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SDLA Compliance Resource

Adopt the 2026–27 LCAP and Annual Update

An operational guide to the governing-body adoption step in the 2026–27 LCAP accountability cycle.

  • LCAP
  • Governing-body adoption
  • 2026–27
Date(s)July 1, 2026
Applies toCalifornia school districts and the reviewing authorities or partners responsible for this step; confirm charter and COE pathways separately

In Plain Language: After the public hearing, adopt the completed LCAP and annual update at a public meeting held after—not during—the hearing meeting, in conjunction with budget adoption.

Why this matters

Adoption converts months of engagement and planning into the LEA’s public operating commitment. The plan, budget, local indicators, and implementation responsibilities must agree.

Primary ownership

Primary owner: superintendent/LCAP lead and governing-board office. Partners: business services, program owners, advisory committees, data leads, communications, and legal counsel.

From completed plan to locked adoption files: the SDLA ITO workflow

The LCAP and annual update are adopted at a public meeting held after the hearing meeting, in conjunction with budget adoption. This SDLA ITO (Input, Transformation, Output) graphic shows how the completed LCAP, budget schedules, and consultation records become the adopted LCAP, the board record, and the locked handoff files.

SDLA ITO: ten steps from the completed LCAP, budget schedules, and consultation records, through the final crosswalk, reconciliation, adoption timing, and the LCAP-first vote, to the adopted LCAP, the board record, and the locked handoff files.
Read down each column, then move to the next: Input identifies what to collect; Transformation covers the final crosswalk, reconciliation, adoption timing, and the LCAP-first vote; Output covers the adopted LCAP, the board record, and the locked handoff files. Adopt the LCAP before the budget.

Open the full-size workflow graphic

Operational workflow

  1. Complete a final statutory and template crosswalk.
  2. Reconcile goals, actions, expenditures, contributing services, and budget schedules.
  3. Confirm hearing-to-adoption separation and publish the adoption agenda/package.
  4. Adopt the LCAP before adopting the budget and record the vote.
  5. Lock the adopted files and launch submission, posting, and implementation handoffs.

Implementation pathway

Calendar
Reconcile
Review
Act
Retain

Evidence to retain

  • Final adopted LCAP and annual update
  • Agenda, minutes, resolution, and vote
  • Budget-to-LCAP reconciliation
  • Consultation and response records
  • Locked submission and implementation files

Official guidance and help

Source review completed August 30, 2026. Verify the current CDE template, instructions, statutory dates, reviewing-authority procedures, and local meeting calendar before acting.