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District weighs fee‑based option for after‑school programs as state funding rules change
Summary
Ventura Unified staff outlined a potential sliding‑scale fee for non‑unduplicated pupils in expanded learning (ELOP) programs to stabilize revenue after a state budget proposal would expand districts’ obligations to serve all students who request extended‑learning slots. Trustees asked for detailed financial scenarios and partner consultations.
Expanded learning staff presented a detailed update on after‑school programming (ASUS, ELOP, PEAK) and described a funding challenge prompted by a recent state budget proposal. Under the current ELOP model, districts are paid based on unduplicated pupil counts and are classified as rate‑one or rate‑two districts; staff said a proposed change lowering the rate‑one threshold from 75 percent unduplicated pupils to 55 percent would obligate the district to provide access to all requesting students and increase the program’s operational scope.
Dr. Laurel Daw described program quality standards, current funding sources (ASUS attendance funding and ELOP apportionment) and the district’s partnerships with YMCA, Catalyst Kids and other providers. Staff proposed exploring a legally permissible sliding‑scale fee for non‑unduplicated families so the district can sustain services without cutting program quality or losing partner capacity. Trustees and staff discussed consequences for community providers, staffing ratios, facility constraints, and potential undercutting of long‑standing partners if district fees are significantly lower than private providers.
Trustees requested impact scenarios (student counts, revenue estimates, sliding‑scale models), site visits for board members and a follow‑up plan timed to state budget confirmation. Staff emphasized that unduplicated pupils would continue to receive free access and that any fee model would be designed to recover costs rather than generate surplus revenue.
What happens next: Staff will finalize financial scenarios, engage partners and return to the board with a recommended approach once the state budget and apportionment rules are confirmed.
