California’s 2025 - 2026 Budget Advances Commitments to Multilingual Learners 

We are excited to see California’s 2025-2026 budget includes critical wins for multilingual learners, including funding for evidence-based literacy instruction, a new statewide literacy network with English learner-focused regional leads, and resources to implement the English Learner Roadmap.

Our partners at Californians Together published the July 2025 Legislative Update, highlighting key budget balancing approaches, including the impacts we are seeing on public service programs. Thanks to the advocacy and collective efforts of our partners, the budget protects funding in K-14 education and provides crucial investments to literacy and language development – with total funding of approximately $114.6 billion. 

SEAL is proud to stand alongside our partners at Californians Together and organizations like Early Edge in celebrating educational investments in support of language equity, foundational literacy, and teacher preparation. While challenges remain as other safety net programs face long-term rollbacks, including MediCal services, these cuts will have ripple effects across multilingual learners' health and stability. We remain committed to advocating for comprehensive support that reflects a holistic approach. 

Budget and Policy Wins for Multilingual Learners
The $114.6 billion in total funding includes a key victory: dedicated funding for the statewide implementation of the English Learner Roadmap, a long-standing priority for educators, researchers, and community advocates. This is a significant milestone for advancing systems that affirm the assets of multilingual learners and reflects the impact of evidence-based strategies we and our partners have long championed. 

• AB 1454 (Rivas, Muratsuchi, Rubio) signified a landmark literacy bill that centers multilingual learners and aligns teacher training and materials with evidence-based reading practices.
• $200M one-time Prop 98 funding for professional learning grounded in California’s English Language Arts/ELD Framework – in connection to AB 1454.
• $215M one-time Prop 98 funding for literacy coaches and specialists, with targeted support for English Learners. 
• $10M to expand early language screening for transitional kindergarten dual language learners.
• $2M to digitize and translate IEPs, making special education more accessible to multilingual families. 

This year’s budget also launches a new English learning regional lead with additional $2 million ongoing Prop 98 funding – within the Statewide System of Support to ensure sustained leadership and technical assistance across California. 

At SEAL, we believe robust policy is rooted in real classroom experience with scholars and educators at the forefront.That’s why we're proud to support AB 1454 as it continues to move through the legislature. This bill reflects what multilingual learners need: systems built around language-rich, research-aligned instruction that helps every student thrive. 

Read the full Legislative Update from Californians Together 

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