A key responsibility of a board of education is to hold the system accountable and ensure that progress is made toward achieving goals. As summer comes around, board members might feel that their duties regarding the critically important Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) are “on a break” with school out and families on vacation. However, California trustees are required to approve their district’s LCAP annually by July 1. Though the steps leading up to approval typically take place in the spring months in advance of June graduations, eighth-grade promotions and other end-of-year activities, strategically minded boards recognize that understanding and supporting both the LCAP’s preparation and its implementation is a year-round job.

Governance teams have become familiar with the timetable of having district staff gather community input before staff’s initial reporting to boards in March. In April, district leaders (including trustees) should be deeply engaged in ensuring public input is sought, and many local educational agencies schedule specific LCAP study sessions at this point. A final draft LCAP presented to the board in May is well-positioned for approval in June, in time for the July 1 deadline. Trustee mindfulness about the way the LCAP supports student achievement can, and should, be continuous.

Questions to consider as boards strive to monitor their LCAPs year-round are:

• How are staff reports routinely incorporated into the board agenda throughout the year?
• What steps are taken to make sure board members can thoughtfully analyze and fully understand data gathered during the multi-phase LCAP process?
• Do engagement strategies used to gather community input get periodic examination as to their equity and effectiveness?
• How do we ensure outreach to underrepresented groups is robust and ongoing, aiming to overcome challenges parents face, such as meeting time and place, and language barriers?
• What tactics does our district use to ensure student voices are listened to and genuinely heard concerning LCAP’s priorities?

Board members should be guided in their role in the LCAP by utilizing the sample Governance Calendar at bit.ly/3oIBitq, a tool highlighting the key tasks contributing to good governance. The board president, with the board, may track progress by ensuring the LCAP goals are placed on the agenda regularly. Vigilance throughout the 12 months of the year ensures that the promises and progress articulated in the plan are given the best possible chance to improve student learning outcomes.