Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)

April 4, 2023

Does California's landmark school funding formula need 10th year makeover?

Public Advocates and ACLU join Gov. Gavin Newsom in calling for major changes to the funding formula's mandate for equitable and effective spending through the LCAP.

February 16, 2023

Newsom’s big bet on fixing California's poorest schools and narrowing achievement gaps

Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing the biggest changes in a decade to the state system of funding and governing schools.

John Fensterwald, Emma Gallegos, And Daniel J. Willis

Black Student Success

January 24, 2023

Critics say Newsom's proposal for low-performing students fails most Black students

Black leaders are criticizing a compromise plan by Gov. Newsom as not doing enough to help close the achievement gap of Black students.

Emma Gallegos, John Fensterwald, And Daniel J. Willis

Commentary

November 1, 2022

California's accountability system is failing English learners

The California School Dashboard masks the needs of English learners, leading to low expectations for these students and resulting in many districts not planning for their support and success.

August 19, 2022

Black students deserve extra funding; this bill would provide it

Assembly Bill 2774 will ensure the lowest performing students are prioritized the same as the other high-needs student groups in the state's funding formula, providing schools with targeted funding to help better support Black students.

Debra Watkins

Commentary

May 27, 2022

Families of English learners must be allowed to engage and lead in district budgeting

California's budgeting framework is designed to engage communities in their aspirations and be adaptable to local needs. But families of English learners are too often locked out of the process.

Eduardo R. Muñoz-Muñoz

Local Control Funding Formula

October 14, 2021

Nearly half of money for high-needs students not getting to their schools, analysis finds

Research by the Public Policy Institute of California compares Local Control Funding Formula allocations to school-level spending.

John Fensterwald

Local Control Funding Formula

June 18, 2021

State orders stricter county oversight of districts' spending for low-income kids, English learners

California Department of Education sides with faith-based organizations that challenged how the San Bernardino county office approved LCAPs.

John Fensterwald

Local Control Funding Formula

June 9, 2021

Little action on building state website to track districts’ spending

Nearly a year after money was budgeted, the California Department of Education hasn't completed the contract needed to move forward.

John Fensterwald

Commentary

April 26, 2021

California's school district accountability plans need more rigorous review by county leaders

In the absence of effective oversight, too many districts' local control and accountability plans, or LCAPs, focus more on compliance with the letter of the law than on improving outcomes for their students.