This document discusses early learning and the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) in California. It provides background on LAUP, an organization dedicated to improving preschool access. It then summarizes data showing LAUP students are better prepared for kindergarten and cites research that high-quality preschool benefits students long-term. The LCFF is introduced as providing more school funding and flexibility to support at-risk students. The document argues that preschool can help meet several LCFF priorities and lists potential uses of LCFF dollars to expand preschool access and quality. It emphasizes that investing in preschool can save school districts money in the long run. Finally, it notes LAUP's work with LA school districts and encourages districts

1. Early Learning and
Local Control Funding
Formula
January 30, 2014

2. About LAUP
 LAUP is a non-profit organization dedicated to
improving access to quality preschool in Los
Angeles County
 Have funded and supported a network of over
80,000 children with a mix of providers since
inception
 Implementing other efforts to support quality
early learning outside of our direct funding:
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
California Signature Program
Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge
LA County ECE Workforce Consortium

3. LAUP students are more ready for Kindergarten

61% of LAUP children with reported income data came from
families making below $30,000

The majority (at least 70%) of LAUP children who were tested in
2011-12 made significant progress in key areas for Kindergarten
success: vocabulary, math, fine motor skills, and social-emotional
development

76% of English speakers and 93% of Spanish speakers made
significant improvements in math skills

The vocabulary gains made by English learning children
outperformed their national peers

99% of children exhibited a high level of attention required for
success in kindergarten as opposed to the national average of 85%

4. Early learning is a powerful tool

Multi-state study of 5,000 children in state-funded preschool
programs compared to their peers:
44% more math
skills improvement
35% more vocabulary
growth

By age 3, children of middle-class homes hear 30 million more
words than children from low-income families.

By third grade, children who are reading at grade level are four
times more likely to graduate from high school than students who
are not proficient readers.

The long-term positive effects of preschool are especially important
for at-risk children who, without early intervention will often struggle
to overcome an achievement gap that grows with every academic
year.

5. Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF)
 New school finance system based on two
principles:


Schools need more resources to support certain
students
Schools need more flexibility with the use of
resources
 New autonomy and responsibility for districts:


Create a Local Control Accountability Plan to
demonstrate how new resources will help achieve
each of 8 state priorities
Must develop strategies for English Language
Learners, low-income and foster youth students.

6. Early Learning Meets Priorities
Student Achievement
 Performance on standardized tests
 Share of ELs that become English proficient
 Shareof students that are college and career ready
Parental Involvement
 Promotion of parental participation
Student Engagement
 High school dropout/graduation rates
 Chronic absenteeism rates
Other Student Outcomes
 Other indicators of student performance in required
areas of study.
Basic Services
School Climate
Implementation of
Common Core Standards
Course Access

7. Potential ECE Uses for LCFF Dollars
Serve more children
• Hire staff
• Purchase materials
• Repurpose facilities
Classroom quality
• Participate in Quality Rating and
Improvement System and/or
coaching
• Improve teacher : child ratios
• Professional development
• Parental involvement opportunities
Pre-K – 3rd grade
transition/articulation
• Joint professional development
• Align goals and metrics
Community-based
preschools coordination
• Co-host parent engagement
activities
• Align goals and metrics

8. Invest Now, Save Later
 Investing in high quality early education impacts
student achievement and several state
priorities.
 However, investment also has a positive
budgetary impact for school districts:


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Reduce cost of special education
Reduce cost of remedial education
Reduce cost of grade retention
 Long term investment in quality preschool for all
four year olds will save the state-wide K-12
system over $1 billion annually.
Barnett, W. Steven, Ph.D. “Expanding Access to Quality Pre-K is Sound Public Policy.”
National Institute for Early Education Research. Rutger, The State University of New Jersey, Dec 2013.

9. LA County School Districts and Preschool
 LAUP funds over 27 school districts in Los Angeles
County serving preschool children.
 The school districts deliver direct services and
LAUP provides quality and technical support.
 School districts in LA County have prioritized quality
early learning and have seen an increase in third
grade STAR scores as a result.
 Impactful stories: Lennox and Lynwood Unified
School Districts

10. Districts need to meet own needs
 Stakeholder Engagement

Find ways to reach out to parents of preschoolers.
Children entering kindergarten next year will start from
day one with the new LCFF regulations.
 LCAP provides a plan for three years

Districts can create a three plan that includes increase
investment in and commitment to early learning over
time.
 Districts need to prioritize early learning.

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SB 837, Kindergarten Readiness Act, hasn’t passed yet
President’s proposal for early learning hasn’t won
bipartisan support
 LAUP and our partners are here to help!