How California’s investments create new opportunities to advance educational attainment and economic mobility across the region 

California has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to education. 

With Governor Gavin Newsom’s approval of the 2026-27 state budget, California will invest approximately $128 billion through Proposition 98 to support TK-12 schools and California Community Colleges. Despite a challenging fiscal environment, the budget largely protects investments that strengthen the state’s education system, including support for literacy, expanded learning opportunities, career pathways, workforce development, and higher education. 

For the Inland Empire, this is more than a budget. It is an opportunity. 

State investments alone do not produce better outcomes. Their success depends on how effectively educators, colleges, employers, community organizations, philanthropy, and government work together to translate funding into meaningful opportunities for students and families. That is precisely where Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) plays its role. 

As the Inland Empire’s regional coordinating intermediary for cradle-to-career attainment and economic mobility, GIA helps ensure that regional partners are aligned around shared goals, informed by data, and positioned to maximize the impact of public investment. 

The Budget Reinforces the Direction of GIA’s Strategic Plan 

Earlier this year, GIA launched its new Strategic Plan, centered on one shared regional goal: advancing the Inland Empire toward 70% of working-age adults earning a postsecondary degree or credential of value. The plan identifies five milestones that must improve if the region is to expand educational attainment and economic prosperity: 

• Early literacy and middle school mathematics proficiency 

• College readiness through A-G completion and dual enrollment 

• Postsecondary enrollment and successful transfer 

• Postsecondary persistence and completion 

• Education-to-employment pathways leading to family-sustaining careers 

California’s budget invests across each of these milestones, reinforcing the importance of a coordinated cradle-to-career strategy. 

Where the Budget Creates Opportunity 

Strengthening the Educational Foundation 

Continued investments in literacy, instructional supports, Universal Transitional Kindergarten, and expanded learning recognize what decades of research have shown: educational success begins long before students apply to college. 

For GIA, this reinforces the importance of working across educational sectors rather than focusing only on higher education. Improving third-grade literacy and middle school mathematics creates stronger pathways for future college and career success. 

Supporting Postsecondary Success 

California continues to invest in its community colleges and universities, recognizing that postsecondary education remains essential to meeting workforce needs. 

For the Inland Empire, this aligns directly with GIA’s work supporting institutional transformation, improving student success, strengthening transfer pathways, and increasing degree and credential completion through initiatives such as Higher Endeavor. 

The challenge is no longer simply helping students enroll. It is ensuring they complete high-quality credentials that lead to meaningful careers. 

Connecting Education and Workforce 

The budget also continues California’s investments in workforce development and career pathways. 

The Inland Empire is one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the nation, yet employers continue to report shortages of skilled talent. Closing this gap requires stronger alignment between education providers and industry. 

GIA works alongside education leaders, employers, workforce agencies, and community partners to strengthen those connections so students can move more seamlessly from education into family-sustaining careers. 

Maintaining Focus on College Affordability 

While the budget preserves most major education investments, some financial aid programs experienced reductions. 

This makes regional coordination even more important. 

GIA’s continued leadership in financial aid outreach, Cash for College, FAFSA completion efforts, and college access initiatives will remain essential to ensuring Inland Empire students receive every available opportunity to pursue postsecondary education. 

Why Regional Coordination Matters 

California provides resources. 

Regions create results. 

No single institution can accomplish the state’s educational goals alone. School districts, colleges, universities, employers, nonprofits, and government agencies each play important roles, but lasting progress requires shared priorities, coordinated action, and accountability. 

That is why GIA exists. 

Through its CAIR strategy, GIA helps move the region from individual efforts to collective impact. 

• Convene: Bringing leaders together to align priorities and coordinate action. 

• Advocate: Championing policies that expand opportunity and remove barriers. 

• Invest: Securing and directing resources where they can have the greatest regional impact. 

• Research: Providing data that helps partners make informed decisions and measure progress. 

This approach enables regional partners to move beyond isolated initiatives and focus on measurable improvements across the entire cradle-to-career continuum. 

Looking Ahead 

California’s education budget provides important momentum, but funding alone will not transform educational outcomes. 

Success will depend on how effectively the Inland Empire works together. 

Over the coming year, GIA will continue partnering with education institutions, workforce leaders, philanthropy, community organizations, and government to ensure these investments translate into stronger educational outcomes, increased postsecondary attainment, and greater economic mobility for the more than 4.7 million residents who call the Inland Empire home. 

The state’s investment creates the opportunity. 

Working together, the Inland Empire can turn that opportunity into lasting progress.