Key takeaways
- Prop 2 (November 2024) authorized $10 billion for school facilities, including $8.5 billion for K-12.
- K-12 funds flow mainly through the School Facility Program, which requires a local match.
- OPSC administers the program; the SAB sets policy and approves funding.
- AB 247 introduced a Five-Year School Facilities Master Plan requirement. Confirm current details with OPSC.
- Current data, an updated plan and a local funding strategy put districts in the best position.
What Proposition 2 is
Proposition 2, approved by California voters in November 2024, authorized $10 billion in state general obligation bonds for K-12 schools and community colleges. Of that total, $8.5 billion is designated for K-12 school facilities, with the remainder going to community colleges.
For K-12 districts, most of this money flows through the existing School Facility Program. Prop 2 did not create an entirely new system; it refilled and adjusted an established one.
AB 247 and program changes
Assembly Bill 247 is the legislation that placed Prop 2 on the ballot and set out how the funds would be administered. It made a number of changes to the School Facility Program, including adjustments intended to help smaller and lower-wealth districts compete for funding and new planning requirements.
Program details continue to be refined through regulations and board actions. Treat any summary, including this one, as a starting point, and confirm current rules with OPSC before making decisions.
School Facility Program basics
The School Facility Program (SFP) is California’s main vehicle for state participation in school construction. It is a partnership: the state provides a share of eligible project costs, and the district provides a local match.
Eligibility is not automatic. Districts must establish eligibility based on factors such as enrollment, existing capacity and building age, and projects must meet program and Division of the State Architect (DSA) requirements.
- New construction: funding to add capacity where projected enrollment exceeds existing seats
- Modernization: funding to renovate older facilities that meet age requirements
- Local match: the district’s share of project costs, often funded by local bonds
- Hardship assistance: additional state support for districts that cannot meet the local match
The role of OPSC and SAB
The Office of Public School Construction (OPSC), part of the Department of General Services, administers the program day to day. OPSC reviews applications, verifies eligibility and processes funding requests.
The State Allocation Board (SAB) is the policy body that adopts regulations and approves apportionments. The California Department of Education (CDE) also plays a role, particularly in reviewing school sites and plans for educational adequacy.
The Five-Year School Facilities Master Plan
One of the most significant changes tied to Prop 2 is the requirement for districts to have a Five-Year School Facilities Master Plan in order to access certain program funding. OPSC has published guidelines describing expected content, which generally connects facility needs, enrollment and planned projects.
Timelines, required elements and how the plan interacts with specific funding programs may evolve. Review the current OPSC guidelines and check with OPSC staff to confirm what applies to your district and when.
How to prepare now
State funding rewards districts that are organized. The districts best positioned to benefit tend to have current condition data, an updated master plan, a clear project list and a local funding strategy for their match.
K12CG works with districts to align master planning, eligibility and local funding so they are ready when state funding windows open.
- Review and update your eligibility for new construction and modernization
- Confirm Five-Year Master Plan requirements with OPSC
- Identify how you will fund the local match
- Track SAB meeting agendas and OPSC announcements
Official resources
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. State requirements change; confirm current rules with OPSC, DSA or CDE.