Credit: Karla Scoon Reid/EdSource Today

Armando Gutierrez, an assistant principal at Lowell Unproblematic Schoolhouse, writes down parents' concerns and comments during a Local Control and Accountability Plan coming together at Rex Elementary School in Santa Ana in Apr 2014.

A new study that examines the implementation of California'southward Local Control Funding Formula revealed that district leaders welcome a demand-based local funding model but that they were hindered by a lack of time, information, skills and resource.

The study, "Toward a Grand Vision: Early Implementation of California'south Local Control Funding Formula," was written by Daniel C. Humphrey and Julia East. Koppich and released by SRI International. The authors looked at the first year of implementation of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) in 10 districts across California.

Among the challenges cited by districts were the tight timeline for developing Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs) that outline priorities and the demand to develop new ways of working. Every bit i district official put it, "The LCAP process really pushed the emphasis on collaboration. We recognized that people were working in silos. And we had to change." Small districts particularly felt overburdened as they adult their plans, citing insufficient staffing and the need for more training to understand and have on the requirements of developing their local plans.

Inadequate time and resources also posed a claiming to achieving the meaningful level of parent and community engagement required past the LCAP. One official, whose district received input from only about 4 per centum of families in the district, said, "LCFF is a historic effort, but nosotros actually oasis't prepared our frontline people, actually principals, on how to practice engagement." Other districts cited serious obstacles to engaging with parents at the poorest schools, including language, transportation and childcare barriers.

Despite a steep learning curve and the need to develop new skills and customs ties, the study constitute potent support among district leaders for local control and "cautious optimism" about the futurity of the LCFF law. A mutual refrain cited in the study was "Give us time to get this correct and, please, don't return to prescriptive categorical funding."

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