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SDLA Compliance Resource

Decide Whether to Decline the 2026 LCRS Grant Extension

Review the extension’s commitments and, only if declining eligible additional funding, submit the CDE opt-out for the affected sites by September 30, 2026.

  • Curriculum & Instruction
  • English Learner Programs
  • Human Resources
  • Fiscal & Budget
  • Governance & Board Approval
TimingSeptember 30, 2026 — opt-out only
Applies toLEAs eligible for the 2026 additional funding/extension for existing funded schoolsites
Authority and scopeOptional opt-out decision within a state funding process; accepting funds does not require this opt-out submission

In Plain Language: Review the extension’s commitments and, only if declining eligible additional funding, submit the CDE opt-out for the affected sites by September 30, 2026.

Why this matters

A calendar item must not tell accepting recipients to file a form intended to decline funding.

Primary ownership

Superintendent’s office, literacy lead and business services

Required distinctions and controls

  • CDE’s September 2026 CAARO notice states that no action is required if an LEA elects to accept the funding.
  • This decision concerns the 2026 extension/additional funding. Do not substitute the opt-out dates from the original 2022, 2023 or 2025 awards.
  • If considering a change after the deadline, obtain CDE direction. Do not assume a missed opt-out can be corrected through an annual expenditure report.

From extension terms to a documented accept-or-decline decision: the SDLA ITO workflow

The opt-out is only for declining eligible extra funding; accepting needs no submission. This SDLA ITO (Input, Transformation, Output) graphic shows how the eligibility and extension notice, program capacity, and fiscal commitments become the site-level decision, the opt-out receipt if used, and the handoff to program and fiscal owners.

SDLA ITO: eleven steps from the eligibility and extension notice, program capacity, and fiscal commitments, through reviewing commitments, documenting the authorized decision, and submitting the opt-out only if declining, to the site-level decision, the opt-out receipt if used, and the handoff to program and fiscal owners.
Read down each column, then move to the next: Input identifies what to collect; Transformation covers reviewing commitments, documenting the authorized decision, and submitting the opt-out only if declining; Output covers the site-level decision, the opt-out receipt if used, and the handoff to program and fiscal owners. If declining, submit by September 30, 2026.

Open the full-size workflow graphic

Recommended LEA workflow

  1. Confirm eligible sites and extension terms against the CDE allocation and instructions.
  2. Review program capacity, staffing, fiscal commitments and applicable reporting obligations.
  3. Document the authorized decision to accept or decline the affected funding.
  4. If declining, complete the CDE form for the correct sites by the deadline and retain confirmation.
  5. Carry the decision into the grant ledger, program plan and annual-report ownership.

Evidence to retain

  • Eligibility and extension notice
  • Authorized site-level decision
  • Opt-out form/receipt if applicable
  • Program/fiscal handoff

Related calendar resources

Official guidance and help

Return to the Annual Compliance Calendar

Reviewed October 21, 2026. Confirm the current agency instructions, applicable funding year, recipient scope, local policy and final submitted or approved state before acting. Recommended preparation steps support the named requirement and do not create an additional statewide filing deadline.