Consolidated Application (Con App)

The state funds a number of programs that are distributed to school districts through the Consolidated Application.

CDE Websites

Consolidated Application
The Consolidated Application (ConApp) is used by the California Department of Education (CDE) to distribute categorical funds from various state and federal programs to county offices, school districts, and direct-funded charter schools throughout California.

Annually, in June, each local educational agency (LEA) submits the Spring release of the application to document participation in these programs and provide assurances that the district will comply with the legal requirements of each program. Program entitlements are determined by formulas contained in the laws that created the programs.

The Fall release is submitted in October of each year. This will be an opportunity for the various CDE program offices to collect data that is needed before the Winter release is due.

The Winter release of the application is submitted in January of each year and contains the district entitlements for each funded program. Out of each state and federal program entitlement, districts allocate funds for indirect costs of administration, for programs operated by the district office, and for programs operated at schools.

The data collection and reporting cycles:

  • Fall | September-October
  • Winter | December-January
  • Summer | May-June

Federal Program Monitoring (FPM)
The California Department of Education has implemented a compliance monitoring process that includes self-evaluation tools for local educational agencies (LEAs). The goal is to ensure that categorical program funds are being spent in accordance with the law. State oversight is accomplished by annually monitoring one quarter of all LEAs. Schools may be monitored through a CDE visit once every four years.

Single Plan for Student Achievement
Each school is required to develop a Single Plan for Student Achievement that is aligned to the district LEA Plan as required by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Related resources and information are available from CDE’s Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) website.

Site Councils
School Site Councils are responsible for development, monitoring, and revision of the Single Plan for Student Achievement, including a budget that provides for the expenditure of all state and federal funds that are allocated to a school.

Consolidated Application Requirements

2017-2018 Consolidated Application for Categorical Funding