Budget Symposium

University of Redlands hosted Budget Symposium on School Finance

New local control funding formula is centered on accountability rather than revenue

REDLANDS, Oct. 18, 2013–The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) is quickly approaching California school districts for the 2013-2014 school year. Regional school board members, administrators, teachers and community members gathered at University of Redlands on Oct. 17 for the 2013 Fall Symposium on School Finance, hosted by the University’s School of Education Center for Educational Justice, to discuss how the LCFF would impact California districts, students and communities.

The LCFF budget package will be replacing the current K-12 state finance system for public and charter schools throughout the state. In the program, there is a Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) in which districts will be responsible for accountabilityby using a template adopted by the California State Board of Education.

“The LCFF is a new way of funding our school districts. It not only brings awareness of student subgroups, but it also recognizes them and allows the redistribution of school funding through local impact,” Jose Lalas, University of Redlands Center for Educational Justice director, said.

Ted Alejandre, who serves as assistant superintendent of Business Services, San Bernardino County Office of Education, stressed that the new financial system will meet the needs of the lowest disadvantaged students.

The Local Control Accountability Plan has several core components that include: district-wide goals, specific actions to achieve goals, and an input and review process at the local district level, as explained by Paul Jessup, deputy superintendent, Riverside County Office of Education.

“The old system