Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Funding Terms

Definitions of words used in funding-related documents.
The glossary of funding terms is designed to help California Department of Education (CDE) clients understand terms used in funding-related documents. Whenever possible, the definitions are drawn from guidance published by the CDE, the California Department of Finance, and the U.S. Department of Education.

Apportionment — Synonymous with allocation. The term is used primarily in situations in which funding is distributed to local educational agencies (LEAs) based on a statutory formula.

Appropriation — Funds set aside by formal legislative action for a specific use (see also Budget Act).

Assurances — Requirements that applicants agree to observe as a condition of receiving funding.

Available funding (Web term) — Funding for which application procedures and related materials (requests for applications, proposals, data, or submissions) have been issued or posted.

Budget Act — Annual statute appropriating funds to California state departments or agencies for expenditures on specified purposes.

Certification — Statement, signed or endorsed by an authorized representative of the receiving agency as a prerequisite for receiving funds, that the proposed recipient (1) meets or will adhere to certain conditions (i.e., "assurances") or (2) will undertake or not undertake certain actions.

Contract — Legally binding agreement between CDE and another entity, public or private, for the provision of goods or services.

Entitlement — Amount of funds that an applicant should receive under a statutory formula. The actual amount of funding apportioned may be less than the entitlement if insufficient funds are available.

Funding program (Web term) — Grant, contract, or apportionment administered by CDE.

Grant — Award of financial assistance for a specified time frame. Some grants are awarded based on a competition, and others are allocated according to a formula. CDE uses grants to distribute funds if LEAs or other entities (not CDE) are the direct beneficiaries of the funding.

Grant award notification — Official document signed by an authorized official stating the amount, terms, and conditions of the grant award.

Reimbursement — Payment for costs already incurred in the provision of services.

Request for applications, data, proposals, and submissions — Documents setting forth application procedures and related materials for a funding program.

Questions:   Funding Master Plan | fmp@cde.ca.gov | 916-322-5111
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Recently Posted in Funding
  • California Educators Together Funding Results (added 02-Oct-2026)
    Proposed funding results for fiscal year 2026-27
  • Res-26: Title I, Part A (updated 01-Oct-2026)
    Funding results page for Title I, Part A for fiscal year 2026-27.
  • Res-26: Title III, Imm (updated 01-Oct-2026)
    Funding results web page for Title III, Immigrant Students for fiscal year 2026-27.
  • CCAP Grant 26-27 RFA (updated 01-Oct-2026)
    2026-27 College and Career Access Pathways Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Request for Applications.
  • Res-26: CCSPP (updated 30-Sep-2026)
    Funding results web page for the California Community Schools Partnership Program for fiscal year 2026-27.

  • Request for Applications (updated 30-Sep-2026)
    Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title II.
  • Res-25: CSI LEA (updated 29-Sep-2026)
    Funding results page for the Comprehensive Support and Improvement Local education Agency program for fiscal year 2025-26.
  • Res-24: CSI LEA (updated 29-Sep-2026)
    Funding results page for the Comprehensive Support and Improvement Local education Agency program for fiscal year 2024-25.
  • Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program 2026 Results (updated 29-Sep-2026)
    Funding results for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grant which is for elementary schools to provide an additional, free fresh fruit or vegetable snack to students during the school day.
  • 2026 SUN Bucks POM Results (added 29-Sep-2026)
    SUN Bucks (Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer [EBT]) Plan of Operations and Management (POM) results to help support the work associated with Universal Benefits Applications (UBA) processing.