Community Coalition v. LAUSD Settlement
Winning New Services for Low-Income Students, English Language Learners and Foster Youth
The settlement resolves a 2015 lawsuit filed by Public Advocates Inc., the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, and Covington & Burling LLP against LAUSD on behalf of parent Reyna Frias and Community Coalition, a South Los Angeles-based social justice organization.
The suit challenged the district’s failure to direct some $450 million annually to increased or improved services for high-need students. It is the first case brought to enforce California’s education finance reform law known as the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). If left uncorrected, the district’s practice would have resulted in more than $2 billion in lost services for low-income students, English language learners and foster youth over the years.
Last year, plaintiffs won a decision from the California Department of Education requiring LAUSD to correct most of this funding error going forward, but still left several hundred million dollars in lost services from years past in dispute. The settlement resolves the claim for these outstanding funds.
For a handout about the settlement click here
- Details of the Settlement:
The settlement provides for:
• More than $150 million over 3 years going to new services for high-need students (approximately $50 M a year starting immediately in this 2017-18 school year).
• The funds to be distributed across 50 of the highest need middle and high schools in the district according to the number of low-income, English Learners and foster youth at the school.
• Services for high-need students. These additional funds must be spent on a menu of services for high-need students developed jointly with LAUSD, community partners and school leaders, including:
Significant increased investments in high need students, including academic support and
mental health, social and emotional support;
Increasing A-G and Advanced Placement course access for high school students including A-G intervention and recovery;
Linked Learning (an approach that incorporates, rigorous academics, career and technical
education, work-based learning, and student supports);
School climate initiatives including restorative justice;
Graduation and student recovery for dropout prevention for high-need students;
Parent & community engagement for high-need communities.
EARLY SCHOOL SITE PLANNING IS KEY!
- School principals from the schools receiving funds should consult with local communities to submit an immediate spending plan for some or all of the 2017-18 funding as soon as possible consistent with the services listed above. They must submit a 2-year plan by October 31, 2017 for spending the new funding for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years combined. The Superintendent will review and approve the plans within 20 school days. A list of the schools receiving funds can be see here.
- Use it or lose it. Schools must spend all funds received in the first two years of the settlement by June 30, 2019.Any unspent funding may be reallocated by the Superintendent among the other 50 schools. All settlement funds must be spent by the end of the 2019-20 school year. Any unspent funds as of June 30, 2020 may be used by the District for any District purpose.
Take Action:
Implementation is key to making sure LA’s most vulnerable students truly benefit from this settlement agreement. Be an ally to high-need students:
• Spread the word in your community about this groundbreaking settlement!
• Educate your school principal and School Site Council.
• Gather your school community to provide input on the spending plans.
• Lift your voice in school and district budgeting by joining your School Site Council or the district Parent Advisory
Committee to weigh in on the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).
• Support the campaign for a better Student Equity Need Index to ensure resources are reaching LA’s highest need schools. Find out more here.
For more information click here or contact Dannie Tillman, Director of Communications, Community Coalition, Dannie@cocosouthla.org
Key Definitions:
• High-Need Students: Refers to low-income students, English language learners and foster youth.
• LCFF (Local Control Funding Formula): The new school funding law that promises increased resources for high need students.
• LCAP (Local Control & Accountability Plan): This is a three-year spending and academic plan that school districts must adopt to show how they are spending their money to improve outcomes for students, including high-need students. Districts must meaningfully engage parents, students and community in developing this plan.
• School Site Council: Decision-making committee comprised of staff, parents, students and community members responsible for developing the school site plan.
For a PDF of the full settlement, click here.
