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SDLA Compliance Resource

Complete the Applicable LREBG Needs Assessment

Complete the required evidence-based needs assessment before selecting and implementing the applicable LREBG-funded LCAP actions.

  • LCAP & Accountability
  • Assessment & Testing
  • Attendance & Enrollment
  • Fiscal & Budget
TimingBefore including applicable LREBG funds in the LCAP and spending based on that plan
Applies toLEAs with applicable unexpended/restored LREBG funds, subject to current CDE instructions
Authority and scopeState grant planning condition; a prerequisite rather than a single statewide date

In Plain Language: Complete the required evidence-based needs assessment before selecting and implementing the applicable LREBG-funded LCAP actions.

Why this matters

A generic district priority list does not identify which students and schools need learning-recovery support or justify the chosen investment.

Primary ownership

LCAP lead, assessment/data team and fiscal services, with relevant program/site owners

Required distinctions and controls

  • Review disaggregated academic performance, chronic absence and additional local evidence for the populations in greatest need, using current CDE definitions.
  • CDE permits the required assessment to be part of the regular LCAP needs assessment if it meets the LREBG conditions. A separate county template or approval is not automatically required.
  • CDE’s LCAP instructions exempt LEAs without applicable unexpended funds from the corresponding LREBG needs-assessment/action requirements. Establish applicability before assigning work.

From funding applicability to an approved LREBG needs assessment: the SDLA ITO workflow

The needs assessment comes before the LCAP includes the funds or any spending based on the plan. This SDLA ITO (Input, Transformation, Output) graphic shows how the funding balances and years, metric definitions, and validated disaggregated data become the needs and root-cause analysis, the research and selection rationale, and the approved handoff.

SDLA ITO: eleven steps from the funding balances and years, metric definitions, and validated disaggregated data, through defining populations, finding greatest need, testing interpretation, and selecting actions, to the needs and root-cause analysis, the research and selection rationale, and the approved handoff.
Read down each column, then move to the next: Input identifies what to collect; Transformation covers defining populations, finding greatest need, testing interpretation, and selecting actions; Output covers the needs and root-cause analysis, the research and selection rationale, and the approved handoff. Finish before the funded actions enter the LCAP or are spent.

Open the full-size workflow graphic

Recommended LEA workflow

  1. Resolve applicable balances and funding years with fiscal services.
  2. Define the required metrics and populations and assemble validated, disaggregated data.
  3. Identify students/schools in greatest need, review barriers and test the interpretation with responsible partners.
  4. Document needs, research-supported intervention options and the rationale for selected actions.
  5. Approve the assessment handoff before incorporating funded actions in the LCAP or spending against them.

Evidence to retain

  • Funding-applicability record
  • Metric definitions and validated data
  • Needs/root-cause analysis
  • Research and selection rationale
  • LCAP/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.