Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon recently discussed an agreement on a $6.6 billion budget package to accelerate the safe return to in-person instruction across California. The governor was joined by other legislative leaders at Franklin Elementary School in the Elk Grove Unified School District.

The state’s fifth-largest public school district was among the first to close for in-person instruction last year. Last week, the district announced plans to reopen grades K-6 in mid-March and grades 7-12 in early April.

Public schools throughout the state will be allocated $6.6 billion under the proposed budget package. Within that stipend, $2 billion would fund safety measures to support in-person instruction such as personal protective equipment, ventilation upgrades and COVID-19 testing. Another $4.6 billion would fund expanded learning opportunities such as summer school, tutoring and mental health services. Together, the funds empower schools to develop and execute comprehensive strategies to both reopen and expand programs to address the social-emotional, mental health and academic needs of students.