Getting Started
New to advocacy? So are we! Here’s how to get caught up and start making a difference for our kids
Important things to know:
SLCUSD is facing a $5-7 million budget deficit for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.
Significant cuts had to be made for the current school year, with Elementary school class sizes stretched to their limits and TK class time reduced significantly.
PG&E’s $4 million payments to our district are ending, even though Diablo Canyon remains open and the company is earning a record $2.75 billion in profits.
PG&E contends that it does not need to pay property tax for the power plant after 2025, which would reduce SLCUSD revenue $2 million per year.
Additional budget cuts will be made if the lost revenue is not replaced.
Parents can help by getting informed, spreading the word, and advocating for PG&E to do the right thing.
Where are we currently?
San Luis Coastal Unified School District (SLCUSD) is facing a structural budget deficit projected to reach approximately $5-7 million for the 2026-2027 school year.
Parents and students have seen cuts to TK, counseling, and athletics, and district staff have made clear that additional “distasteful” decisions will be necessary going forward.
The SLCUSD school board almost never votes against staff recommendations. That means if parents and community members don’t pay attention and get involved early in the process, important budget decisions could be made before details are available to us.
What has been done so far?
This spring, SLCUSD staff created two Parent Advocacy Committees (PACs): one focused on TK funding, and the other on PG&E revenue. The district asked parents to support state legislation securing TK money for SLCUSD and other basic aid districts, but the bill did not make it out of the Budget Committee. More detailed information on SLCUSD and TK funding can be found here.
The PAC focused on PG&E revenue developed an Advocacy Plan and FAQ with the goal of garnering support for the extension of PG&E’s Community Impact payments. The creators of SLCPIN worked with district staff (as part of the PAC) through the spring and summer, but ultimately decided it was important to inform and organize parents using a framework separate from a district-organized advisory committee.
Education funding is difficult and complicated. Budget cuts are difficult and complicated. Legislative action is difficult and complicated. We believe it is important to have an organization whose sole priority is the students of SLCUSD, which is what SLCPIN aims to be.
What can you do?
We provide breakdowns of complex topics and work hard to ensure our information is clear, detailed, and properly sourced.
Attend school board meetings and/or read our recaps.
More oversight and transparency is imperative, but finding time to attend school board meetings can be difficult. Our recaps keep you up to date without sacrificing an entire Tuesday evening. Sign up here.
Advocate for reinstated Diablo Canyon funding.
PG&E shareholders made a record $2.75 billion in profits in 2024, but the company ended its Community Impact payments to SLCUSD in 2025.
Are you interested in research, outreach, or social media? Do you have specialized knowledge or skills you think would help? Have we made a mistake somewhere? Let us know!