SF Board of Education approves budget for 2018-19 school year

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SF Board of Education approves budget for 2018-19 school year

Press Release

San Francisco (June 27, 2018) - The San Francisco Board of Education unanimously approved the $889,600,221 total operating budget for the 2018-19 school year, an increase of more than $26 million from the previous year. 

The district’s budget reflects an increase in funding from the state -- for the first time since its implementation in 2013, the Local Control Funding Formula -- California’s primary source of state education dollars -- is fully funded. This accounts for $525.6 million into the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)’s unrestricted general fund, which is $18.5 million more from the LCFF than last year. 

However, ongoing cost increases continue to outpace revenue growth for the SFUSD. That has led to a 5.25% reduction to all centralized services (equal to approximately $11 million in reductions to services funded by the unrestricted general fund).  

“We are prioritizing raises for teachers and expanded programs for our highest need students,” said SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews. “We are very glad that funding from the state has increased but it’s important to note that school districts in California are just back at pre-recession funding levels even though the cost of doing business has increased considerably, especially here in San Francisco.” 

The majority of SFUSD’s total operating budget is comprised of the Unrestricted General Fund ($579 million, or 65%), most of which funds school-based supports, as well as salary and benefit costs, including increases. 

The next biggest portion of the budget, the restricted general fund, amounts to 24% of the overall budget. Restricted funds are only to be spent on designated purposes, such as the Public Education Enrichment Fund (PEEF) which primarily pays for sports, arts and libraries, and the Quality Teacher & Education Act (QTEA) which helps fund increased compensation and professional learning for educators. 

About the Local Control Funding Formula

California’s LCFF, enacted in 2013–14, replaced the previous kindergarten through 12th grade (K–12) revenue limit funding methodology, and gave school districts serving high-needs students more funds in the form of supplemental and concentration grants, based on the number and percentages of high-needs students they serve. School districts are also required to adopt Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs), which are plans to show how districts will spend the supplemental funds to support their high-needs students. Each year, parents, students, labor partners, and community members are given the opportunity to provide feedback and help shape SFUSD’s LCAP. 

SFUSD must send its approved budget to the state by July 1. 

Page updated on 06/27/18

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