Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)

The Local Control and Accountability Plan or LCAP is a critical part of California’s new Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). It is a three-year, district-level plan that is updated annually. The plan describes the school's key goals for students as well as the specific actions (with expenditures) the district will take to achieve the goals and the means (metrics) used to measure progress.

The LCAP addresses the needs of all students, including specific student groups, and all districts must specifically address English learners, foster youth, and low-income students. In addition, the LCAP must address the state of California's eight priority areas:

  1. Providing all students access to fully credentialed teachers, instructional materials that align with state standards, and safe facilities.
  2. Implementation of California’s academic standards, including the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and math, Next Generation Science Standards, English language development, history-social science, visual and performing arts, health education and physical education standards.
  3. Parent involvement and participation, so the local community is engaged in the decision-making process and the educational programs of students.
  4. Improving student achievement and outcomes along multiple measures, including test scores, English proficiency and college and career preparedness.
  5. Supporting student engagement, including whether students attend school or are chronically absent.
  6. Highlighting school climate and connectedness through a variety of factors, such as suspension and expulsion rates and other locally identified means.
  7. Ensuring all students have access to classes that prepare them for college and careers, regardless of what school they attend or where they live.
  8. Measuring other important student outcomes related to required areas of study, including physical education and the arts. In addition to these eight areas, a district may also identify and incorporate in its plan goals related to its own local priorities.

In addition to these eight areas, a district may also identify and incorporate in its plan goals related to its own local priorities.