Oakland education leaders call on Newsom, legislature to restore school funding

"Prop 98 is a 1988 law that guarantees a minimum level of funding to the state's public schools and community colleges. The governor's proposed budget includes delaying $5.6 billion in Prop 98 funding. For Oakland Unified, that amounts to about $27 million, teachers union leaders said."

""I want our Sacramento leaders to understand that our students and educators have withstood years of instability, cuts, school closures, and high turnover," said Kampala Taiz-Rancifer, the president of the Oakland Education Association, which represents Oakland public school teachers and counselors. "In Oakland, underfunding means high turnover for educators, unstable classrooms, less special education and mental health supports, fewer counselors, and higher class sizes, which puts our students at risk.""

"This year the Oakland Unified board and interim superintendent Denise Saddler have been working to slash more than $100 million from the 2026-2027 budget, including significant cuts at the district's central office and layoffs at school sites. The district's strained finances have come under scrutiny by the Alameda County schools superintendent, Alysse Castro, who last month issued a notice of concern regarding OUSD's patterns of fickle decision making and lack of a solid plan for fiscal sustainability."

"In February, the district settled a two-year contract with the teachers union, two months after agreeing to raises for the district's support staff, who earned some of the lowest salaries in the district. That contract alone will cost OUSD about $40 million over three years."

Oakland education leaders rallied in Sacramento to demand full Proposition 98 funding for public schools and community colleges. Proposition 98, passed in 1988, guarantees minimum education funding, but the governor’s proposed budget would delay $5.6 billion. For Oakland Unified, the delay equals about $27 million. Oakland Unified leaders and teachers union representatives said years of instability have already affected students and educators, and underfunding would increase turnover, destabilize classrooms, reduce special education and mental health supports, cut counseling, and raise class sizes. Districts statewide face declining enrollment and revenue, leading to layoffs and possible school closures. Oakland Unified is also working to cut more than $100 million from the 2026–2027 budget, with central office cuts and site layoffs, while facing scrutiny over fiscal sustainability.

Read at The Oaklandside