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The Local Control Accountability Plan

Funding Accountability and Transparency Between School Districts and the Community: LCAP

What is a Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP)?

The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) is California’s main funding system for kindergarten through 12th grade education. The landmark legislation is built upon three principles:

  1. Equity: Providing more funding for the students who need it most (students who are low-income, English Learners, or foster youth)
  2. Whole-child view of student success: Shifting the definition of student success from test scores to whole child wellness and achievement
  3. Meaningful engagement: Making local spending decisions in partnership with students, families, educators, and other community members, which requires transparency and accountability.

School districts have flexibility to decide how they are going to spend their Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds to close achievement gaps–though it must be done strategically and equitably. To track whether school districts’ spending decisions are aligned with LCFF’s core principles of equity, whole-child view of student success, and meaningful engagement, each school district is required annually to collaborate with their community to create a strategic action and spending plan called the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). 

These plans explain:

  1. How the district is going to spend its money overall
  2. How the district is going to increase or improve services for high-need students
  3. What goals the district plans to achieve by spending that money
  4. What progress the district has made in achieving those goals

At a minimum, a district’s LCAP must explain how a district plans to achieve eight key goals.

Community Engagement Requirements Within the LCAP

School districts are required to get feedback from community members in order to develop their LCAPs. All parents, students, and community members have a voice in the way their schools spend money. The LCAP process is an opportunity for you to advocate for the resources, personnel, programs, and services that are best for you and your community.

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