Education FAQ
Here are answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about how California Lottery distributes funds to education:
How much does the Lottery give to California public schools?
Total Lottery contributions: California public schools have received more than $20 billion in Lottery funds since the Lottery began in October 1985. This contribution currently represents approximately 1.5% of all revenues received by the state's public schools.
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How are Lottery funds distributed?
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How are Lottery funds disbursed to the schools?
The Lottery's mandate, as defined in the California State Lottery Act, is to provide supplemental funding to California public education on all levels from kindergarten through higher education plus several specialized schools.
All segments of the public schools receive the same per pupil funding level from the Lottery based on average daily attendance of students in each school district. Since 1984, the Lottery provided more than $20 billion to students in California's public schools.
The educational institutions which receive Lottery funds and the percent of overall Lottery funds which each segment receives are listed below.
Following is the cumulative distribution of Lottery funding by educational segments since the Lottery began:
| Kindergarten - 12th Grade |
80.54% |
| Community Colleges |
13.31% |
| California State University System |
03.74% |
| University of California |
02.20% |
| Other Educational Entities |
0.21% |
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Who decides how the Lottery contributions are used?
Local education administrators, elected school boards and the administrators of higher education make the decisions regarding the ways Lottery funds are spent in their schools. The Lottery is not involved in this decision-making process. If you live in California and you want to know how Lottery money is used in your area, contact your local school district.
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What are the provisions for use of Lottery money and how is the money spent?
According to the Lottery Act, Lottery contributions can be used only for instructional purposes and it bans use for the acquisition of property, the construction of facilities or the funding of research.
77% of Lottery funds are used in California's public schools to attract and retain teachers. Some districts, especially the smaller school districts and higher education, have used funds for computer labs, teacher workshops, science programs, as well as art and music programs.
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