Tri-Valley School Districts Join Coalition Seeking to Raise State Funding Floor

Initiative aims to increase base-level funding for public schools without raising local taxes

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:09pm

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An abstract, out-of-focus photograph depicting the blurred silhouettes of students and teachers in a classroom, captured through a rain-streaked window and rendered in soft, warm tones that evoke the daily energy and activity of a public school setting.As school districts across California grapple with funding shortfalls, a coalition is pushing to raise the base level of state education spending to sustain core programs and services.Pleasanton Today

All school districts in the Tri-Valley region have joined a statewide coalition of districts, teacher unions, and other organizations calling on state legislators to raise the base level of funding for public schools in California. The initiative, known as 'Raise the Base', is seeking to increase the base grant funding per student through the state's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) without burdening taxpayers.

Why it matters

The LCFF funding formula, which determines how state Proposition 98 money is divided among school districts, has not kept pace with rising operational costs and declining enrollment that districts like Pleasanton Unified are facing. The Raise the Base coalition believes increasing the base grant funding will help sustain core academic programs and student services while also maintaining targeted funding for disadvantaged students.

The details

The Raise the Base initiative was launched in late 2025 by the superintendent of Buckeye Union School District in El Dorado Hills. It proposes allocating any new Proposition 98 revenues directly to increasing the LCFF base grants, rather than creating new categorical programs. A recent report from the California Legislative Analyst's Office suggested a 7.24% increase to the base grants would proportionately benefit all districts.

  • The Raise the Base initiative was launched in late 2025.
  • Pleasanton Unified has lost approximately 2,000 students since the 2018/19 school year, reducing its ongoing state funding by an estimated $24 million.

The players

Maurice Ghysels

Superintendent of Pleasanton Unified School District.

David Roth

Superintendent of Buckeye Union School District in El Dorado Hills and founder of the Raise the Base initiative.

Rebecca Bauer-Kahan

California Assemblymember who has committed to being a partner to local districts in the fight for more school resources.

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What they’re saying

“This is, basically, to increase our (Local Control Funding Formula) base grant and secure additional state funding for Pleasanton students and not (have to) increase local taxes.”

— Maurice Ghysels, Superintendent, Pleasanton Unified School District

“Our public schools are the foundation of thriving communities, and ensuring they have the resources they need is one of my top priorities in Sacramento. I deeply respect the work that PUSD and the Raise the Base coalition are doing to spotlight the real funding gaps our schools face every day. I am committed to being a partner to our local districts as we fight for the resources our kids deserve.”

— Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, California Assemblymember

What’s next

Pleasanton Unified School District leaders said they will continue to raise awareness about the Raise the Base initiative and begin talking with state legislators, especially as California prepares to select a new governor.

The takeaway

This initiative highlights the funding challenges facing school districts across California, as the state's primary funding formula has failed to keep up with rising operational costs and declining enrollment. Increasing the base level of funding through the LCFF is seen as a balanced approach to address both adequacy and equity in school financing.