Fresno Unified Calls for Changes to School Funding Model

District says current model is unsustainable due to declining enrollment and attendance

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Fresno Unified School District Superintendent Misty Her says the current public school funding model is not sustainable for the district and other large California districts. Enrollment has decreased by about 1,200 students per year, resulting in $15 million in lost funding annually. Attendance has also declined post-pandemic, hovering around 90-93% compared to 95% pre-pandemic. Fresno Unified and other large districts like Los Angeles Unified, San Francisco Unified, and San Diego Unified have sent a letter to state lawmakers calling for changes to the funding model to ensure stable, adequate, and predictable funding moving forward.

Why it matters

The current school funding model in California is heavily reliant on enrollment and attendance figures, which have been declining for large districts like Fresno Unified. This is putting significant financial strain on these districts and impacting their ability to provide quality education and services for students. Finding a more sustainable funding solution is crucial to supporting the state's public education system.

The details

Fresno Unified has seen its enrollment decrease by about 1,200 students per year, which equates to around $15 million in lost funding annually. The district's current enrollment is around 67,000 students, down from 81,000 in 2002. Attendance rates have also declined post-pandemic, hovering between 90-93% compared to 95% pre-pandemic. These enrollment and attendance declines directly impact the state funding that Fresno Unified and other large districts receive.

  • Fresno Unified's enrollment has decreased by about 1,200 students per year.
  • Fresno Unified's current enrollment is around 67,000 students, down from 81,000 in 2002.
  • Fresno Unified's attendance rates are currently between 90-93%, down from 95% pre-pandemic.

The players

Misty Her

Superintendent of Fresno Unified School District.

Los Angeles Unified

One of the largest school districts in California that has also seen declining enrollment and attendance.

San Francisco Unified

One of the largest school districts in California that has also seen declining enrollment and attendance.

San Diego Unified

One of the largest school districts in California that has also seen declining enrollment and attendance.

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What they’re saying

“Enrollment for Fresno Unified has decreased by about 1,200 students per year. That equates to about $15 million a year that we're losing.”

— Misty Her, Superintendent, Fresno Unified School District (yourcentralvalley.com)

“Prior to the pandemic, we were about 95%. Right now, we're hovering some days at 90%, 92, 93%, not above 93%.”

— Misty Her, Superintendent, Fresno Unified School District (yourcentralvalley.com)

“We simply cannot sustain that funding formula.”

— Misty Her, Superintendent, Fresno Unified School District (yourcentralvalley.com)

What’s next

Fresno Unified and other large California school districts have sent a letter to state lawmakers calling for changes to the current public school funding model to ensure stable, adequate, and predictable funding moving forward.

The takeaway

The declining enrollment and attendance rates in large California school districts like Fresno Unified are putting significant financial strain on these districts and impacting their ability to provide quality education. Finding a more sustainable funding solution is crucial to supporting the state's public education system.