In 2022, California voters passed Proposition 28 (Prop 28), the Arts and Music in Schools (AMS) — Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act, which established annual funding for arts education for all public schools across the state. This brief presents what 224 leaders and practitioners from county offices of education, districts, and schools shared in 2025 about how funds from this historic investment in arts education are being used.

Early data regarding implementation show that more than 80 percent of schools and districts initially prioritized immediate instructional needs, particularly the purchase of arts supplies and materials. Prop 28 AMS funding is helping expand access to arts education through staffing investments, including hiring new arts teachers and increasing arts teaching capacity. Many respondents also reported using funds to support arts-based field trips and other student learning opportunities. Implementation of Prop 28 AMS funding is still evolving—about one third of respondents reported that funds had not yet been spent or allocated. This suggests that many local education agencies were still navigating planning, staffing, and spending decisions during the early stages of implementation.