Contribution to Education

The Lottery's mandate in the California State Lottery Act is to provide supplemental funding to California public education on all levels from kindergarten through the University of California plus several specialized schools. The goal of the Lottery has been to work to meet the needs of education for funding by managing sales growth. 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 its inception in October 1985, the Lottery has provided over $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.

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. 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. Approximately 80-90% 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.

Heroes in Education is an award program featured on "The Big Spin®" show. The program is designed to recognize the "unsung heroes" who've gone above and beyond the call of duty to volunteer their efforts to help California's schools. This award is presented in a special segment of "The Big Spin®" television show called "Heroes in Education".

Recipients appear on "The Big Spin®" television show where, each month, a different celebrity presenter acknowledges outstanding volunteers who make important contributions to education. The Hero in Education Award is an unpaid public acknowledgement of exemplary volunteer support for California's public schools.