How Schools are Funded
School Funding Squeezed
Fewer Students, Expiring Programs, and Financial Uncertainty
Many public schools in California and in Sonoma County are facing funding challenges brought about by declining enrollment, the expiration of one-time funding allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and uncertain budgets in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento. Some districts in Sonoma County are closing or considering closing schools or merging campuses, as well as laying off staff to address these challenges.
SCOE has no direct role in closing schools or laying off staff. Those decisions are ultimately made by each district’s elected school board. But the county superintendent and SCOE’s external fiscal team are responsible for monitoring school districts’ budgets and revenue to ensure they can meet their financial commitments for the current school year as well as two subsequent years. This includes assisting in the budgeting process as well as auditing budgeted versus actual revenue and expenditures at several points throughout the school year.
In addition to its fiscal oversight role, SCOE also processes revenue and payroll for all public schools in Sonoma County.
Each District Has a Different Mix of Funds
Public schools in Sonoma County are funded via the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). The formula allocates a base grant for each school district based on average daily attendance (ADA). A grade span adjustment is added to each base grant for students in grades TK-3 and 9-12. Districts and charters are eligible for an additional 20% supplemental grant and some are eligible for 65% concentration grants for each student with a higher level of need. Such students include English learners, children from low-income families, and youth who are experiencing homelessness or are in foster homes.
For the 2024-25 school year, about 17 districts in Sonoma County are community-funded, or basic-aid, districts. These districts receive 100% of their core LCFF funding directly from property taxes, and get to keep any excess local property taxes that exceed the LCFF’s core funding threshold. As a result, their funding is not tied to ADA.