The LCAP Gap: When Budget and Goals Don't Match
The LCAP is supposed to connect goals for students to the resources being committed to reach them. In practice, those two halves of the document often tell completely different stories because the people who build the vision and the people who manage the budget rarely work closely enough together. That disconnect is the real reason most LCAPs fall short. This session is built around fixing that. The presenters will get practical about how to align goals and budget so they actually reinforce each other, share tools that make cross-functional communication easier, and work through what it looks like when the process is done well. Whether setting strategy or watching the spreadsheet (or wrangling both!), participants will leave with concrete steps to make their next LCAP cycle smoother and more meaningful.
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Presented by
Jillayne Antoon River Charter Schools
Marie Arce Director of Client Finance Charter Impact
Marie Arce is a seasoned finance leader with deep expertise in financial management, planning, and operations across the public education and nonprofit sectors. She has successfully overseen multimillion-dollar budgets, secured major grants and loans, and led financial planning efforts that support long-term sustainability. Before joining Charter Impact, Marie served as Director of Finance at Amethod Public Schools, managing business operations for a $45 million charter management organization. She previously held finance roles with UU Justice Ministry of California and Mt. Diablo UU of Walnut Creek, building expertise in audit management, compliance, and policy development. Marie excels at translating complex financial data into actionable insights and fostering cross-functional collaboration to drive efficiency and accountability. She also serves as Finance Committee Chair for the East Bay Regional Parks District and advises the City of Antioch. Her passion for empowering mission-driven organizations makes her a trusted financial partner and strategic thought leader.
Ryan Cosens Educator Planning Partnerships, LLC
Lindsey Dooley Director of Client Finance Charter Impact
Dr. Amanda Fernandez Chief Fiscal Officer Clarksville Charter School
Dr. Amanda Fernandez is an accomplished education leader with experience across K–12 districts, county offices, charter schools, and higher education. Throughout her career, she has led cross-functional teams, overseen instructional and operational departments, and developed programs that improved student achievement/educator development. She played a key role with a statewide CCTC task force to design innovative credentialing pathways. In her current role as Chief Fiscal Officer overseeing all Business and Operations for three charter schools which includes strategic budgeting, financial planning, compliance, technology, and LCAP. Dr. Fernandez is passionate about building cultures of trust, continuous learning, and sustainable leadership.
Handouts
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