What is the LLCF and what is LCAP?

Signed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2013, the Local Control Funding Formula (LLCF) is a new law that dramatically changes the way California school districts spends their funds on education. The new law allows school districts more authority in deciding how education dollars are spent, while holding them accountable for getting results, and concentrates more money to school districts that serve high-needs students.

I’m signing a bill that is truly revolutionary. We are bringing government closer to the people, to the classroom where real decisions are made and directing the money where the need and the challenge is greatest. This is a good day for California, it’s a good day for school kids, and it’s a good day for our future. – Gov. Jerry Brown

What is the LCAP?

The LCAP is a component of the LCFF and stands for Local Control and Accountability Plan. The LCAP helps with two things: it is the blueprint for how schools districts intend to meet annual goals for all pupils, with specific activities to address state and local priorities, and it ensures that school districts are taking additional measures to involve the community in the financial planning process.

The LCAP must reflect how a school district will concentrate its efforts on certain priorities such as parent engagement, implementation of new state standards, improving student achievement, and readying students for career and college. Moreover, school districts must provide opportunities for input from the community, such as teachers, principals, administrators, other school personnel, district’s unions, parents, and students. Before the LCAP can be adopted, the school district must also present their plan at a public hearing. Districts must reach out to parents through a parent advisory committee, and an English learner advisory committee when English Learners comprise at least 15% of enrollment.

How are funds being allocated?

Funds will go directly to school districts, rather than individual schools. Districts will receive a base grant, a supplemental grant, and, if certain conditions are met, a concentration grant. Base grants are allocated depending on the number of students in attendance in a school district. In general, the base grant will be larger for students in K-3 and largest for students in high school. Each school district will also receive a supplemental grant of 20% of the base grant for every English learner, foster youth, homeless youth, and low-income student enrolled. In addition, school districts with a high-needs population of more than 55% will qualify to receive a concentration grant for every high-needs student above the 55% threshold.

Visit the California State Department of Education’s website for more detailed information about LCFF guidelines.
For more reading, please visit EdSource Local Control Funding Formula Guide and their Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions.
For LCAP resources, visit Lectura Books for bilingual children’s books and for Parent Programs. The Latino Family Literacy Project can provide training for staff to work with hispanic parents in a parent involvement program for Title I or Title III ESL Programs.
California’s LLCF and LCAP for local control
 

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The U.S. Department of Education requires that public schools and state agencies act to overcome the language barriers that impede equal participation by students in their instructional programs.

In a letter dated January 7, 2015 titled Dear Colleague Letter: English Learner Students and Limited English Proficient Parents, The U.S. Department of Education comments:

“Ensuring that SEAs and school districts are equipped with the tools and resources to meet their responsibilities to LEP students, who are now more commonly referred to as English Learner (EL) students or English Language Learner students, is as important today as it was then. EL students are now enrolled in nearly three out of every four public students, and all students, have equal access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to achieve their full academic potential. We applaud those working to ensure equal educational opportunities for EL students, as well as the many schools and communities creating programs that recognize the heritage languages of EL students as valuable assets to preserve.”

The Latino Family Literacy Project specializes in programs for English Learners and Parent Involvement. We can train staff to provide programs for parents at your school, and we help teachers to understand the Hispanic parents using a whole new framework for participation. Our focus is to help parents learn to read with their children and develop English vocabulary together as a family.

The books in our program are published by Lectura Books and are designed to engage English Learner parents by structuring the culturally relevant stories and vocabulary review in each book to assist parents in accomplishing their goals with reading with their children and teaching vocabulary.

If you would like to schedule a teacher workshop at your district, please contact The Latino Family Literacy Project at: 1-877-LECTURA or by email.

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