Kern County Office of Education outlines countywide plan to support LCAP development and continuous improvement

Kimberly Graham, assistant superintendent of local, regional and statewide systems of support at the Kern County Office of Education, presented an annual summary report explaining how KCSOS will support the county—s 46 school districts and five charter schools with Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) development, technical assistance and continuous-improvement work.

Graham said the county office—s work centers on three goals: ensuring districts submit approvable LCAPs that align to budgets, providing differentiated technical assistance through assigned management and fiscal analysts, and advancing continuous-improvement supports including data analysis and implementation science tools. "The goal is to utilize the cycle of continuous improvement to provide technical assistance to charter schools and districts based on need," she said.

The presentation listed specific practices: district- and charter-level professional learning on LCAPs; individualized support from KCSOS management and fiscal analysts, SELPA and data teams; systems-wide needs assessments; and sending clarification and approval letters to districts. Graham said the county office reviews board-approved LCAPs and posts them on the County Office website. When asked if any district has ever been denied approval, Graham replied, "We have not had 1 district not approved for an LCAP," adding that some districts have come close and subsequently revised their plans by the Aug. 15 resubmission deadline.

Graham described a separate Direct Technical Assistance process for districts identified as needing support; that collaborative process involves KCSOS staff, the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) and district leaders to produce customized improvement plans. For continuous improvement, she said KCSOS provides professional learning, networking for site and district leaders, and tools to align improvement efforts with LCAP priorities.

Board members asked clarifying questions about eligibility for direct technical assistance, how KCSOS conducts needs assessments, and how KCSOS integrates local indicators and data into improvement planning. The report was informational; no action was required.

The presentation noted KCSOS will approve all LCAPs, including fiscal components, no later than Sept. 15 and will post approval letters and LCAP documents on its website to ensure transparency.

Board members commended the work and asked for follow-up reports and copies of materials referenced during the presentation.