Governor’s Local Control Funding Formula and Other Education Issues in California in 2013

Children’s Advocates RoundtableFebruary 14, 2013

Current K-12 funding system

Current K-12 Funding System

Current funding streamsUnrestricted funding – based on historical snapshot of funding levelsCategorical programs – such as instructional materials, professional development and supplemental services

Challenges with the current funding systemUnequal – districts receive varying amounts of unrestricted fundingDisjointed – categorical programs have been layered upon each other overtime. May have same goals, but different requirementsComplex – Overlapping rules and requirements make following how dollars are spent on students, classrooms and schools difficult

Flexibility provided during years of cuts, but years of growth saw new programs added

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Weighted Student Funding 2012

Governor introduced proposal in January 2012 Modified in May 2012

Most education groups were concernedCriticisms and concerns

Timing – fears about changes when significant cuts loomingPassage of Proposition 30Stakeholder meetings in Fall 2012

Local Control Funding Formula

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Local Control Funding Formula

Three levels of fundingBase funding – all students generateSupplemental funding – 35% weight applied for all English learners, students in poverty and foster youth. Count is unduplicated.Concentration factor – districts whose high needs populations exceed 50% additional funding provided for each student above 50%.

Excluded programs – child care, state preschool, special education, nutrition, afterschoolNo programs are eliminated – funding decisions locally determinedTransitional funding model – establishes a target that districts move towards as Proposition 98

growsFoster youth – included in the weight, but due to unduplicated counts no additional funding is

providedAccountability measures and assurances

District Plan for Student AchievementTied to district budget adoption

Local Control Funding Formula

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Why LCFF and why now?

Addresses primary concerns with current funding systemProvides equityProvides additional resources for high needs studentsProvides greater local decision-makingRemoves unnecessary restrictions

New funding for schoolsFunding shouldn’t be invested in an unequal and disjointed system

Local Control Funding Formula

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Assessments and Standards

Reauthorization of the state’s assessment systemImplementation of the Common Core State StandardsTransition to Smarter Balance AssessmentsAdoption of Next Generation Science StandardsExpansion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

Other Legislative Issues in 2013

Other Legislative Issues

Teacher EffectivenessSuspension and Expulsion