Download this episode’s companion brief: Equity Multiplier.
The Equity Multiplier—a new $300 million component of California’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF)—is rolling out this school year. Guests Natalie Wheatfall-Lum and Sara Pietrowski join host Jason Willis to describe how the Equity Multiplier works, how it came about, and related changes to the state’s accountability system, including what districts must now report in their Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs).
They delve into the broader policy issues and implications of targeting LCFF funds directly to the school sites whose student populations generate them, helping local education agencies better identify and address all their students’ needs. They also discuss the importance of focusing on Black student achievement in particular.
The Equity Multiplier is one piece of a larger set of changes to California’s accountability system enacted as part of the 2023-24 state budget. Eligibility for the additional funding is based on two indicators at school sites: prior year non-stability rates of greater than 25 percent and prior year socioeconomically disadvantaged pupil rates greater than 70 percent. Like LCFF, the funds flow from the state to school districts or other local education agencies; however, in a shift from LCFF, Equity Multiplier funds must be used at the school sites that generate them.
About Our Guests
Natalie Wheatfall-Lum, J.D., serves as Director of TK-12 Policy at The Education Trust-West. Since 2014, she has supported the organization’s policy research, analysis, and position development, primarily in K-12 equitable funding and accountability. Before working in education policy, Natalie practiced law, gaining experience in various civil rights issues, including LGBTQ equal rights, fair housing, and immigration.
Sara Pietrowski serves as Policy Director for the California State Board of Education, where she has supported the board’s work of developing an accountability and continuous improvement system for more than six years, including the LCAP, California School Dashboard, and Statewide System of Support. She previously served in the Sacramento City Unified School District, where she led the district’s data dashboard development and coordinated LCAP and improvement science efforts.
About Our Host
Jason Willis serves as WestEd’s Director of Strategic Resource Planning and Implementation. He is a former chief business official in several California school districts.
Related Resources
- Equity Multiplier page, CDE website and 2023-24 First Principal Apportionment of EM funds
- Supporting the African-American Learner: Guide for Transforming Beliefs, Systems and Practices for Black Students
- Evaluation of California’s Differentiated Assistance, WestEd
- More To Be Done: California’s LCFF After A Decade, Education Trust-West
Budgeting for Educational Equity is presented by CASBO and WestEd. The series is written and produced by Paul Richman and Jason Willis. Original music and sound by Tommy Dunbar. Alyssa Perez and Hannah Jarmolowski at WestEd provides research and develop the written briefs that go along with each episode.
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