Since 1990, public school funding in California has come mainly from the state budget. The Local Control Funding Formula is a community driven equity-based formula that determines per-pupil spending and has been in use since 2013.

The average per-pupil spending in 2021 was $14,900 in California. The per-pupil spending average in GUSD in 2022-23 was just under $12,000.

Consider that the average private school tuition in Los Angeles is between $16,000 and $22,000 per year (with many top-tier private schools hovering around $45,000/year) and you understand what our public schools achieve on such limited resources.

Recent studies suggest that the LCFF is helping to close the achievement gap for our most vulnerable students, especially students living in poverty and English Language Learners.

Because California’s (and GUSD’s) main funding source is tax revenue, school funding is affected by boom and bust cycles.

The passage of Prop 13 in 1978 also granted corporations a huge loophole - many of them are still paying 1978 property taxes despite raking in billions.