California Prop 28: How to Fund Music Education at Your School
California's Proposition 28 guarantees roughly $1 billion every year for arts and music education — on top of existing school budgets. The money is allocated automatically to every TK-12 local educational agency (LEA), so there is no grant to win. If you're a California school or district leader, Prodigies is a standards-aligned music curriculum that fits squarely inside what Prop 28 dollars are allowed to buy.
How Prop 28 money reaches your school
- It's automatic. Funds are distributed by formula — 70% based on total enrollment and 30% weighted toward economically disadvantaged students. No application required.
- It's ongoing. Roughly 1% of the Prop 98 minimum, recurring every year — the most durable arts-funding source in the country.
- It's use-it-or-lose-it. Each annual allocation must be spent within three years, or it's recovered. That's a real reason to put materials to work now.
What Prop 28 lets you spend on
| Spending bucket | What the law allows | How Prodigies fits |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 20% — materials, training & partnerships | Training, supplies & materials, and arts educational partnership programs. | Prodigies curriculum licenses, deskbells & materials, and teacher PD fall directly in this bucket. |
| 80%+ — staff who provide instruction | Certificated/classified employees delivering arts instruction (LEAs with 500+ students). | Prodigies' built-in teacher training helps your existing staff confidently deliver music. |
| Small-school waiver (under 500 students) | Flexibility for "good cause" — e.g., buying instruments/equipment or contracting an arts partner. | Smaller sites can use the waiver to purchase Prodigies kits, bells, and curriculum. |
Why Prodigies is an easy Prop 28 purchase
Prodigies is turnkey (no specialist hire required), aligned to California's Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) standards, and accessible for diverse learners — including students with disabilities. That means it can satisfy the materials, professional-development, and partnership uses at once, while helping your staff budget go further.
Sample justification language for your AMS plan
"Arts and Music in Schools funds will purchase the Prodigies standards-aligned music curriculum, instructional materials, and teacher professional development — an allowable use under Education Code §8820 for training, supplies and materials, and arts educational partnership programs. The purchase expands student access to high-quality music instruction aligned to California's VAPA standards."
Ready to bring music to your students with Prop 28 funds?
Explore the Prodigies PK-5 school site license, or email hello@prodigies.com for a quote, W-9, or purchase order. We'll turn it around the same or next day.
This page is informational. Confirm allowable uses with your district's arts coordinator or business office.