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Charter School Funding

Provides essential information about state general purpose and state and federal categorical funding to charter school authorizers and administrators.

For most charter schools, the largest source of revenue is the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which are unrestricted funds received through a process known as the Principal Apportionment, a series of apportionment calculations that adjust the flow of state funds throughout the fiscal year as information becomes known. Charter schools receive Principal Apportionment funds through a combination of in-lieu of property taxes and state funds. New and expanding charter schools may also receive funding through the Charter School Special Advance.

This web page is intended to provide information to charter school administrators and authorizers as it pertains to state general purpose and state and federal categorical funding. For information beyond this scope, please see the Charter Schools web page.

Apportionments for Charter Schools

Principal Apportionment

The Principal Apportionment is a series of apportionment calculations that adjust the flow of state funds throughout the fiscal year as information becomes known. Charter schools report data using the Principal Apportionment Data Collection Web Application.

Continuing charter schools will have their funding calculated three times each fiscal year in the Principal Apportionment.

Apportionment Month of Certification Payment Period
Advance Apportionment* July July – January
First Principal (P-1) Apportionment February February – May
Second Principal (P-2) Apportionment June June

*Does not include newly operational charter schools.

Charter schools receive Principal Apportionment funds through a combination of in-lieu of property taxes and state funds, with state funding composed of funds from the State School Fund and Education Protection Account. See the Principal Apportionment Payment Schedule for more information relating to the payments from the State School Fund.

More information about the Principal Apportionment and apportionment certification documents by fiscal year and period are available at the Principal Apportionment web page.

Charter School Special Advance

To begin the flow of state funding for new charter schools and to provide funding for additional pupils in expanding charter schools, an alternative data collection system, apportionment process, and payment schedule have been established. The alternative advance apportionment, called the Charter School Special Advance, provides new and expanding charter schools with LCFF state aid for the months covered by the Advance Principal Apportionment (July through January).

Apportionment Month of Certification Payment Period
First Charter School Special Advance September July – November
Second Charter School Special Advance December December – January

See the Special Advance tab on this web page for more information on the data collection process, deadlines, and apportionment certification documents.

Education Protection Account

Additionally, new and continuing charter schools receive an apportionment from the Education Protection Account (EPA). This is a quarterly apportionment of funds, paid at the end of September, December, March, and June of each fiscal year. The EPA web page provides information on local educational agencies’ EPA entitlements, the resulting impact to state funding, and frequently asked questions.

Categorical Programs

Charter schools may also be eligible to receive allocations and apportionments not paid through the Principal Apportionment for various federal and state programs, such as Title I, Mandate Block Grant, and the California Lottery. Additional details can be found on the Categorical Programs web page.

Questions: Principal Apportionment Section | pase@cde.ca.gov | 916-324-4541 
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, September 10, 2024
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