RUSD Asks for Community Input on Educational Priorities for Local Control Accountability Plan

ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – MARCH 13, 2014 – The Rowland Unified School District (RUSD) is seeking input from the community on the educational priorities to be included in its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), which ensures that funding is targeted to the needs of all students in RUSD. Community members are encouraged to take part in the LCAP Survey available Monday, March 17 - March 31, 2014. To participate in the online survey (also available in Chinese and Spanish), the community can visit the “Your Voice” section of the District website www.RowlandSchools.org and on every school website. Hard copies will also be available at each school site.     

            California school districts now have the flexibility to prioritize resources in order to meet the specific needs of its student populations with a new funding formula. The new method of funding public schools is called the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). The LCFF has been passed by state legislation to allow local insight and meaningful conversations to take place between parents, employees and the community about their schools. RUSD’s LCAP advisory process began on March 6, 2014 when 25 stakeholder representatives met to receive an overview of the LCFF and LCAP. The stakeholder representatives included representation from PTA, community members, student representatives, teachers, principals, District English Learner Advisory Council, GATE Advisory Council, labor union representatives, and District staff. Materials shared at the meeting can be found on the District website www.RowlandSchools.org under Local Control Funding Formula – Unified for Excellence.

            The Rowland Unified LCAP Advisory Committee will review the survey results and use the information as they develop the draft of the Local Control Accountability Plan. Stakeholders’ recommendations will be compiled in a report that will be provided to the Board of Education. After a public hearing, the governing Board of Education must review and approve the RUSD Local Control Accountability Plan in June, 2014.