Proposition 28 advocates in California warn that chronic underinvestment in arts and music education is risking the state’s future competitive advantage. Prop. 28, on the statewide November ballot, would change California’s constitution to dedicate $800 million to $1 billion a year for arts and music programs.
In 1989, the state constitution was changed by voters through Prop. 98, a school finance mandate setting minimum education funding levels. Today, through Prop. 98’s formula, California is required to spend roughly 40% of the state’s general funds on K-14 education—public schools and community colleges. California is spending $95 billion on K-12 education in its
