Governor Newsom Signs Assemblymember Muratsuchi's Bill to Expand Arts and Music Education in California Schools

Torrance, CA - Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) announced that Governor Gavin Newsom signed his Assembly Bill 2440, which will help provide more arts and music education throughout the state by providing California school districts with much-needed guidance and clarity in properly spending Proposition 28 funds.

"Every child, regardless of where they live, deserves quality arts and music education," said Assemblymember Muratsuchi. "While Proposition 28 provides greater funding for arts and music education in California schools, too many school districts have not been spending the funds to expand arts and music programs because of the fear of penalties. AB 2440 provides the guidance and clarity that school districts have been calling for."

In 2022, California voters approved Proposition 28 to establish an ongoing funding stream to expand arts and music education in California's K-12 public schools. The law requires Proposition 28 funds to supplement, rather than replace, existing arts education funding. Since implementation began, school districts have faced uncertainty about how to comply with the law's spending requirements, including how to demonstrate that Proposition 28 funds are supplementing existing spending. AB 2440 provides clear guidance for local educational agencies and establishes a framework for determining compliance with the supplement-not-supplant requirement.

The new law also explicitly allows local educational agencies to pool resources and share arts educators, providing schools with greater flexibility to address shortages of qualified arts educators and deliver arts instruction to more students.

AB 2440 was supported by the California Teachers Association, California State PTA, California County Superintendents, and former Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner, the author of Proposition 28. The bill received bipartisan support in the Legislature.

Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi represents California's 66th Assembly District, which includes El Segundo, Gardena, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, San Pedro and Torrance.

CONTACT: Xochitl Murillo: (916) 319-2066