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Californians Together

Championing the Success of English Learners

LCFF/LCAP

Study of New School Accountability Plans Shows Districts Not Focused on Needs of English Learners

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Report on 1st Year of LCAP Calls for Stronger State Guidance, More Local Commitment to Research-based Approaches and Stronger Engagement With EL Families & Communities

 A new report that reviewed the Local Control Accountability Plans of 29 key school districts throughout the state, and the impact those LCAPs are having on English Learner students, was released today by Californians Together.

The report, titled “Falling Short on the Promise to English Learners, A New Report on Year One District Local Control Accountability Plans,” found that LCAPs tend to be characterized by woefully inadequate specificity and weak attention to how schools are meeting the various needs of English Learners.

Does Your Local Control Accountability Plan Deliver on the Promise of Improved or Increased Services for English Learners?

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The intent of California’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) is to give districts more flexibility with their state funding but at the same time to create a new school finance system that recognizes that students with specific demographic factors need greater support to address their academic needs and improve educational outcomes:  English Learners, low income students and foster youth.  As Governor Brown stated in January 2013, “Equal treatment for children in unequal situations is not justice”.  LCFF recognized that English Learners have additional academic needs requiring additional resources to “improve or increase services”.  LCFF was designed as a step towards a more equitable school finance system.

To provide guidance for LEAs in designing, funding and implementing programs for English Learners using LCFF appropriations, Californians Together, The California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE), Californian Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), and the Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL) developed a set of rubrics that address 10 focus areas with high impact on English Learners. [Read more…] about Does Your Local Control Accountability Plan Deliver on the Promise of Improved or Increased Services for English Learners?

Building a More Equitable and Participatory School System in California: The Local Control Funding Formula’s First Year

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The new Ed Trust West report, Building a More Equitable and Participatory School System in California: The Local Control Funding Formula’s First Year, describes the ways in which districts and community stakeholders engaged with one another to develop plans for their LCFF dollars. The report also provides an analysis of first-year Local Control and Accountability Plans, or LCAPs, with an eye towards how transparently and effectively districts share these plans with the public, along with how they propose to invest in the success of low-income, English learner, and foster care students and recommendations to create a more participatory and fair school finance system.

Local Control Funding Formula and English Learners- Resources

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The enactment of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) provisions has created a new landscape for California school finance.  Much confusion exists about what the impact of LCFF is on district responsibilities regarding programs for English Learners (EL). In addition, California Rural Legal assistance (CRLA), California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE and Californians Together sent a letter to all district and county superintendents as a reminder of the continuing state and federal obligations with respect to both programs and funding of services of EL.  Download the full letter below and a power point to explain the content of the letter. Californians Together, CRLA, CABE and California Latino School Boards Association have been providing workshops for DELAC members and parent leaders across the state.  Below are resources from the training and tools that can be used with parents and educators.LCFF Superintendent Letter LCFF Powerpoint LCFF for Parent Training PPT in Spanish LCFF for Parent Training PPT in English Suggested Roles for DELACs – English Suggested Roles for DELACs -Spanish EL Strategies aligned to 8 State Priorities – English EL Strategies aligned to 8 state priorities – Spanish UCP Complaint Form aligned to LCFF – English UCP Complaint Form aligned to LCFF – Spanish

Oppose Diminished Services and Programs for English Learners

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The governor has proposed a new education funding formula for California schools called the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).  His intent is to equalize the funding across districts and give additional funds to support services for English learners, poor students and foster youth.  This would repeal the Economic Impact Aid (EIA) and replace it with the LCFF. On first blush this makes sense.  But there are significant problems with the formula and its impact on English learners.  We need each of you to sign the letter attached below (you may personalize) and send it to Assembly Member Joan Buchanan, Chair of Assembly Education.  The letter needs to arrive by Friday, May 3, 2013.

Letter to Assembly Member Buchanan on the LCFF