Student Support and Professional Development FAQs

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Funding Calculations and Apportionment of Funds

1. How much is available for Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant (SSPDBG)?

   Section 81 of Assembly Bill 121 (Chapter 8, Statutes of 2025) established the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant (SSPDBG) to allocate funding to local educational agencies for discretionary purposes. A total of $1.7 billion has been appropriated for the SSPDBG in AB 121, and Schedule (2) of Item 6100-485 and Provision 2 of Item 6100-488 of SB 101 Budget Act of 2025 (Chapter 4, Statutes of 2025), as amended by AB 102 (Chapter 5, Statutes of 2025).

2. Who is eligible to receive SSPDBG funds?

   School districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and state special schools with average daily attendance data for transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, as of the fiscal year 2024–25 Second Principal Apportionment. Section 81.(b)(1), Assembly Bill 121 (Chapter 8, Statutes of 2025).

3. How was the SSPDBG funding calculated?

   Funds are allocated on a per-unit basis based on each local educational agencies (LEA) reported average daily attendance (ADA) for transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, as of the fiscal year (FY) 2024–25 Second Principal (P-2) Apportionment. Ed Code 32526(b). Funds for LEAs identified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) in Section 81 of AB 121 are calculated based on the greater amount between ADA reported as of FY 2024–25 First Principal (P-1) Apportionment and FY 2024–25 P-2 Apportionment. The ADA for each state special school is calculated to be 97 percent of the enrollment as reported in the FY 2024–25 California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 Submission. The per-unit rate is approximately $313.08 ($313.08132254).

   Allocations for eligible LEAs are available on the SSPDBG Funding Results web page.

4. When can local educational agencies (LEA) expect to receive the SSPDBG funds?

   The California Department of Education will release an apportionment of funds reflecting 75 percent of the allocation for each LEA in October 2025. The remaining 25 percent of the allocation for each LEA will be released in February 2026.

5. What is the Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) code for the SSPDBG?

   SACS Resource Code 6019: Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant.

6. How long do I have to spend the funds?

   Funds are available for expenditure through June 30, 2029. (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), Section 81 of AB 121.)

7. Where can I find more information on the SSPDBG?

   Language governing the allocation and use of funds may be found in Section 81 of Assembly Bill 121 (Chapter 8, Statutes of 2025) .

   Additional information is available on the SSPDBG Program web page.

8. How do we apply?

   Section 81 of Assembly Bill 121 (Chapter 8, 2025) does not require LEAs to submit an application for funding to receive an SSPDBG allocation. The California Department of Education calculated the allocations for eligible LEAs using the allocation formula in subdivision (b), and the funds are scheduled to be released in October 2025 and February 2026.

Use of Funds

1. What are the allowable uses of SSPDBG funds?

   Funds may be used for discretionary purposes. Per Section 81, subdivision (c) of Assembly Bill 121, LEAs are encouraged, but not required, to use SSPDBG funds for the following purposes described in subdivision (a):
   
   

   1. Provide standards-aligned professional development for teachers on the English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework and the Literacy Roadmap, including strategies to support literacy for English learners.
   2. Provide standards-aligned professional development for teachers on the Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools.
   3. Develop and expand teacher recruitment and retention strategies.
   4. Expand career pathways and dual enrollment efforts, consistent with the Master Plan for Career Education.
   5. Address rising costs.

   
   California Department of Education is not reviewing/approving individual use of funds requests. This grant is for discretionary purposes.
   
   For questions regarding the allowable use of funds, please contact the Professional Learning Support Division at PLSD@cde.ca.gov.

2. Can an LEA charge indirect costs to the SSPDBG?

   Yes. An LEA may charge indirect costs at the LEA’s approved indirect cost rate. Additional information is available on the California Department of Education Indirect Cost Rates web page.

3. Can these funds be used to cover the rising cost of retirement and health care costs? Or facilities costs?

   The California Department of Education (CDE) is not approving or denying individual LEAs requests for allowable expenditures. All expenditures should be consistent with statute. The legislative intent of these funds is to support discretionary purposes including, but not limited to, the state priorities outlined in the allowable uses, in addition to unexpected rising costs. CDE suggests that LEAs consider that SSPDBG funding represents one-time, discretionary funds, and the use of these funds toward ongoing obligations may result in challenges for sustainability once the funds are expended.

