Student Support and Professional Development FAQs

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 (AB) 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 Assembly Bill (AB) 121, and Schedule (2) of Item 6100-485 and Provision 2 of Item 6100-488 of the 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 Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant 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.

3. How was the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant funding calculated?

   Funds are allocated on a per-unit basis based on each local educational agency’s (LEA’s) 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. 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 (LEAs) expect to receive the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant funds?

   The California Department of Education (CDE) will release an apportionment of funds reflecting 75 percent of the allocation for each LEA in September 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 Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant?

   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.

7. Where can I find more information on the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant?

   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.

Use of Funds

1. What are the allowable uses of Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant 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.

   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 Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant?

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

Reporting

1. Are LEAs required to report Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant 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.

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

   Pursuant to 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.

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

   The California Department of Education (CDE) 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.