'Doing Well in Spite of School': African American Students and California's Local Control Funding Formula

In 2013, the California legislature passed AB 97, or the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), a sweeping bill designed to reform its school funding system. This study's purpose is to determine the early impact of the LCFF on African American high school students and their families. Student data was collected via surveys and focus groups using three of the LCFF's eight priority areas: achievement, engagement, and climate. Results of 96 African American high school students are presented using correlational analysis and thematic coding for this preliminary mixed methods study. The output from this study is expected to assist districts with formulating effective educational policies and designing services to address issues pertinent to the education of African American students.