Plain-language school funding information for classified union members — bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, paraprofessionals, clerical staff, and everyone else who keeps campuses running. No jargon required.
Most of your district's general operating money comes from the state through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) — a per-student amount that adjusts based on how many students are enrolled and how many need extra support. Local property taxes count toward this amount first; the state fills in the rest as "state aid."
Layered on top are separate funding streams that often affect classified positions directly: Special Education funding (which pays for many paraprofessional and instructional aide positions), Home-to-School Transportation funding (which pays for bus drivers and transportation staff), and nutrition services reimbursement (which supports cafeteria staff). When your district says money is tight, these are the actual numbers to look at — and this site publishes them for every California district, updated as the state certifies new figures.
Search your district on the home page to see its current state funding, broken down by category.
Every district report shows a year-over-year comparison, so you can see whether funding is growing or shrinking.
Not sure what "EPA" or "ADA" means? Check the glossary below or the full glossary page.
Share what you find with your chapter president or site rep — it's useful context for any conversation about pay or staffing.
Look up your district's current apportionment — LCFF, EPA, Special Education, transportation, and more.
Search Districts →How CalPERS works for classified employees, what your district contributes, and the history of the SB 6 offset that used to shield those costs.
Learn About CalPERS →A plain-language guide to how the state calculates and distributes funding to every district.
Learn the Basics →Quick definitions for LCFF, EPA, ADA, P-1, P-2, and every other term you'll run into on this site.
View Glossary →Follow the state budget process and understand what proposed changes could mean for your district.
Track the Budget →Common questions from classified union members about school finance and how to use this data.
View FAQ →