In a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state officials, Beutner and the unions claim that some school districts are taking funding, approved by voters in November 2022, to expand arts education and are using it for other purposes.

"This is a solid budget," Republican Senate President Robert Stivers said. "It is the best budget that has been proposed or passed by the General Assembly."

"We know that one of the most important things we can do to help our students learn is to make sure they come to school consistently and make our families and communities strong partners in this effort," writes U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

Last year, New York issued a statewide ban on using facial recognition technology in its schools. These civil rights advocates argue there needs to be more federal intervention.