What Black Voters Think 2023
The Black In School Coalition has released the results of the 3rd annual "What Black Voters Think" poll. This poll of 1200 registered Black California voters was delivered over landlines, cell phones, SMS-to-online, as well as an online panel. Specific quotas were determined to ensure a representative sample of respondents from California. Calls were only made to registered voters identified in the California voter file and online panel respondents were screened for vote registration as well. Potential respondents were screened so that only Black voters participated in the survey. The sample was stratified and weighted to be representative of Black voters within California.
Following the money: California's Equity Multiplier
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed the 2023-2024 budget which includes an updated version of his proposed Equity Multiplier. This newest iteration of the Equity Multiplier adds a stability indicator requirement to the formula. If you're interested in how the Equity Multiplier will fund various LEAs take a look below.
ABOUT THE
BLACK IN SCHOOL COALITION
Established in 2022 during the introduction of AB 2774 (Weber), the Black in School Coalition works relentlessly toward an educational system that is funded and structured so that California’s Black students will have full access to a high quality 21st century education and will graduate from our public schools fully prepared for success in college and career.
We are a statewide advocacy coalition consisting of organizations from all parts of the education community including teachers, administrators, local school district and county board of education trustees, parents, civil rights, and faith groups.
Members of our coalition come together around the goal of improving academic and social outcomes for Black students and promoting equitable educational policy.
ABOUT AB 2774
AB 2774 would've fixed a fundamental flaw in the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) by creating a new supplemental grant for California’s lowest-performing subgroup of students not currently receiving funding, which continue to be African American students. AB 2774 was authored by Assemblymembers Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) and Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) and was sponsored by the Fortune School of Education.
The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) was enacted in 2013 and was designed to be a more equitable system of funding, with the goal of providing additional funding for the highest-needs students. Base grants, concentration grants, and supplemental grants were created to provide additional funding and accountability to Lead Educational Agencies (LEAs) including school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to provide extra support for high-needs students. These subgroups of students include English Language Learners, low-income students, and foster/homeless youth.
Most recently available data from the California Department of Education show that African American students continue to be the lowest-performing subgroup with 70% not meeting English Language Arts Standards and 84% not meeting Math Standards.
AB 2774 was unanimously supported in the State Assembly and Senate but was shelved by the primary author at Governor Gavin Newsom's request.
HOW ARE CALIFORNIA'S STUDENTS PERFORMING?
MATH
SCIENCE
LOW-INCOME BLACK
LOW-INCOME WHITE
NON-LOW-INCOME BLACK
NON-LOW-INCOME WHITE
Approximately 80,000 African American students or just over a quarter are not receiving additional supplemental funding or accountability through the LCFF. Unfunded African American students are the only subgroup performing below the statewide average on ELA and Math that is not already receiving an LCFF supplement. That is to say that while the entirety of the current subgroups in the unduplicated pupil count receives supplemental funding, only a portion of the lowest-performing subgroup realizes this benefit.
THESE STUDENTS NEED EQUITABLE FUNDING NOW!
Promotes Academic Growth
Supports African American Students for College and Career-Readiness
Drives Equitable Education Funding for African American Students
MEMBERS OF THE
BLACK IN SCHOOL COALITION
FORTUNE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
ELITE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
A BLACK EDUCATION NETWORK
BLACK STUDENTS OF CALIFORNIA UNITED
CHILDREN NOW
EDUCATION TRUST - WEST
NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK, Western Region
NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK, Sacramento
NAACP, SAN BERNARDINO CHAPTER
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN PARENTS & YOUTH
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT COUNCIL
ALPHA COMMUNITY EDUCATION INITIATIVE
NATIONAL COALITION OF 100 BLACK WOMEN SACRAMENTO
BLACK AMERICAN POLITICAL ASSOCIATION OF CA, San Diego
BLU EDUCATION FOUNDATION
CENTER FOR POWERFUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SACRAMENTO BLACK PARALLEL SCHOOL BOARD
SHE POWER
WHICH LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES WILL BENEFIT?
An estimated 785 districts will gain new funding under this proposal, providing an estimated $400 million to unfunded African American students. Below are the top 10 districts and the estimated funds generated by this legislation if passed.
FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR DISTRICT WILL GAIN
In the Tableau below, first select your county, then the school district, and if desired, your specific school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about LCFF and how AB 2774(Weber) can help serve African American students across the state of California
What is the Local Control Funding Formula?
The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) was enacted in 2013 and was a complete restructure of education funding in California. With the Local Control Funding Formula, three of California’s highest needs student populations receive supplemental funding for additional support: English Language Learners, low-income students, and Foster or Homeless Youth. All of California’s public schools are held to higher levels of accountability to improve the academic performance of these subgroups. Despite chronic underperformance, African American students are not identified as a high needs population for funding.
How much additional funding would this result in?
We estimate that approximately 80,000 additional African American students would generate additional funding. These are African American students who are not currently already receiving an LCFF supplement through being low-income, English Language Learners, or foster/homeless youth. This proposal would generate approximately $400 million in additional supplemental grant funds to support students in the lowest-performing subgroup not already receiving an LCFF supplement.
How is the lowest performing subgroup identified in this proposal?
The Superintendent of Public Instruction would be required to annually identify the lowest-performing subgroup statewide. Currently, this subgroup is African American students. This excludes subgroups that already generate supplemental funding: English Language Learners, low-income students, and homeless/foster youth. This also excludes Special Education students since they are specifically funded.
What if the lowest performing subgroup changes?
If the current lowest-performing subgroup increases its performance above the next lowest performing subgroup, that subgroup would generate additional supplemental funding. The original subgroup would continue to be grandfathered into the formula and would continue to receive supplemental funds until it meets or exceeds the highest performing subgroup in the state.