California voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a $10 billion bond measure designed to fund school construction projects across the state. The passage of Proposition 2 will provide much-needed funding for modernization, repairs, and new construction at TK-12 schools and community colleges, marking the first state bond for school construction since 2016.

With 56.8% of voters supporting the measure, Proposition 2 secured the backing of a majority of Californians, particularly in urban and suburban counties such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Marin, while rural areas in the far north opposed it. The bond was one of two $10 billion state bonds on the ballot, alongside Proposition 4 for climate change mitigation, with both passing comfortably.

“What has been clear is that people support it when they understand what Proposition 2 will do and its impact on schools,” said Molly Weedn, spokesperson for the pro-Proposition 2 campaign. “People are seeing the need in real time. When you have a leaky roof, it only gets leakier.”

Proposition 2 will address a backlog of school facility repairs, with funding allocated as follows: $1.5 billion for community colleges, and $8.5 billion for TK-12 districts. Of the TK-12 funds, $4 billion will go toward repairs and replacing old portable classrooms, $3.3 billion will fund new construction, and $600 million will be dedicated to career and technical education facilities.

The need for such investments is urgent. The Center for Cities + Schools at UC Berkeley reports that 85% of classrooms in California are over 25 years old, with many suffering from outdated infrastructure and poor heating and cooling systems. Climate change has exacerbated these challenges, with more schools facing extreme heat and air quality issues.

The bond measure will also provide targeted financial assistance to small, low-wealth districts. However, the distribution of funds has drawn criticism from some advocates who argue that wealthier districts stand to benefit disproportionately. John Affeldt, managing partner at Public Advocates, noted, “Voters recognized the reality that so many facilities need significant modernization. But I don’t think voters are also aware of and approving the underlying distribution of the bond funds that send so many more dollars to high-wealth districts instead of low-wealth districts.”

The $10 billion bond measure is expected to help address the state’s school facility needs, though it may not fully meet the demand, as California school districts have submitted local bond proposals totaling $40 billion. As part of the measure, $3 billion in projects from the 2016 Proposition 55 bond will also be funded.

The passage of Proposition 2 marks a significant win for California’s education system, as both TK-12 and community colleges work to modernize aging infrastructure to improve the learning environment for students across the state.