What Is the LCFF COLA?
The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) determines how much school district base funding increases each year to keep pace with inflation. It is calculated by the State Department of Finance using a federal measure of inflation — the Implicit Price Deflator for State and Local Government Purchases.
The COLA moves through three official stages each budget cycle. The Estimated COLA is published in January with the Governor's Budget. The Statutory COLA is set at the May Revision and becomes the official rate under Education Code. The Funded COLA is what the Legislature actually appropriates in the June Budget Act — it may match or differ from the statutory rate depending on legislative decisions.
LCFF was established beginning in FY 2013–14. Prior years used a different school funding formula (revenue limits) and are not included here.
Estimated COLA
The Department of Finance's initial projection of inflation for the upcoming fiscal year. Used for budget planning but not yet official.
Statutory COLA
The official rate set under Education Code §42238.02. This is the legally required COLA based on updated economic data.
Funded COLA
The rate actually funded by the Legislature in the final Budget Act. In tight budget years, this can be lower than the statutory rate.
FY 2026–27 — Current Year
(May Revision)
(Budget Act)
Historical LCFF COLA Rates — FY 2013–14 to Present
| Fiscal Year | Estimated COLA (Governor's Budget) |
Statutory COLA (May Revision) |
Funded COLA (Budget Act) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026–27 ⬅ Current | 2.41% | TBD — May 15, 2026 | TBD — June 2026 |
| FY 2025–26 | 2.43% | 2.30% | 2.30% |
| FY 2024–25 | 0.76% | 1.07% | 1.07% |
| FY 2023–24 | 8.13% | 8.22% | 8.22% |
| FY 2022–23 | 5.33% | 6.56% | 6.56%1 |
| FY 2021–22 | 1.50% | 1.70% | 2.70%2 |
| FY 2020–21 | 2.29% | 2.31%3 | 0.00% |
| FY 2019–20 | 3.46% | 3.26% | 3.26% |
| FY 2018–194 | 2.51% | 2.71% | 2.71% (Super COLA 3.70%) |
| FY 2017–18 | 1.48% | 1.56% | 1.56% |
| FY 2016–17 | 0.47% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| FY 2015–16 | 1.58% | 1.02% | 1.02% |
| FY 2014–15 | 0.86% | 0.85% | 0.85% |
| FY 2013–14 | 1.65% | 1.57% | 1.57% |
1 — In addition to the statutory COLA, Assembly Bill 181 (Chapter 52, Statutes of 2022) authorized additional LCFF base grant adjustments effective FY 2022–23.
2 — Assembly Bill 130 (Chapter 44, Statutes of 2021) authorized a compounded COLA combining the statutory adjustments for FY 2020–21 (2.31%) and FY 2021–22 (1.70%), plus an additional 1% increase in LCFF base grants — for an effective increase of 5.07% from 2019–20 to 2021–22 funding levels.
3 — The 2020–21 May Revision proposed a 10% reduction to certain LCFF formula components subject to COLA. The 2020–21 Budget Act did not contain the proposed reduction; the 0.00% Funded COLA reflects a different legislative action that year.
4 — The 2018–19 Budget Act authorized a higher "Super COLA" for school districts and charter schools.