Question: What is the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)?

Response: The LCFF creates base, supplemental, and concentration grants in place of most previously existing K–12 funding streams, including revenue limits and most state categorical programs.  For a complete overview of the LCFF visit this PTA web site: http://downloads.capta.org/edu/e-school-finance/LCFF.pdf

All school districts are required to develop, adopt, and annually update a three-year Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).  Watch a 5-minute video on the LCAP at the State Board of Education LCFF/LCAP resource website: http://lcff.wested.org/lcff-channel/episode-6/.  As part of the LCAP, school districts must obtain stakeholder input in developing, revising, and updating LCAPs. 

 

Question: Under LCFF, can school districts use supplemental and concentration funding to pay for across-the-board salary increases for staff?

Response: Districts may use base funding for salary increases. In general, districts cannot use supplemental or concentration funding for across-the-board salary increases because increasing salaries for all teachers generally will not “increase or improve services” provided to high-need students. See response by the ACLU for additional clarification: http://www.srcs.k12.ca.us/Newsroom/Documents/Negotiations/ACLU%20Salary-increase.FINAL-3-5-14.pdf

 

Question: How can I be more involved and follow the District's LCAP development process?

Response: You may attend one of the District Parent LCAP Advisory Committee meetings, share your views at a school meeting (School Site Council, English Learner Advisory Council, Title I Parent Advisory Council, etc.), speak at a Board Meeting, and/or take the on-line priority-spending survey in English https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PCGKJD5 or in Spanish https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PNZ5C5J.

 

Question: Question: What student subgroups are included in the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)? 

Response: All students are in include in the LCAP. By law, special funding and attention is given to students who are classified a Low Income (LI), English Learner (EL) and/or Foster Youth (FY).

 

Question: How can I be more involved in my school's spending priority decisions?

Response: Contact your principal and learn about the School Site Council, English Learner Advisory Council, Title I Parent Advisory Council, and other stakeholder groups that work closely with the school to inform staff on decision-making.

 

Question: How can I see the LCAP?

Response: See the 2016-2017 LCAP Overview, including the three goals and the actions and services related to those goals here:

http://www.centinela.k12.ca.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=390871&type=d&pREC_ID=889226

You can see the entire LCAP document on the District website under "What is the LCAP?" or call (310) 263-3200 and request a hard copy of the document from the School Board Secretary.

 

Question: What is different about the new school funding model compared to the old model?

Response: Under the old model, there was less local control and more state control.  The new model is the opposite. For example, there were over categories of funding, each for a specific purpose identified by the State. The LCFF model has basically established three forms of funding, with more local decision making:  Base Grant for all students. Supplemental Grant (focused on all English Language Learners, Free and Reduced Priced Meal eligible students, and foster youth).  Concentration Grant (focus on each English Language Learner or Free and Reduced Priced Meal eligible student above 55% of the district-wide enrollment).

 

Question: How will schools be accountable?

Response: Districts must develop a Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).  The LCAP replaces the Local Education Agency Plan (LEAP).  The LCAP is designed to ensure that academic achievement is aligned with expenditures. The LCAP must be approved with the district expenditure plan by the Board Trustees every June.   

 

Question: What does the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) measure? 

Response: Student Achievement. Student Engagement, Other Student Outcomes, School Climate, Parental Involvement, Basic Services, Implementation of Common Core, and Course Access.

 

Question: How many years is the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)?

Response: The LCAP is a three-year plan, but it must be updated once a year.  The original LCAP was developed in 2013-14 for the years 2014-2017.

 

Question: When are the Public Hearings for the 2016-17 LCAP Update?

Response: A Public Hearing for the 2016-2017 LCAP was held during the June 14, 2016 Board Meeting.  Public hearing dates for the 2017-2018 LCAP will be posted shortly.

 

Question: When will the 2017-20 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) be adopted?

Response: A District must adopt its LCAP before it adopts its budget which must take place prior to July 1st each year. The 2016-17 LCAP was adopted on June 28, 2016 at our regularly scheduled Board Meeting.  The 2017-18 LCAP will be approved at the June 2017 regularly scheduled Board Meeting.

 

Question: Since funding is largely based on household income applications, is there a requirement to verify the information on those applications used to identify socio-economically disadvantaged students? 

Response: For Districts that collect meal benefit applications, USDA states that the information listed on the application must be taken at face value; and they do require that a small percentage of the applications be verified by paycheck or tax documents.  For Districts that operate under Provision II (including CVUHSD), under which meal benefit applications are not collected every year, there is no requirement or authority to verify the household income applications; the information on the application is to be taken at face value.

 

Question: How are decisions to spend the money determined?

Response: Spending the money is a process that includes analyzing and evaluating student performance and student outcome data, in addition to gathering input from all stakeholders, including students, teachers, school and district staff, parents, and community members.  Ultimately a team of stakeholders considers all of the data and input and makes a recommendation to the School Board in the form of a Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).  All school districts are required to prepare an LCAP, which describes how they intend to meet annual goals for all pupils, with specific activities to address state and local priorities identified pursuant to EC Section 52060(d).

 

Question: How do funds flow down to the schools?

Response: Funds are allocated to schools to support their Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA).  The SPSA is a plan of action to improve student academic performance by coordinating all educational services and resources.  All schools that receive state and federal funds through the Consolidated Application and Reporting System (CARS) and Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Program Improvement funds consolidate all school plans into the SPSA.

 

Question: What happens to the money if it’s not all used?

Response: Money is carried over to next year’s budget.

 

Question: Is there funding possible for vocational and career skills?

Response:  Yes, the LCAP includes funding to support college and career academies.

 

Question: Is funding flexible enough to provide safe schools support and student incentives for good behavior, good attendance and to promote a positive culture on campus?

Response: Yes, the LCAP supports our safe schools initiatives and the full implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), a school-wide behavior management program. 

 

Question: Can funds be used to support Advancement Vis Individual Determination (AVID)?

Response: Yes, the district has made a substantial commitment to providing AVID training for most teachers.

 

Question: Can summer school be made available for all students?

Response: Summer school was included in the 2015-16 Local Control Accountability Plan and will likely be funded again in 2016-17.

 

Question: Where is the funding for the SRO Officer coming from?

Response: Parcel taxes fund the School Resource Officer (SRO) and safety officers.

 

Question: Does the LCAP support athletics and the arts?

Response: Yes, substantial funding is provided to support and expand athletics and visual and performing arts programs.

 

Question: Are all English Language Learners (EL) assisted in the classroom?

Response: Yes, all students receive English Language Development (ELD) instruction within their English Language Arts classroom and Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE) support from their other classroom teachers. Some English Learners receive additional EL support classes if needed.

 

Question: Are there services provided for parents?

Response: Yes, the LCAP includes a Parent Involvement Initiative that supports a Parent Involvement Specialist who provides parenting classes, parent centers, and enhanced school-parent communications.