Statewide social justice campaign #SchoolsNotPrisons held its first event in Merced, Calif. on July 8, bringing nearly 300 people out in support of dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline.
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.
