Leveraging the Local Control Funding Formula: Making the Case for Early Learning and Development in Your School District. An Education Primer
Author: Children Now
Date: 2014-03-00
Type: Reports - Descriptive
Subjects: Financial Support,Educational Finance,Funding Formulas,At Risk Students,Local Government,Early Childhood Education,Social Development,Emotional Development,Preschool Education,School Community Relationship,Child Development,Budgets,Planning,Accountability,Community Involvement,Partnerships in Education

After decades of research, policy discussions, and legislation promoting finance reform, in 2013, California adopted a major change in how schools are funded and held accountable: the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). This new funding model is the most comprehensive education finance reform implemented in California in nearly 40 years, and will bring sweeping changes to the state's K-12 system. School leaders, in partnership with their communities, will be provided more flexibility and planning opportunities to make the best decisions for their local students, while being held to a new accountability structure that focuses on improving student outcomes long-term. Most importantly, those students traditionally underserved--low-income students, English learners, and foster youth--will receive additional, unprecedented funding under LCFF and school districts will have an opportunity to pursue innovative, coherent, and holistic approaches to meeting all students' needs. The reach of LCFF does not end there, however. Implementation of the new finance model also provides an exciting opportunity for Early Learning and Development (ELD) advocates to expand access to the programs and services that prepare our young children for academic and lifelong success. Experience tells us that ELD can and should be a prominent component of any K-12 reform strategy, given that ELD initiatives--such as high-quality preschool and infant and toddler care--can make a great difference in student outcomes. A strong body of research shows children's social-emotional and cognitive development during the period from birth to age 5 greatly influences the degree to which they will be prepared for kindergarten and perform throughout school. The intent in developing this document is to help communities leverage the LCFF priority-setting process to &quot;promote access to high-quality ELD programs at the local level&quot;. This document is primarily targeted for community and parent organizers, ELD advocates, local First 5 Commission leaders, and school and civic leaders who are interested in making a compelling case to increase services that benefit children aged 0-5 in their community. The information will help facilitate effective collaboration among education and community leaders to highlight early learning by describing the structure and opportunities of LCFF and the current rationale for pursuing ELD expansion in the context of LCFF. The following are appended: (1) Strengthen ELD in your community through LCFF; (2) Local Control Funding Formula Fact Sheet; (3) Making the Case for Early Learning and Development Investments; (4) Early Childhood Research; and (5) District Budget &amp; Planning Timeline. [The following organizations contributed to the funding of the production of this report: Baby Futures Fund, East Bay Community Foundation, First 5 LA, the Heising Simons Foundation, the Marin Community Foundation and the T. Gary and Kathleen Rogers Supporting Family Foundation.)