Gov. Gavin Newsom joined lawmakers and educators Thursday for the signing of a historic California budget for public education.

The investments include a $4.1 billion multi-year commitment to community schools and $2.4 billion on special education. That is a 43% year-over-year increase for special education, which Newsom said is the largest hike in the state’s history in that field.

Meanwhile, the budget also calls for the expansion of dual-enrollment college credit opportunities, updated middle and high school curriculum, 14 weeks of paid family/pregnancy leave for teachers and targeted recruitment for high-demand areas such as bilingual education.

Speaking in a press conference at Davis Joint Unified School District, Newsom shared personal childhood experiences, such as his mother’s work with special needs adoptions and his own struggles with reading and learning disabilities.

“All of us learn differently, and so we have to do things differently,” the Democratic governor said at the Central Valley news conference. “Two point four billion dollars – a 43% increase year over year – you don’t hear numbers like that. You’ve never heard a number like that in California.”

Newsom encouraged lawmakers and educators to continue pushing for reforms. He noted education reform is not one big idea where someone gets done, then walks away.

“It’s about a habit,” said Newsom. “It’s a process.”

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