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LCFF Gap Funding

Information on historical Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) gap budget allocations and percentage factors since 2013–14, the inception of LCFF, through 2018-19, the last year of the LCFF transition period.

Gap funding represents the amount of new funding allocated each year through the Budget Act to school districts and charter schools to reduce the difference between their prior year funding level and their LCFF Target. The gap percentage is calculated by the California Department of Education (CDE) and becomes final as of the Second Principal Apportionment (P-2) certification (see Actual Gap Certified by CDE table below). For informational purposes, the Department of Finance (DOF) estimated gap funding percentage for fiscal years 2013–14 to 2018–19 are provided in the DOF Gap Estimates table below.

Note: Information on cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) percentages is located on the LCFF COLA web page.

Actual Gap Certified by CDE

Actual Gap Certified by CDE Preliminary at P-1 (February) Actual at P-2 (June)1

FY 2013–14

Not Applicable2

12.001695740%

FY 2014–15

29.272676590%

30.160161660%

FY 2015–16

50.499267630%

52.557615970%

FY 2016–17

54.472126020%

56.076799800%

FY 2017–18

41.862421700%

42.966442730%

FY 2018–193

100.00%

100.00%

DOF Gap Funding Estimates

DOF Gap Estimates Governor’s Budget
(January of the preceding FY)		 May Revise
(May of the preceding FY)		 Enacted Budget4
(June of the preceding FY)

FY 2013–14

Not Applicable2

Not Applicable2

$2,067,140,000
11.78%

FY 2014–15

$4,471,970,000
28.05%

$4,471,970,000
28.06%

$4,721,970,000
29.56%

FY 2015–16

$4,048,448,000
32.19%

$6,175,703,000
53.08%

$5,994,417,000
51.52%

FY 2016–17

$2,824,669,000
49.08%

$2,978,789,000
54.84%

$2,941,980,000
54.18%

FY 2017–18

$744,385,000
23.67%

$1,386,620,000
43.97%

$1,362,383,000
43.19%

FY 2018–19

100%

100%

100%3

1While the dollar amount an LEA receives in gap funding can change after P-2, the gap percentage will not change.
2LCFF was not enacted until the 2013–14 Budget Act; entitlement calculations per LCFF were implemented at 2013–14 P-2.
3Section 145 of Chapter 32 (Assembly Bill 1808), Statutes of 2018, provides gap funding in 2018–19 equal to the total Statewide LCFF Need for school districts and charter schools resulting in gap funding of 100 percent.
4This was the estimate provided as of the Budget Act.

Questions:   Principal Apportionment Section | PASE@cde.ca.gov | 916-324-4541
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, February 7, 2023