Understanding the LCAP Priorities

In California, the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) changed how school districts and charter schools receive funding and plan for student success. A key part of LCFF is the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). This three-year plan requires local educational agencies to outline their goals and actions to improve student outcomes, focusing on eight state priority areas. These priorities fall under three main categories: Conditions of Learning, Engagement, and Pupil Outcomes.

Understanding the eight priorities of the LCAP helps administrators effectively allocate resources, ensure compliance, and, most importantly, create educational environments where all students can thrive. Let's explore each priority and how they connect for a comprehensive educational approach.

Setting the Foundation for Learning

The first category, Conditions of Learning, focuses on essential inputs needed for quality education. Priority 1, Basic Services, requires all students to have access to fully credentialed teachers, standards-aligned instructional materials, and safe, well-maintained school facilities. Districts demonstrate their effectiveness by tracking teacher assignment rates, textbook availability, and facility inspections conducted by county offices.

Priority 2, Implementation of State Standards, ensures districts actively teach California's academic standards across subjects. These standards include Common Core for English language arts and math, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and English Language Development standards for English learners. Additional standards cover history, social science, arts, health, physical education, and career technical education. Implementing these standards involves ongoing teacher professional development and classroom support. Recent updates, like the 2023 Math Framework and Ethnic Studies requirements, represent ongoing implementation work for districts. Both priorities reinforce equity by establishing strong foundational conditions and consistent instructional standards.

Engaging Students and Families

Engagement emphasizes connection and participation. Priority 3, Parental Involvement and Family Engagement, focuses on building strong school-family partnerships. Districts engage families through committees like Parent Advisory Committees (PACs) and English Learner Advisory Committees (DELACs). Efforts to actively engage parents, especially those of unduplicated pupils, include surveys to measure satisfaction and tracking participation in school events and workshops. Strong family engagement fosters trust and significantly enhances student outcomes.

Priority 5, Pupil Engagement, targets student connection through attendance and school persistence. Key metrics include attendance, high school graduation rates, dropout rates, and chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more school days. Chronic absenteeism dramatically increased post-pandemic, affecting nearly one-quarter of California students in 2022-23. Addressing this requires targeted attendance monitoring, outreach, and supportive intervention services.

Priority 6, School Climate, evaluates school life quality through suspension and expulsion rates and local surveys on safety and connectedness. High suspension rates, particularly if disproportionate among student groups, highlight areas needing attention. California's emphasis on reducing exclusionary discipline, including recent legislation ending "willful defiance" suspensions (SB 274), encourages alternatives like Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and restorative practices. Expanded learning programs like ASES, ELOP, and 21st CCLC contribute significantly, offering funding for safe environments, nurturing relationships, family events, and engaging activities that boost attendance and improve climate.

Measuring Success and Broadening Opportunities

The final category, Pupil Outcomes, measures educational results. Priority 4, Pupil Achievement, tracks student performance through multiple indicators, including statewide assessments (CAASPP), English learners' progress (ELPAC results, reclassification rates), and indicators of college and career preparedness, like the College/Career Indicator (CCI). Recent declines in statewide scores post-pandemic have intensified the focus on accelerating student learning and closing achievement gaps in school districts.

Priority 7, Course Access, ensures students can enroll in a broad course of study covering required subjects from science and history to performing arts and technical education. This priority guarantees equitable opportunities for a well-rounded education. State investments like Proposition 28, providing significant new funding for arts and music education, directly support expanded course access.

Priority 8, Other Student Outcomes, allows districts to track performance in areas not assessed by statewide tests. These outcomes often include Physical Fitness Test (PFT) results, arts program participation and achievement, completion of CTE pathways, the Seal of Biliteracy, or success in local initiatives such as civic engagement projects. Expanded learning programs support this priority by offering academic tutoring and enrichment activities in STEM, arts, and sports, reinforcing classroom learning, and extending educational opportunities. Efficient data-tracking systems that link program participation with LCAP metrics help demonstrate impact and streamline reporting.

Empowering Your LCAP Process

California's eight state priorities offer a comprehensive framework for local control and accountability. These priorities guide local educational agencies in developing holistic plans addressing basic needs, engagement, academic achievement, and diverse student outcomes.

For administrators, LCAP is a strategic tool. Understanding priority connections, integrating departmental efforts, and leveraging resources like expanded learning programs empower districts to deliver equitable, high-quality education. Clear data tracking and a commitment to continuous improvement ensure the Local Control Accountability Plan translates into genuine student progress. Transparent and accessible communication keeps parents and the community involved as valued partners in supporting student success.

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