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Four numbers explain most of it

Take them one at a time — each is a single fact about how this district's money works.

Attendance is revenue — try it

California pays districts by average daily attendance, so every absence is lost revenue. Drag the slider to see what a change in attendance would mean here each year — no election required.

Where new money can come from

Ordered by speed. The fastest levers need no election and no vote — they are administrative competence, and they are routinely left on the table.

Where cuts usually start

Districts under pressure follow a remarkably consistent sequence. Knowing the order tells you how serious things are — and how much time you have.

The budget calendar decides more than the vote

California budgets move on a fixed cycle, and the reduction list is effectively set months before adoption. The highlighted stop is where the cycle is right now.

How to influence what gets cut

Protect what matters to you

A beloved junior teacher, the music program, the library — none of them are safe by default, and all of them can be saved by people who move early.