San Luis Obispo Coastal Unified School District

The San Luis Coastal Unified School District approved major budget cuts Tuesday night. The decision sets the stage for possible layoffs and reductions to student services for the 2026/2027 school year. District officials say the loss of one-time covid funding and a multi-million dollar tax tied to the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant made the cuts unavoidable. But, some parents and staff argue the district had years to prepare.

Student test scores are not showing much improvement in San Luis Obispo County. New data indicates scores remain below pre-pandemic levels—an indication that COVID-19 continues to take a toll on classroom learning.

School districts on the Central Coast will offer free meals during the summer months through a federally funded program.