Updated each year, LCAPs are a requirement of the state of California under its Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). The school-funding model offers base-level dollars to school district for every student enrolled and additional money for “high-need” students like low-income and foster youth as well as English-language learners.
While each LCAP is meant to include parental input and reflect community ideas on how best to serve each of the three high-need student populations, Merced residents say their voices have traditionally been ignored.
Messages promoting better access to health care, educational opportunities and minority representation among local government bodies also made an appearance but the key issue for many leaders was an end to the criminalization and incarceration of minority communities.