❓ Frequently Asked Questions

The Principal Apportionment is the official term for the state payments California makes to school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education throughout the year. It includes LCFF, EPA, Special Education funding, Home-to-School Transportation, and several other programs. Think of it as the state's periodic check to your district — the total of which is the D-1 line in your apportionment report.

LCFF — the Local Control Funding Formula — is the primary source of K-12 school funding in California. It's based on the number of students a district serves (measured in Average Daily Attendance, or ADA). Every student generates a base grant, and students who are low-income, English learners, or in foster care generate additional supplemental and concentration grants. Districts with more than 55% high-need students receive the concentration grant — a significant additional amount. The state adjusts LCFF each year using a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

Unrestricted funds can be spent on anything the school board authorizes — including teacher and staff salaries, benefits, supplies, and operations. LCFF and EPA are unrestricted. Restricted funds are tied to a specific purpose and can only be spent on that program. Special Education funds, for example, must be used for special education services. Understanding this distinction helps community members, parents, and school staff read the district budget more critically.

Start with your district's P-1 apportionment report on this site. Look at the D-1 total — that's how much the state sent. Then ask for: (1) the adopted budget (usually public record), (2) the first interim report filed with the county superintendent, and (3) the unaudited actuals from the prior year. The 2025–26 LCFF COLA was 2.41% — roughly $2 billion in new discretionary money statewide. You can use this site's district report to see exactly how much your district received and how it changed year-over-year.

The May Revision is the Governor's updated state budget, released every May 15. It's based on actual April 15 tax receipts — so it reflects how much money the state actually has. If revenues came in high, the May Revision often includes more education funding. If low, it may propose cuts. Many districts wait until after the May Revision to finalize their budgets — which is why tracking it closely gives community members a clearer picture of what's really available for education.

Proposition 28 (passed by California voters in 2022) provides approximately $941 million annually for arts, music, and theater programs in K-12 schools. By law, at least 80% of each district's allocation must be spent on employee salaries and benefits. If your district received Prop 28 funds, you can use the district report tool to see the A-17 amount — and then ask how those dollars are being spent. The law is clear: the money must go primarily to staff, not materials or overhead.