4. Can you provide more details on “expanding rising costs”?

   Given the flexibility provided for these funds to meet the specific needs of each LEA, allowability may vary by context. See #3.

5. Can funding be used for salaries? Classified or certificated?

   Yes. An LEA, COE, charter school, or state special school may pay for salaries of staff with SSPDBG funds as long as it aligns with one of the allowable uses listed in Section 81 of Assembly Bill 121 (Chapter 8, Statutes of 2025). CDE suggests that LEAs treat the funds under SSPDBG as one-time, discretionary funds.

6. Can funding be used to pay staff a one-time bonus?

   Given the flexibility provided for these funds to meet the specific needs of each LEA, allowability may vary by context. The California Department of Education suggests that LEAs consider that SSPDBG funding is one-time, discretionary funds and the use of these funds toward ongoing obligations may result in challenges for sustainability once the funds are expended. Providing one-time bonuses may fall under teacher recruitment and retention strategies depending on the rational for this expenditure. LEAs are encouraged to maintain documentation demonstrating how expenditures support the legislative intent and objects of the grant program.

7. Can funding be used for one time signing bonuses for teacher retention?

   Given the flexibility provided for these funds to meet the specific needs of each LEA, allowability may vary by context. See #6.

8. Can these funds be used to pay mentoring stipends?

   The use of SSPDBG funds for mentoring stipends may be allowable when the expenditure directly supports the development or expansion of teacher recruitment and retention strategies, as specified in the allowable uses of funds.

9. Can we use SSPDBG funds for professional development to send teachers to conferences for new curriculum?

   SSPDBG funds may be used to support professional development activities when such expenditures align with an allowable use of funds as specified in Section 81 of Assembly Bill 121 (Chapter 8, Statutes of 2025).

10. Can SSPDBG funds be used to pay for an increase in special education expenses?

    SSPDBG funds may be used to address rising costs in special education when such expenditures are consistent with an allowable use of funds, as specified in Section 81 of Assembly Bill 121 (Chapter 8, Statutes of 2025).

11. Is CDE approval required for particular expenditures? For example, items over a capitalization threshold or equipment?

    No. California Department of Education (CDE) is not approving or denying individual LEA requests for allowable expenditures. The CDE encourages the LEAs to maintain documentation showing how the expenditures align with the intent of the grant. CDE suggests that LEAs treat the use of funds under SSPDBG as one-time, discretionary funds.

Reporting

1. Do we need to have a board approved plan on how we would spend this?

   Section 81 of AB 121 (Chapter 8, 2025) does not require LEAs to have a board approved plan for their SSPDBG expenditures. The California Department of Education recommends following your LEA policy in regard to board approval requirements for this program.

2. Are LEAs required to report SSPDBG funds?

   Yes. Pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 81 of Assembly Bill 121, LEAs receiving apportionments must report final expenditures to the California Department of Education (CDE), using the template developed by the CDE, by September 30, 2029. The CDE shall initiate the collection of any unexpended funds no later than January 31, 2030.

3. What are the reporting requirements for closed charter schools?

   Pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 81 of AB 121, charter schools that cease to operate before June 30, 2029, must report final expenditures to the California Department of Education (CDE) within 60 days of the effective date of closure and the CDE will collect any unspent amounts.

4. Will these funds be subject to the annual fiscal audit?

   No. Section 81 of Assembly Bill 121 (Chapter 8, 2025) does not contain an annual audit requirement.

5. Is there a template that LEAs are required to use to complete the expenditure report?

   The California Department of Education will provide a link to the template once it is available.

   For questions regarding the reporting requirements, please contact the Professional Learning Support Division at PLSD@cde.ca.gov.

6. Are expenditure reports required if no funds were expended during the first reporting period?

   Yes, an annual expenditure report will be required each year.

7. For LEAs that use the funds within the first fiscal year, will subsequent reports still have to be completed like the Educator Effectiveness grant?

   Yes. The reporting structure will be similar to the Educator Effectiveness Block Grant and will require grantees to submit annual reports if the funds are fully spent.

Contact Information

Questions: Professional Learning Support Division, PLSD@cde.ca.gov, 916-323-6440

Fiscal Questions: Categorical Allocations and Audit Resolution Office, CAAR@cde.ca.gov