The new state budget does not require school districts to increase teacher salaries, but it delivers new family benefits, educator training, classroom support and long-term investments that could improve working conditions across California.
Teaching in California remains one of the nation’s most demanding professions. While many educators hoped this year’s state budget would include across-the-board salary increases, the 2026-27 spending plan takes a different approach. Instead of ordering statewide raises, California is investing in benefits that could improve teachers’ financial security, family life and long-term career prospects.
For California’s nearly 300,000 public school teachers, the budget signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers expanded paid family leave, new child care opportunities, funding for teacher preparation and billions of dollars aimed at making classrooms better supported.
The changes are especially significant in Los Angeles, where educators work in one of the nation’s largest school systems and where many Latino teachers serve overwhelmingly Latino student populations.
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the budget is that teachers received a statewide pay raise.
They did not.
Instead, the budget provides school districts with a 4.31% “super” cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Local districts will decide how those funds are used through collective bargaining agreements.
That means whether teachers receive salary increases depends on negotiations between school districts and employee unions.
California already has the highest average teacher salaries in the nation. According to the National Education Association, the average public school teacher earns about $103,552 annually, although actual salaries vary widely depending on experience, credentials and district size.
Beginning teachers, however, face a different reality. The average starting salary is about $59,400, an amount that many education advocates say falls short of what it costs to live comfortably in many parts of California.
One of the budget’s most significant changes is not about salary.
It is about time.
For the first time, the state guarantees up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave for TK-12 public school employees and community college educators.
Previously, access to paid leave often depended on local district policies, accumulated sick leave or negotiated contracts. The statewide guarantee creates more consistent protections for educators starting or expanding their families.
For many younger teachers deciding whether to remain in the profession, this represents one of the largest new employment benefits included in this year’s budget.
The budget also tackles another major challenge facing educators: child care.
Under the new spending plan, public school and community college employees become eligible for the California State Preschool Program regardless of income, provided space is available.
That is a major shift.
Historically, state preschool enrollment has largely depended on household income. Now, teachers and other eligible school employees can access free preschool even if they earn above traditional income limits.
Teachers who live or work in school districts where at least 80% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals also receive expanded eligibility.
To support the change, lawmakers funded nearly 22,700 additional preschool spaces, helping reduce competition for limited child care slots.
For young families, reliable preschool can save thousands of dollars annually while making it easier for educators to remain in the workforce.
California is also trying to address the teacher shortage before it grows worse.
The budget includes approximately $428 million for educator preparation programs designed to reduce financial barriers into the profession.
Among the investments:
- $408 million for $10,000 student teacher stipends, allowing aspiring educators to complete required classroom training without sacrificing income.
- $10 million to expand bilingual teacher credential pathways.
- $10 million to help classified school employees, such as instructional aides, bus drivers and custodians, earn teaching credentials.
These programs are especially important for California’s multilingual communities, where demand for bilingual educators continues to outpace supply.
The budget also recognizes that teachers cannot do everything alone.
It provides billions of dollars that districts may use for teacher recruitment, retention and professional development while expanding support staff that directly benefit classrooms.
Among the largest investments:
- $5 billion in discretionary funding for local school districts.
- $500 million for literacy coaches and reading specialists.
- Continued expansion of California’s Community Schools initiative, bringing mental health services, health care and family support directly onto campuses.
- A historic $2.4 billion ongoing investment in special education.
- $146 million for services supporting students experiencing homelessness.
These investments are designed to reduce some of the noninstructional responsibilities that increasingly fall on classroom teachers.
The budget carries added significance for Los Angeles.
Approximately 45% of LAUSD teachers identify as Latino, compared with roughly 73% of students.
Although the district still faces a demographic gap between educators and students, LAUSD has one of the country’s most diverse teaching workforces. State investments in bilingual credentialing and teacher recruitment could help narrow that gap over time while creating more opportunities for educators who reflect the communities they serve.
What This Means for California Teachers
The budget is less about immediate paychecks and more about improving the profession over the long term.
Teachers may not automatically receive raises because salary decisions remain local.
However, many educators could benefit from:
- Expanded paid family leave.
- Lower child care costs.
- Financial support while earning teaching credentials.
- Additional classroom resources.
- Greater investment in special education and student support services.
- More professional development and recruitment funding.
Together, those changes aim to make teaching a more sustainable career in a state where recruiting and retaining educators remains an ongoing challenge.
Most of the new funding now moves from Sacramento to local school districts, county offices of education and state agencies.
Teachers interested in child care eligibility or new workforce programs should monitor updates from their school district’s human resources office and the California Department of Education. Salary increases, meanwhile, will continue to be negotiated locally as districts determine how to allocate their new state funding.
While the 2026-27 budget stops short of guaranteeing statewide raises, it represents one of California’s most comprehensive investments in supporting educators both inside and outside the classroom. For many teachers, especially those raising families or entering the profession, those changes could have a lasting impact.
