Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant – Overview

Purpose

The Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant (LREBG) provides funding to county offices of education, school districts, and charter schools for learning recovery initiatives through the 2027–28 school year that, at minimum, support academic learning recovery and staff and pupil social and emotional well-being.

Program History

Program Implementation

Section 2 of Assembly Bill (AB) 182 (Chapter 53, Statutes of 2022), as amended by Section 15 of AB 185 (Chapter 571, Statutes of 2022), added California Education Code (EC) Section 32526, establishing the Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant and appropriating one-time funding in the amount of $7.9 billion for fiscal year (FY) 2022–23.

Reduction in Funding

As part of the 2023–24 State Budget, the $7.9 billion appropriated in EC Section 32526(a)(1) was reduced to $6.8 billion, resulting in a 14.3 percent reduction for all LEAs that received funds in the prior year. The net reduction of $1.1 billion in EC Section 32526, added by Section 16 of Senate Bill (SB) 114 (Chapter 48, Statutes of 2023), includes the appropriations added in Item 6100-485 of the Budget Act of 2023 (Chapter 12, Statutes of 2023) and Provision 4 of Item 6100-488, added in Section 199 of AB 102 (Chapter 38, Statutes of 2023).

Restoration of Funding

Subdivision (h) of EC Section 32526, as added by Section 14 of AB 121 (Chapter 8, Statutes of 2025), restores one-time funding in the amount of $378.65 million to be allocated to local education agencies (LEAs) operating in FY 2025–26 pursuant to the allocation methodology described below. In addition, AB 121 added intent language in subdivision (g) of EC Section 32526 to restore $378.65 million per year for FYs 2026–27 and 2027–28. The California Department of Education (CDE) advises LEAs to plan accordingly as the intent language does not guarantee that the funds will be appropriated during those years.

Allocations and Apportionments

Allocation Methodology

Pursuant to EC Section 32526(b), LREBG funds are allocated on a per-unit basis based on each eligible LEA’s average daily attendance (ADA) for kindergarten and grades 1 through 12 as of FY 2021–22 Second Principal (P-2) Apportionment certification, multiplied by its 2021–22 unduplicated pupil percentage calculated pursuant to Section 2574 or 42238.02, as applicable. Only LEAs operating in FY 2025–26 with FY 2021–22 P-2 ADA for kindergarten and grades 1 through 12 are eligible to receive the funds appropriated in FY 2025–26.

Apportionments and Offsets

The funds allocated in FY 2022–23 were fully paid to LEAs in October 2022 and March 2023. As a result of the reduction in funding, the CDE recovered overpaid funds via offset to the Principal Apportionment Monthly Payment or by invoice in FY 2023–24, pursuant to EC Section 32526(a)(3), added by Section 6 of Senate Bill 141 (Chapter 194, Statutes of 2023).

As for the funds allocated in FY 2025–26, the CDE will release an apportionment of funds reflecting 100 percent of the allocation for each LEA in October 2025.

For more information regarding the allocations and apportionments, please visit the LREBG Funding web page.

Use of Funds

Pursuant to EC Section 32526(c)(2)(A-F), all funds received for the LREBG shall only be expended for the following purposes:

1. Instructional learning time for the 2022–23 through 2027–28 school years by increasing the number of instructional days or minutes provided during the school year, providing summer school or intersessional instructional programs, or taking any other evidence-based action that increases or stabilizes the amount of instructional time or services provided to pupils, or decreases or stabilizes staff-to-pupil ratios, based on pupil learning needs.
2. Accelerating progress to close learning gaps through the implementation, expansion, or enhancement of evidence-based learning supports, such as:
   1. Tutoring or other one-on-one or small group learning supports provided by certificated or classified staff.
   2. Learning recovery programs and materials designed to accelerate pupil academic proficiency or English language proficiency, or both.
   3. Providing early intervention and literacy programs for pupils in preschool to grade 3, inclusive, including, but not limited to, school library access.
   4. Supporting expanded learning opportunity program services pursuant to Section 46120.
   5. Providing instruction and services consistent with the California Community Schools Partnership Act (Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 8900) of Part 6) regardless of grantee status.
   6. Providing professional development and coaching on either or both of the following:
      1. The 2023 Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.
      2. The English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.
3. Integrating evidence-based pupil supports to address other barriers to learning, and staff supports and training, such as the provision of health, counseling, or mental health services, access to school meal programs, before and after school programs, or programs to address pupil trauma and social-emotional learning, or referrals for support for family or pupil needs.
4. Access to instruction for credit-deficient pupils to complete graduation or grade promotion requirements and to increase or improve pupils’ college eligibility.
5. Additional academic services for pupils, such as diagnostic, progress monitoring, and benchmark assessments of pupil learning.
6. Conducting the needs assessment pursuant to subdivision (d).

