School Funding for Music, Arts, and Enrichment Programs in California

California schools have several funding sources that can support music, arts, and enrichment programs. This page compares the four that come up most often: Proposition 28, ELO-P, ASES, and CCSPP.

The Four Sources at a Glance

PROGRAMBEST FITWHO RECEIVES ITHOW IT’S AWARDEDTHE RULE THAT SHAPES AN OUTSIDE PARTNERSHIP
Proposition 28Dedicated arts and music instruction, any gradeDistricts, charters, and COEs, allocated by school siteAutomatic, no application; funds usable for three yearsLEAs with 500+ students spend at least 80% on arts-instruction employees; partners fit within the remaining 20%
ELO-PBefore/after-school, summer, and non-school-day enrichment, TK-6Districts and chartersFormula apportionment; LEA declares each year that it is operatingRuns outside the instructional day
ASESA complete before- or after-school program, TK-9The grantee, usually the districtCompetitive for new sites; existing grantees renew every three yearsEnrichment is one component inside a program with attendance, operating-hour, and plan requirements
CCSPPA whole-school community strategyDistricts with eligible, opted-in sitesOngoing opt-in model; November 1, 2026 deadline for 2026-27Not an arts grant; an arts component must answer a need in the school’s own plan

The Four Sources at a Glance


BEST FIT: Dedicated arts and music instruction, any grade

WHO RECEIVES IT: Districts, charters, and COEs, allocated by school site

HOW IT’S AWARDED: Automatic, no application; funds usable for three years

THE RULE THAT SHAPES AN OUTSIDE PARTNERSHIP: LEAs with 500+ students spend at least 80% on arts-instruction employees; partners fit within the remaining 20%


BEST FIT: A whole-school community strategy

HOW IT’S AWARDED: Formula apportionment; LEA declares each year that it is operating

THE RULE THAT SHAPES AN OUTSIDE PARTNERSHIP: Runs outside the instructional day


BEST FIT: A complete before- or after-school program, TK-9

WHO RECEIVES IT: Districts with eligible, opted-in sites

HOW IT’S AWARDED: Competitive for new sites; existing grantees renew every three years


THE RULE THAT SHAPES AN OUTSIDE PARTNERSHIP: Enrichment is one component inside a program with attendance, operating-hour, and plan requirements


BEST FIT: Dedicated arts and music instruction, any grade

WHO RECEIVES IT: Districts, charters, and COEs, allocated by school site

HOW IT’S AWARDED: Ongoing opt-in model; November 1, 2026 deadline for 2026-27


THE RULE THAT SHAPES AN OUTSIDE PARTNERSHIP: Not an arts grant; an arts component must answer a need in the school’s own plan

A Closer Look at Each

Proposition 28
s California’s ongoing arts-education funding. Its defining feature is the spending split: LEAs with 500 or more students must put at least 80% of spending toward employees who provide arts instruction, with up to 20% available for training, materials, and outside arts partners. Districts that cannot hire enough qualified arts staff can ask CDE to waive the 80% rule for a given allocation year; the waiver is requested by the district, has no set response time, and must be requested again for each year’s funding. [Read the full Proposition 28 guide
full Proposition 28 guide
ELO-P
Funds expanded learning before school, after school, in summer, and on non-school days for eligible TK-6 districts and charters. Music, movement, and arts activities can be part of the enrichment component when they fit the district’s approved plan.
full ELO-P guide
ASES
Funds a complete before- or after-school program for students through grade nine, combining academic support, enrichment, and supervised care. A music or arts class runs as one component inside that program, alongside the match, attendance, and program-plan requirements.
full ASES guide

CCSPP

Funds a whole-child, community-driven school strategy built on four pillars: integrated support, family and community engagement, shared leadership, and extended learning. Arts and music can be part of that strategy when the school’s own needs assessment points there.
full CCSPP guide
Happy children and teacher enjoying a creative arts and crafts session in a cheerful classroom setting.
Group of happy kids clapping and enjoying playtime indoors.

Other Sources Worth Knowing

A few more come up in funding conversations:

  • 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC)
    A federal expanded-learning grant with its own eligibility process.
  • Title IV-A
    This supports a district’s “well-rounded education” priorities. Arts may be one of several eligible uses, decided locally.
  • Local and general funds:
    For school foundations, PTA/PTO contributions, and district discretionary budgets, which vary by site.
  • LCAP:
    This is not a funding source, but the planning document that explains why a program was chosen.

Where Musical Minds Academy Fits


Musical Minds Academy provides group music, movement, and arts programs on campus, with teaching artists, curriculum, instruments, and materials all included. Our teaching artists are W-2 employees of Musical Minds Academy, each cleared through DOJ and FBI background checks before entering a classroom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Often, yes. It depends on the funding program, the school’s plan, the cost category, and local procurement rules. The district makes that call.

ELO-P is a formula-based apportionment focused on TK-6 expanded learning. ASES is a competitive grant with a local match and more specific attendance and operating requirements. Schools can use both, and ELO-P funds can sometimes count toward the ASES match.

No. Eligible districts, charters, and county offices of education receive it automatically through the state’s apportionment process.

Often, yes, as long as each source’s rules are followed and the same cost is not charged to more than one program.

Yes, for good cause, most often when a district cannot find enough qualified arts staff to hire. The district requests it, explains why it cannot meet the rule, and requests it again for each year’s funding. The Proposition 28 guide covers the process.

Official Sources

CDE: Expanded Learning Opportunities Program
CDE: Proposition 28 Arts and Music in Schools FAQs
CDE: After School Education and Safety program
CDE: CCSPP funding opportunity letter, September 2026

This page is for general information. It is not legal, fiscal, or compliance advice. Please confirm current rules with the staff who manage your district’s funding.

Let’s Build an Enrichment Program Students Love


Leave your email and we’ll reach out, or call us at (818) 806-8020. We’ll talk through your campus and grade levels, the schedule and space you have to work with, and which funding source your district plans to use. Then we build the program with your team.