California Proposition 28 directs approximately $1 billion per year to arts education in public schools. This is the definitive guide to using those funds for theatre education at your school.
In November 2022, California voters passed Proposition 28 with nearly 64% of the vote. It permanently dedicates approximately 1% of the state's K-12 education budget to arts and music education — roughly $1 billion annually.
Every California public school — including charter schools — receives a portion of these funds based on enrollment. Schools serving high-need populations receive additional funding.
Here's the critical part: these funds must be used for arts programs. Schools that don't spend them risk losing the allocation. Many schools are sitting on unspent Prop 28 money right now.
Theatre / drama is explicitly listed as one of the five qualifying arts disciplines under Prop 28, alongside music, dance, visual arts, and media arts. Every Play'N Around program qualifies.
As a pre-approved LA County Arts Bench vendor, schools can contract with Play'N Around directly — bypassing the competitive bid process that delays most arts programs by 6–12 months.
All of them. Here's the breakdown of what Prop 28 funds can cover:
| Program | Starting Price | Prop 28 Eligible | Documentation Provided | CA Standards Aligned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester Residency (10–12 weeks) | $600/performance | ✓ Yes | ✓ Full Report | ✓ Yes |
| School Assembly Performance | $600/performance | ✓ Yes | ✓ Included | ✓ Yes |
| BullyProof — Anti-Bullying Musical | Contact for Pricing | ✓ Yes | ✓ Full Report | ✓ Yes |
| After-School Theatre Program | Contact for Details | ✓ Yes | ✓ Full Report | ✓ Yes |
| Full Year Partnership | Contact for Details | ✓ Yes | ✓ Annual Report | ✓ Yes |
| Teacher Professional Development | $600/performance | ✓ Yes | ✓ Included | ✓ Yes |
* Prop 28 eligibility is based on California Department of Education guidelines as of 2025–2026. Contact your district office to confirm specific allocations for your school. Pricing is subject to change.
Contact your principal, VP, or district arts coordinator to find your school's Prop 28 allocation for the current fiscal year.
15 minutes with our team. We'll learn your school's goals and recommend the right program — including how to structure it for your Prop 28 budget.
We send a program proposal and contract. Because we're on the Arts Bench, your school can sign without a competitive bid process.
Programs start within 2–4 weeks. At the end, we provide all documentation, compliance reports, and outcomes data you need for district reporting.
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Step-by-step guide to using Prop 28 funds for theatre at your school. Includes budget templates, vendor checklist, and CA standards crosswalk.
Download Free ↓A ready-to-submit budget template for a semester theatre residency program, formatted for Prop 28 compliance reporting.
Request TemplateA document showing exactly how every Play'N Around program maps to California Performing Arts Standards — ready for your administrator to sign off on.
Request DocumentEverything your school needs to understand, allocate, and report Prop 28 funds for theatre education — in one easy-to-use PDF. Includes budget templates, CA standards crosswalk, vendor checklist, and a step-by-step action plan.