Fountain Valley trustees get midyear LCAP update; district cites $2.5M boost and improving attendance

Fountain Valley — At its Jan. 12 meeting, the Fountain Valley School District Board heard a midyear update on the 2025–26 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), including a roughly $2.5 million increase in resources and early performance metrics that district staff described as encouraging.

District presenter Dr. (name as introduced) told the board the budget picture “improved from the time we came and brought it to you in June” and cited about “$2,500,000 more money” that largely came through a Student Success and Professional Development Law grant, plus slightly higher state and federal allocations tied to enrollment and attendance.

Why it matters: LCAP ties spending to district goals for student achievement, support for English learners and students with disabilities, family engagement, school climate, and facilities. The midyear report is the staff check‑in on whether planned actions are funded and on track.

District leaders described the status of each LCAP goal as mostly on pace. Presenters said all 10 action items tied to the student achievement goal were on track. For special populations the district reported planned expenditures and noted work under way to expand gifted‑and‑talent identification, with testing slated for spring.

On performance metrics, the director of educational services reported that 68 percent of third graders met the district’s FNP end‑of‑year assessment milestone and cited a 76 percent proficiency figure previously reported in local coverage for third‑grade CAASPP results. The district also highlighted a 20 percent reclassification rate among eligible English learners, a parent‑conference participation rate near 95 percent, and an average daily attendance rate the presenters described as roughly 96 percent. Staff said chronic absenteeism has dropped to about 7.5 percent, down from roughly 15 percent three years ago.

Trustees commended the fidelity of assessment administration and the breadth of parent outreach. One trustee noted a small overrun (about $1,000) on an attendance line and emphasized that district leaders are setting aside funds for long‑term maintenance and safety supplies.

Next steps: Staff said they will continue LCAP site meetings, conduct a “roadshow” of school visits and community input, and return a final recommended LCAP and aligned budget to the board in June.

Quote: “We are on time, and we are on budget,” the director of educational services said, summarizing the presentation.

What’s next: The district will continue public LCAP engagement this spring and bring the finalized LCAP and its funded actions to the board in June.