Assemblymember Ransom Closes Gaps in Career Technical Education Funding to Guarantee Dollars Reach California Students

Sacramento, CA - Today, Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom introduced AB 1590, legislation designed to fix a broken funding formula that has left millions of dollars intended for Career Technical Education (CTE) unused.

Over the past five years, nearly $120 million in state-approved Career Technical Education funding has gone unallocated, not because of lack of need, but because of restrictive allocation formulas and scoring thresholds. These rules prevent otherwise qualified school districts from receiving their full funding.

In 2025 alone, $13 million in Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CTEIG) funds went unused while districts across the state were forced to scale back or delay hands-on, career-aligned programs for students.

"Every state approved dollar that goes unallocated to Career Technical Education is a disservice to our students. CTE programs provide meaningful, hands on experiences that expose students to a wide range of career paths. As California continues to prioritize career readiness, CTE is a critical investment proven to prepare students for both college and the workforce. AB 1590 simply ensures that when the state appropriates funding for CTE, those dollars are fully directed to that purpose."

-Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom

Sponsored by the CTE Coalition, AB 1590 requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with the State Board of Education, to revise the CTEIG allocation formula so that all appropriated funds are awarded to eligible local education agencies, ending the practice of leaving millions of dollars unallocated each year.

What Schools Across California Are Saying

Stockton Unified School District - Director of CTE & STEM, Nathan Haley
"Stockton Unified School District (SUSD) was awarded $2,400,972 in 2024 and $1,747,660 in 2025, resulting in a funding decrease of $653,312 between the two award cycles. This reduction has significantly impacted programming by limiting available funding for major facility improvement projects and reducing student participation in Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO) events such as SkillsUSA, Future Farmers of America (FFA), and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).

In a district where 82% of students are socioeconomically disadvantaged, this loss of funding disproportionately affects access to transformative, career-connected learning experiences. These reductions limit students' opportunities to receive industry-aligned instruction and preparation for high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand careers."

San Benito High School District - Superintendent, Shawn Tennenbaum
"California's vision for a coordinated career education system not only requires funding, but the full allocation of those Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CTEIG) resources. Our current funding structure relies upon short-term categorical allocations that require separate application and implementation processes, making them difficult to scale. By fully allocating all Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CTEIG) resources, California can build the reliable talent pipelines necessary to power economic growth and create resilient communities"

Merced High School District - Superintendent, Alan Peterson
"Each year that CTEIG funds go unallocated represents missed opportunities for students to access hands-on learning, industry-aligned pathways, and real preparation for high-wage, high-demand careers. Merced Union High School District demonstrated both the need and the capacity to expand CTE programs, yet millions of dollars statewide were left unused. Fully allocating available CTEIG funding is critical to ensuring students are not denied opportunities simply because resources were left on the table."

Oxnard Union High School District - Superintendent, Tom McCoy
"To support our more than 70 career pathways in Oxnard Union High School District we wrote for more than $2,000,000 in 2025-2026 CTEIG funding with a confirmed local match. We were awarded $1,591,967 dollars. If the state could make the currently unallocated CTEIG funds available, those would be well used to provide our more than 15,000 high school students access to local high need high wage careers here in Ventura County such as Global Trade and Logistics which provides students opportunities to prepare for outstanding careers with the Port of Hueneme and Oxnard Harbor District."

Contra Cost County Office of Education - County Superintendent of Schools, Lynn Mackey
"When Career Technical Education funds go unallocated, students lose opportunities-fewer classes, fewer certifications, and fewer pathways to good jobs. Our county has the capacity and commitment to put every available dollar to work, yet we're forced to cut sections because funding falls short. Every dollar should reach classrooms where it transforms lives."

Orange County Department of Education - County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Stefan Bean
"Orange County has built nationally-recognized career pathways serving 450,000 students, but our capacity to expand is limited by funding gaps, not lack of need or lack of vision. When $13 million in CTE funding goes unallocated in a single year, that's thousands of students across California who could have earned industry certifications, participated in apprenticeships, or accessed career training programs that lead to family-sustaining jobs. We cannot afford to leave this funding on the table when the workforce shortages facing our communities are so urgent and the student demand for these programs continues to grow."

Lake County Office of Education - County Superintendent of Schools, Brock Falkenberg
"Students across our County are looking for hands-on learning and work experience that prepare them for life after high school. Parents are seeking career preparation opportunities for their children. Out of approximately 10,000 students in Lake County schools, 2,500 were identified to benefit from expanded CTE programs in the 2025-26 grant cycle, yet full funding was not received to cover the costs of submitted plans. This gap translates directly into lost opportunities for students to build career ready skills. If the additional unallocated CTEIG funds were made available, the benefit to our students would be significant. When we invest in CTE, we are investing in the future of our county, state, and country."

Pasadena Unified School District - Director. of Accountability & Special Programs, Kristina Turley
"Pasadena Unified has the capacity and local matching funds to expand high-quality Career Technical Education opportunities for students, yet we consistently receive less than our full CTEIG allocation. When state funds go unallocated, students lose access to pathways that lead directly to college, careers, and economic mobility."

Tulare High School District - Superintendent, Lucy Van Scyoc
"Our district has made significant progress in expanding high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) opportunities for students. In recent years, we have added a construction pathway and strengthened programs such as automotive and child development. These programs help students gain practical skills, explore career options, and prepare for success after high school. Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CTEIG) funds play a critical role in making these opportunities possible. Although our consortium requested $2,680,130.69, we received only $1,906,750. This funding gap results in fewer opportunities for students to access career-ready pathways that lead to high-demand, well-paying jobs in our region."

Fullerton Joint Union High School District - Superintendent, Steve McLaughlin
"Our FJUHSD schools have demonstrated both the need and the capacity to use CTEIG funds effectively. When funding is left unallocated, students lose access to programs that connect learning to careers. This legislation is a critical step in ensuring available resources reach the students they were meant to serve."