The LCFF establishes uniform per-student basegrants, with different rates for different gradespans. These differences are intended torecognize the higher costs of education athigher grade levels.

The LCFF acknowledges that English learner,low-income, and foster youth (EL/LI/FY)students have greater needs that require moreresources to address. For each EL/LI/FYstudent, districts receive an additional 20%of the adjusted base rate per student.

On top of the supplemental grant, districtsthat have a high proportion (over 55%) ofEL/LI/FY students receive an additional 50%of the adjusted base rate per student foreach student above 55% of enrollment.

BASE GRANT

SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT

CONCENTRATION GRANT

LCFFLocal Control Funding Formula

The LCFF is a new funding formula that will increase schoolfunding & direct more resources to California’s highest-needstudents. Beginning in July 2014, districts will have to adoptwritten plans describing how they will use the funding toimprove student outcomes in eight state priority areas. TheLCFF increases local flexibility over the use of state fundingfor public schools, while requiring that districts meaningfullyengage and seek input from parents, students, and otherstakeholders in developing their written plans.

how it works

everything

you need to know

about the

RevenueLimit

CategoricalFunds

Districts used to receive moneythrough categorical funds thatcould only be spent on specificprograms. There were over 40of these categorical programs,

the majority of which havebeen eliminated under LCFF.

The rest of the money, calledthe revenue limit, was givenout using a complicated andoutdated formula. The calcu-lation was different for eachdistrict, and did not take the

needs of students into account.Districts could use these funds

at their discretion.

Districts get more money,& more freedom to spend it.The LCFF will add $2.1 billion in funding for the2013-14 school year. When fully implemented, theLCFF will increase California’s education spendingby $18 billion. School districts are getting moremoney and a lot more freedom to spend it how they want. Though the old system’s categoricalprograms were problematic, they did ensure thatdistricts had to spend money on certain importantpriorities. Now spending decisions are largely leftto the discretion of local districts.

The LCFF requires districts to develop Local Controland Accountability Plans (LCAPs) that establishannual goals for all students, describe what will bedone to achieve these goals, and detail how fundswill be spent to increase or improve services forEL/LI/FY students. These plans must be adopted byJuly 2014, and many districts have started the processfor developing the plans. The coming months will becritical for public input to ensure that districts usefunds in ways that help its highest-need students.

it is up to you to make sure districts spend responsibly.

Districts are deciding howto use these funds RIGHT now

* These are target figures that will be reached gradually over time.The LCFF is expected to take 8 years to reach full implementation.

ConcentrationGrant

SupplementalGrant

BaseGrant

K-34-67-8

9-12

$6,845$6,947$7,154$8,289

*

No districts receive less money than they would have under the old system. Most districts will receive more.

old

why it matters

NEW

This publication was produced by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California for educational purposesonly and it is not a substitute for legal advice.

what you can do

Talk to your local sch�l boardSchool boards are in the process of finalizing their budgetsfor this school year.

Ask administrators and board members:How much do they estimate they will receive in supplementaland concentration funds? How are they planning to usethese funds to increase or improve services for EL/LI/FYstudents, as required by the LCFF? How will these funds bedivided between the school district and the individual schoolsites that have a lot of high-need students? How will thedistrict coordinate with existing school site councils, EnglishLearner Advisory Committees, and other parent andstudent advisory committees? How will they ensure thatparents and students have a substantial and meaningful rolein making decisions for the school district and for individualschools, as the law requires?

Learn and AdvocateThe LCFF is intended to provide greater discretion tolocal communities to determine how to best meet theeducational needs of their children. For this to work,parents, teachers, administrators, and board membersneed to be engaged in meaningful conversations aboutgoals and strategies and allocations of resources toimplement them. Stay informed and participate whenyour district begins developing its Local Control andAccountability Plan (LCAP).

State law requires districts to establish Parent AdvisoryCommittees (PACs) that must include parents andguardians of EL/LI/FY students. If ELs make up at least15% of a district’s enrollment or if the district enrolls atleast 50 students who are ELs, it must establish a DistrictEnglish Learner Parent Advisory Committee (DELAC).

Districts must:• Present proposed LCAP or annual update to the PAC forreview & comment, and respond in writing to any comments;

• Present proposed LCAP or annual update to the DELAC forreview & comment, and respond in writing to any comments;

• Provide an opportunity for members of the public tosubmit written comments regarding the specific actionsand expenditures proposed in the LCAP or annual update;

• Hold a public hearing at a school board meeting to solicitcomments and recommendations from the public regardingthe specific actions and expenditures proposed in theLCAP or annual update; and

• Adopt the LCAP or annual update in conjunction with thedistrict's budget in a subsequent public meeting of theschool board.

Northern CA:Southern CA:

www.aclunc.orgwww.aclusocal.org

San Diego: www.aclusandiego.org

Questions? Email Sally Chung atschung@aclu-sc.org

For further information and/or to receive updates from the ACLU, emailSally Chung at schung@aclu-sc.org.

This handout is current as of Feburary 2014.

STAY CONNECTED WITH THE ACLU

Stay informedThe California Department of Education has a number ofresources on its website:

• For general information on the LCFF, visit

http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/lc/

• Take a look at the fact sheet available at

http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/pa/lcff13factsheet.asp

• To receive updates regarding LCFF, send a “blank” email to

join-LCFF-list@mlist.cde.ca.gov