EdSource’s John Fensterwald reports that in separate analyses, three nonprofit student advocacy groups have concluded that most school districts’ explanations of their priorities and annual spending under the state’s new funding law are confusing, inadequate and sometimes contrary to the law’s purpose of directing more resources to underserved students.
Public Advocates, Education Trust-West and Californians Together timed the release of their reports to get the attention of the State Board of Education, which next month will discuss possible changes to the regulations and template that guide districts in writing their planning and budget document, known as the Local Control and Accountability Plan.
The article quotes extensively from Public Advocates’ report, including the following:
“Districts are not providing the level of transparency promised in exchange for increased spending flexibility,” wrote Public Advocates, a nonprofit law firm that has threatened to sue the West Contra Costa Unified School District for failing to disclose how it planned to spend millions of dollars on high-needs students. “Most districts are missing the opportunity to use the LCAP as a comprehensive planning tool for continuous improvement.”
Read the entire article here.
