School Facilities Program—California Needs Additional Funding and a More Equitable Approach for Modernizing Its School Facilities

The California State Auditor reviews the School Facilities Program and assesses its effectiveness in modernizing and maintaining school facilities. It makes two recommendations to the governor and state legislature:

1. The state can improve the school facilities program by increasing funding and making changes to improve equity. There is great demand among school districts that have not been filled, which is expected to rise.
2. The state should continue using bond funding to assist districts with modernization projects. Bonding funding is a common method of paying for infrastructure. Although it has been unpredictable, how the state distributes its bond funding generally promotes greater equity in school facility modernization efforts than local funding. It recommends that the legislature seek voter approval for at least $7.4 billion in bond funding for the modernization of school facilities.