LCFF and Early LearningACSA Superintendent’s Symposium
LCFF in the Making
Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) was four decades in the making
Substantive research, policy development, and legislative attempts over the last decade
A diverse coalition of education, equity, business, parent and civic leaders, in concert with the Governor’s leadership, made LCFF a reality in 2013
What does LCFF mean for school funding?
Historic investment in high need students: $10 billion once LCFF is fully implemented
LCFF addressed part of the school funding problem:
• Now we know how schools are funded by the state
• Local communities will have greater control over what to invest in
• We still need to invest more in public education: California is 49th in the nation in our investment
Why Early Learning Programs?
• Evidence: There is sound research and the impact data is
compelling
• Resources: There are local and statewide partners that can
support your efforts on multiple fronts
• Locally Driven: Programs can be tailored to your local
context and strategic investments are now more possible
Evidence
Sound research and compelling impact data
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What student outcomes are driving your local conversation?
Putting kids at the center of planning and budgeting:
• Are there specific student outcomes for all students, and/or subgroups of students, that have become an area of focus for the district and community?
Early learning is a strategic support to schools
ELD research shows proven impact on at least 4 of the state’s priority areas:• Student achievement • Student engagement (e.g. school attendance)• School climate (e.g. suspension/expulsion, school
connectedness)• Parent Involvement
Examples of compelling research
Student Achievement:• Less likely to be placed in special education• Increased on time grade completion• Increased high school graduation rates • Low-income, dual language learners benefit as much
as, and in some cases more than, their native speaker counterparts from quality early learning programs
• Programs for teen parents, like Cal-SAFE, show higher graduation rates (73% vs. 30%)
Examples of compelling researchStudent Engagement/School Climate:• Improved social-emotional competency, such as improved
self-regulation, self-esteem, motivation to solve problems, complete tasks, and improve their own abilities.
Parent Involvement:• Programs with a parenting focus model positive
interactions and provide opportunities to offer feedback.• These approaches augment the effects of early learning
programs on children’s skill development because they translate into more, ongoing support for children at home.
Resources
State and local relationships
Partners throughout the state to support children 0-5
• Existing early learning programs throughout California, but significant unmet need.
• Groups and local stakeholders across California are organizing to engage in LCFF planning efforts.
Locally Driven
Responding to local context and building multi-year plans
Landscape of 0-5 kids in your community
Partners can provide local context data:• Supply of high quality early learning programs
in your community• Impact of these programs on children’s
outcomes• Demand for programs in your community and
unmet need
Multi-year plans: A vision and strategic thinking become more possible
Why a multi-year approach is important:• LCFF changes the culture locally to
encourage long range planning
• The funding is being phased in gradually based on available state funding
• A multi-year plan provides more opportunity to think bigger and invest systematically in new approaches
Multi-year plans: Develop a local ELD vision
Coming together to meet the needs of kids:• What program approaches would most
fit the local need? (e.g. preschool, teen parenting, home visiting)
• How many children would be served? • Which student populations would be
served?• What quality improvement efforts would
be put in place?• What resources would be necessary to
achieve the vision?
Multi-year plans: Identify the first strategic investments
Building toward the vision:• Based on the local context, what strategic
investments could be made this year or next to build toward the vision?
• What strategic investments could be made in year 2 and 3 to align with the Local Control and Accountability Plan?
Examples: If the district isn’t tracking how prepared children are for kindergarten, provide teacher training to implement a kindergarten readiness observation tool.
If there is a demand for full-day preschool but spaces are all half-day, district could invest to expand to full-day in high-need areas.
Additional Resources
Children Now• Website: lcff.childrennow.org
• Samantha Tran: [email protected]
• Giannina Perez: [email protected]
Thank you!