Local Control Funding Formula Resources

Instructions to use the LCFF Calculator have been incorporated into the tool. Navigation instructions can be found on the ‘Navigation’ tab. 

To get started with a school district projection, enter the 5-digit district code from the county-district-school (CDS) code on the ‘Assumptions’ tab and estimates for property taxes, enrollment, unduplicated pupil count (UPC) and average daily attendance (ADA) on the ‘District MYP Data’ tab. If any of the schools in the district are eligible for necessary small school (NSS) funding, enter the ADA by school on the District NSS tab. If the district sponsors a charter school, estimate the in-lieu of taxes on the ‘District In-Lieu Taxes’ tab. Then, view the results on the ‘Calculator’ and ‘Summary’ tabs.

To create a charter school projection, enter the 7-digit school code from the CDS code on the ‘Assumptions’ tab and estimates for in-lieu of property taxes, enrollment, unduplicated pupil count and average daily attendance on the ‘Charter MYP Data’ tab. Then, view the results on the ‘Calculator’ and ‘Summary’ tabs.

To create a newly operational charter school projection, do not enter the CDS code on the ‘Assumptions’ tab until the school has been certified at P-1 (February of the first operational year). Instead, enter the school name and first operational year on the ‘Awards – New Charter’ tab. Then, enter estimates for in-lieu of property taxes, enrollment, unduplicated pupil count and average daily attendance on the ‘Charter MYP Data’ tab. View the results on the ‘Calculator’ and ‘Summary’ tabs. Once the school has been certified at P-1, follow instructions to create a charter school projection above.

The LCFF Calculator is updated twice a year, once in the second quarter and once in the third quarter. The second quarter update adds a new fiscal year to generate a 5-year projection and updates the first principal apportionment (P-1), annual principal apportionment (Annual) and annual principal apportionment revision 2 (Annual R2) certification data. The third quarter update incorporates Second Principal Apportionment (P-2), annual principal apportionment revision 1 (Annual R1), annual principal apportionment revision 3 (Annual R3) certification data and changes per the state budget, when applicable.

Additional updates may occur if material errors are found within the tool. Updates will be posted on this page and material updates that affect many agencies will also be distributed via the email list.

The LCFF Calculator is generally not updated for proposals, only for the state budget. However, multiyear cost of living adjustment (COLA) assumptions will be updated after being projected by the Department of Finance. Assumption updates do not receive a new version number because there is no change to the calculation formula and the existing version will yield the same results with manual entry of the assumption.

It is estimated that the California Department of Education (CDE) will release revised certifications for full statewide implementation in February 2020. FCMAT will revise the LCFF Calculator accordingly to stay aligned with the CDE’s certifications.

The LCFF Calculator is password protected to protect the underlying formulas. FCMAT is unable to disperse the password for support reasons. If you think the calculator contains an error and are seeking the password to make the correction, please create a help desk ticket and attach your calculator demonstrating the issue.