Public education is a cornerstone of opportunity in California—but for many public schools, the promise of high-quality learning is undermined by chronic underfunding. At Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Foundation, we believe our scholars deserve more than the bare minimum. We strive to close the gap where state funding still falls short for California’s public schools. Our scholars deserve every opportunity to thrive. That’s why we’re calling attention to the persistent gap between what the state provides and the robust, future-ready education our students need.

The Legacy of Prop 13: A Limiting Factor

To understand today’s funding limitations, we need to look back. Proposition 13, passed in 1978, drastically cut property taxes across California and capped annual increases. While this helped stabilize housing costs, it also significantly reduced the revenue flowing to public services—including schools. More than four decades later, its legacy continues to restrict resources available for public education, even as costs and needs have grown dramatically.

A State Budget That Can’t Keep Up

Today, public school funding in California comes primarily from the state budget. Despite efforts to increase allocations, the funding often falls short of what’s truly required to deliver equitable, enriching education. This shortfall is particularly pronounced in schools that serve under-resourced communities, like many Alliance campuses.

Recent measures such as Proposition 2 (2024) provided $10 billion in bond funding for infrastructure improvements in K–12 and community colleges—but with an added $500 million in annual debt repayment, long-term financial flexibility remains limited. And with ongoing inflation and rising operational costs, schools face tough decisions about where to invest limited dollars.

The Experience Our Scholars Deserve

At Alliance, we know that preparing scholars for college, career, and beyond takes more than textbooks and test prep. It takes intentional programming designed to unlock each student’s full potential. That’s why, even amid funding gaps, we continue to invest in initiatives that set our network apart:

• Teacher Pipeline Programs: We recruit, develop, and retain high-quality educators who are deeply committed to our students and communities.
• College Counseling and Matching: Our scholars receive personalized guidance and resources to find the best-fit colleges and scholarships—many as first-generation college students. We’re proud of our scholar graduation and college acceptance rate over 95%.
• Dual Enrollment: We partner with local colleges to give students a head start on earning college credit while still in high school.
• Career Exposure and Mentorship: Scholars benefit from partnerships that connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities.

These programs aren’t optional—they’re essential. They reflect our belief that all students, regardless of zip code, should have access to the kind of educational experiences that set them up for lifelong success.

Looking forward in Public Education

California’s current funding structure simply doesn’t reflect the true cost of providing a 21st-century education for every student. That’s why we continue to advocate for more equitable funding models while doing everything we can to fill the gaps through strategic partnerships, grants, and innovation. We are committed to closing the gap between what’s funded and what’s truly needed and deserved by our scholars in public education.