkins V remain viable funding streams – each with specific allowable uses that can support counselor positions, professional development, and college and career readiness programming.
On the California front, the Governor's May Budget Revision brings exciting news: a record $127.1 billion in Proposition 98 funding, increasing his original budget proposal by $6.4 billion. The May Revise includes a 4.3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase to the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), an additional $1 billion for the Community Schools initiative, and $2.4 billion for Special Education, the largest investment in special education in CA’s history!. Additionally, $5 billion in discretionary funding via the Student Support and Professional Development Block Grant can be used for staff training,recruitment and retention, and career pathways and dual enrollment expansion efforts for career education. Grants like CTEIG, K12 SWP, CCAP, and the CAI/COYA apprenticeship programs offer additional targeted opportunities, and several key grants expire June 30, 2026, so acting quickly is critical!
Whether you're a district leader, school counselor, or postsecondary readiness coordinator, there are more funding opportunities available right now than many realize. The key is knowing where to look and how to align existing resources to student support goals.