For questions regarding allowable use of funds for LREBG, please contact the School Improvement and Support Office at LREBG@cde.ca.gov.

Reporting Requirements

LEAs that received LREBG apportionments were required to report interim expenditures of their apportioned funds by December 15, 2024. Pursuant to EC Section 32526(e)(1), LEAs must make the interim expenditures publicly available on their websites.

If a charter school ceases to operate before December 15, 2029, then the charter must submit a final expenditure report to the CDE within 60 days of the effective date of closure and the CDE will collect any unspent funds.

For more information about the LREBG reporting requirements, please visit the LREBG Program Information web page.

Needs Assessment

Pursuant to EC Section 32526 (d)(1), an LEA that has received LREBG funds shall develop a needs assessment regarding the use and expenditure of funds for 2025–26, 2026–27, and 2027–28 school years.

Pursuant to EC Section 32526 (2), (3), (5), and (6), the LEA shall ensure that the needs assessment:

1. 1. Identifies pupils in the greatest need of learning recovery supports and the interventions that the LEA has selected to address those pupils’ needs pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
      
   2. Includes a review of each of the following metrics:
      
      1. Assessment of academic performance in English language arts and mathematics, including, at least:
         
         1. Across school sites, as applicable, and at the LEA level based on the performance of pupil groups identified in the “Very Low” or “Low” status levels on the California School Dashboard.
            
         2. All pupils within the LEA whose scale score places them in the lowest achievement level or on the low end of the second lowest achievement level.
            
      2. Assessment of chronic absenteeism, including at least:
         
         1. Across school sites, as applicable, and at the LEA level based on the performance of pupil groups identified in the “Very High” or “High” status levels on the California School Dashboard or, for high schools, at comparatively low levels of performance based on reports on the department’s internet website.
            
         2. All pupils reported as chronically absent. LEAs are encouraged to conduct further analysis focused on pupils who have high rates of unexcused absences.
            
2. An LEA may include local metrics as part of the needs assessment that identify pupils who have experienced learning loss or low academic performance, such as formative or interim assessments or similar tools, or evidence of disengagement from school, such as current-year absenteeism data or any metrics the LEA uses to identify pupils in need of reengagement services.
3. An LEA may contract with a third party to develop or otherwise support the development of the needs assessment.
   
4. An LEA is encouraged to contract, or otherwise partner with, community-based organizations with a track record of success in serving high-needs pupils to deliver the services or programs authorized by this section.

For more information about needs assessment and evidence-based resources for the LREBG, please visit the California Statewide System of Support LREBG Resources web page.

Planning Requirement

Pursuant to EC Section 52064.4, LREBG funds shall be included in the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), or the annual update to the plan, for the period of July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. Pursuant to EC Section 52064.4(a) (1−6), the LEA must address the following:

1. Identify all planned expenditures using the funds apportioned pursuant to EC Section 32526 in the LCAP within the description of the associated actions and analysis of the implementation of those planned expenditures in the annual update.
2. Identify at least one metric to monitor the impact of each identified action or service.
3. Articulate the rationale for selecting among the permissible use of funds based on the needs assessment required under subdivision (d) of EC Section 32526, including identification of how the selected actions are expected to address the identified areas of need, based on one or more metrics, and for pupils or schools in the greatest need, as identified by the metrics in the needs assessment.
4. Require the action description to explain how research supports each selected action or service based on the identified area or areas of need set forth in the needs assessment required under subdivision (d) of EC Section 32526.
5. Specify that the requirements in EC Section 52064 for school districts receiving technical assistance pursuant toECSection 52071 include assistance provided pursuant to subdivision (b).
6. For the 2027–28 LCAP, or the annual update to the plan, require the LEA to review the rationale for selecting among the permissible use of funds included in the 2025–26 LCAP, or the annual update to the plan, pursuant to paragraph (3) in order to assess the overall effectiveness of the chosen strategy and whether adjustments to the chosen approach are warranted based on progress shown on the relevant metrics.

For more information about the planning requirements for the LREBG, please visit the LCAP web page to view the related LCAP instructions.

Contacts

Program Questions: School Improvement and Support Office, email: LREBG@cde.ca.gov

Fiscal Questions: Categorical Allocations & Audit Resolutions Office, email: CAAR@cde.ca.gov