Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF)

February 9, 2021

Gov. Newsom calls for closing big ‘loophole’ in school funding for high-needs students

Districts have carried over unspent money intended for high-needs students to use however they want. The governor says the practice must end.

John Fensterwald

January 13, 2021

To help get kids back in school, California should temporarily suspend local collective bargaining

Gov. Newsom should sit down with union leaders to negotiate a safe statewide reopening of all public schools for in-person instruction.

Carl Cohn

October 5, 2020

Special education funding should be less isolated, have more accountability, report finds

Schools can save money by combining services and blending funding, a new special education report says.

Carolyn Jones

September 30, 2020

How Prop. 15 would increase K-12 districts' funding

See how much money K-12 districts and charter schools might receive in 2025-26 if voters pass Prop. 15 on Nov. 3.

Daniel J. Willis

June 3, 2020

DATABASE: Federal aid helps some California schools more than others under governor's plan

Federal stimulus funding is coming to the aid of California’s school districts. An EdSource analysis projects that of the 897 districts that receive their funding through the state’s education funding formula, 60.4 percent would get more in stimulus funding than they’d lose in state cuts.

Daniel J. Willis

April 14, 2020

In pandemic’s wake, California needs to rethink system of support for schools

When the coronavirus crisis has run its course, all of California’s schools and districts will need help to get back on their feet.

Daniel C. Humphrey

January 9, 2020

New efforts to make school spending in California more transparent 

State board makes it easier to follow the money; two bills would impose even stricter reporting requirements.

John Fensterwald

October 31, 2019

Shorter, clearer (but maybe not more transparent) school accountability plan coming

The state board will deliver an LCAP template that will be easier to read, but it probably still won't be easy to follow the money.

John Fensterwald

October 2, 2019

LA Unified approves spending plan despite complaint about serving high-needs students

The school board voted on an amended version of the spending plan, which was updated after a complaint was brought against the district.

Michael Burke

September 5, 2019

California can be a model for teacher-led change

Pomona Unified is rethinking professional learning in light of California’s Local Control Funding Formula.

Barnett Berry, Joseph Bishop and Lori Nazareno

August 13, 2019

We must disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline

Students who are suspended from school are less likely to graduate from high school and more likely to be arrested and incarcerated.

Nancy Skinner

August 8, 2019

Smaller classes, more novice teachers: the 'tradeoff‘ for low-income California schools

A new study overcomes challenges from a lack of transparency to compare schools' spending under the Local Control Funding Formula.

John Fensterwald

July 31, 2019

Recognizing regional costs in school funding formula is both equitable and affordable

Current formula hurts children from low-income families in high-cost regions.

Jennifer Bestor

July 30, 2019

LA Unified’s spending and accountability plan should be rejected and rewritten, says advocates’ complaint

Public Advocates argues the district doesn’t show how $1.2 billion in extra funding will benefit English learners and low-income students.

John Fensterwald

July 2, 2019

How school districts can use limited resources strategically to enhance student success

Fresno Unified and San Diego Unified case studies show how districts can effectively target resources.

Joe McKown and Christina Baumgardner