Sacramento, CA — Today, Zima Creason, Executive Director of the California EDGE Coalition, issued the following statement in response to Governor Newsom’s 2025-26 May Revision:
“The Governor’s May Revision reflects the tough budget reality we’re facing, not just in California, but across the country. While we understand the need for difficult decisions, the impact on students, workers, and families is very real. Now more than ever, we must remain committed to investing in education and skills training that lead to family-sustaining jobs and long-term economic mobility.
Pulling back on workforce development and postsecondary opportunities, especially now, risks undermining the very pathways that help Californians gain stability and thrive. Education and workforce programs are long-term investments. When we start and stop funding, we don’t just slow progress, we can cause real harm to communities.
As budget conversations continue, I urge policymakers to remember the human impact behind every budget decision, and I encourage advocates across the state to stay engaged and speak up.
At EDGE, we understand the need to live within our means. But even in tight times, strategic, equity-centered investments are essential. Californians deserve the opportunity to build a secure future for themselves and their families, and we remain committed to working with the Governor, the Legislature, and our partners to make that vision a reality.”
Below are highlights of the May Revision related to education, workforce development, and social safety net issues.
Education
- Prop 98 & Community Colleges. The May Revision reallocates full funding for TK expansion to the TK-12 side of the Prop 98 budget, reducing community college funding by $492.4 million over three years.
- Student Centered Funding Formula and Categorical Programs COLA. The May Revision lowers the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) from 2.43% to 2.3%, resulting in a $12.9 million ongoing cut for the SCFF and a $122,000 ongoing cut for select categorical programs and the Adult Education Program.
- Cuts to the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant to $1.7 billion (from $1.8 billion in the Governor’s January Budget) due to Prop 98 reductions. These dollars are supposed to help schools fund professional development for teachers, including expanding career pathways and dual enrollment efforts.
- Cuts to Career Passport and Credit for Prior Learning proposals. Cuts $25 million to the Career Passport and $35 million (one-time) to the Credit for Prior Learning proposals. These proposals are part of the Master Plan for Career Education.
- Cuts $20 million to the Rising Scholars Program.
- Cal Grant Program Caseload Adjustments: Projected spending increases to $2.3 billion in 2023-24, $2.5 billion in 2024-25, and $2.8 billion in 2025-26, driven by more eligible students. The budget adds $94.7 million one-time for 2024-25 and $228.7 million ongoing for 2025-26.
Workforce Development
- DIR Apprenticeship Training Grant Expansion: An additional $18.2 million one-time funding for the Department of Industrial Relations to support construction and trade apprenticeships, on top of the $3 million in the Governor’s January Budget.
- Cuts to Regional Coordination for Career Education. Cuts $3 million from the Labor and Workforce Development Agency for regional coordination down to $1 million, intended to evaluate regional models under the Master Plan for Career Education.
- Cuts to the CA Education Interagency Council. Cuts the total $5 million ongoing funding to create the CA Education Interagency Council, initially proposed to support the Master Plan for Career Education.
- Maintains the $17 million investment for CalRISE – offers financial and technical assistance to employment social enterprises.
- Maintains the $3 million investment to continue supporting the Cradle-to-Career Data System.
- No additional funding for the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund.
- No additional funding for High Road Training Partnerships.
- No additional funding for the CA Apprenticeship Initiative.
- No additional funding for Breaking Barriers to Employment Grants.
Safety Net
- Enrollment Freeze for Full-Scope Medi-Cal Expansion for Undocumented Immigrants (Adults 19 and Older). The May Revision allocates $86.5 million in 2025-26, rising to $3.3 billion by 2028-29, but freezes new enrollments, limiting access to vital healthcare for many Californians.
- Child Care. The May Revision maintains the Cost of Care Plus Rate payments for state-subsidized child care providers but cuts $42.7 million from the Emergency Child Care Bridge and $60.7 million from the Cost-of-Living Adjustment, increasing challenges for working families to access affordable child care.
- Future spending triggers. The May Revision includes $456.1 million in spending commitments set to be triggered in 2027-28, contingent on available resources. One major trigger is the CA Food Assistance Program (CFAP) Expansion, which allocates $117.2 million in 2027-28, growing to $163.2 million in 2028-29. The CFAP provides food benefits to low-income Californians who are ineligible for federal food assistance programs due to their immigration status.
View the Governor’s 2025-26 May Revision Budget Summary PDF here.
For questions or more information, please contact Jason Henderson, EDGE Policy Analyst, at jhenderson@caedge.org.