(Eureka) — Humboldt County schools will receive a funding boost for their arts & music programs due to the passage of California Proposition 28. Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, Proposition 28 will provide K-12 public schools and charter schools an annual allocation for curricula from the California general fund. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) statewide will be awarded the nearly $1 billion to serve students through development of existing or new arts and music programs.

Each LEA in Humboldt County will use the funds for their arts education programs. The funding may be used to support instruction and training, supplies, materials, and arts education partnership programs for instruction in dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts, music composition and ensembles, and script writing, costume design, film, and video.

“We’re delighted to announce this source of ongoing funding for arts and music programs” said Stacy Young, Visual & Performing Arts Program Manager at the Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE). She added, “Prop. 28 funds increase the opportunities and access in the arts for all schools. Prop. 28 will add for this generation of what Prop. 13 gutted in the 1970s.” Michael Davies-Hughes, Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools added, “I appreciate that the voters in California recognize the importance of arts and music education in public schools.”

The grant funding amounts are dependent on the number of students served. Each LEA will receive $113.45 per student based on an enrollment metric and $84.15 per student based on a “low income” metric.

HCOE is extending an invitation to consult with to LEAs to ensure the grant funding is properly utilized in schools. The discussion will include interpretation of the legislation and the funding guidelines. LEA-specific estimates for Proposition 28 funds for LEAs in Humboldt County range from $622.00 to $623,999.