Education Funding

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Some state and federal educational funds can support school health services. Many school-based health centers and wellness centers provide services–such as case management, teacher consultation, and youth development–for which they cannot bill insurance carriers, and educational funds can be a critical supplement to reimbursement revenues.

Schools can use existing funding to support school health services. For example, districts can choose to use a portion of their Title I-A, LEA BOP Medi-Cal, or Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) dollars to support school health services. In addition, school districts can apply for competitive grant funding to enhance their current resources. Educators and others who support school health services should both seek new funding and urge decision-makers to direct existing funding to health services. 

As of 2025, all LEAs will be eligible to bill and be reimbursed through the CYBHI Multi-Payer Fee Schedule for a broad range of behavioral health services. School employees such as school social workers, school psychologists, and school counselors will be able to bill Medi-Cal and commercial health plans for many of the activities that they currently do.

This is potentially a significant new, ongoing revenue stream for schools. 

These are education funds that can be used to pay for school health services. 

Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) – California’s funding formula for determining the level of state funding to school districts to provide for their state-supported general and supplemental programs. School districts receive additional resources to meet the unique challenges that face certain targeted student groups (including low income students). These resources must be spent to increase or improve services for targeted students to achieve state and local priorities.

Medi-Cal Billing – School districts can bill four different Medi-Cal programs for some of the services that they provide.

  • LEA BOP Billing – Reimburses LEA BOP Providers for health-related services already provided to Medi-Cal eligible students.​​​​​​​​ As of April 2020, the LEA BOP has been improved access by expanding eligibility for services & removing restrictions for providing services to general education students. School districts with a high percentage of students who are MediCal eligible are strongly encouraged to participate in the LEA Medical Billing Option Program, as well as SMAA, which can reimburse school districts for direct services and administrative costs,
  • School-Based Medi-Cal Administrative Activities (SMAA) –LEAS receive reimbursement  for time spent on the administration of Medi-Cal, which includes outreach and enrollment, as well as other services provided for Medi-Cal enrollees, such as translation and arranging transportation to and from providers.
  • Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) – for any of the assessments/examinations/referrals that are part of CHDP program, if the school district is an approved CHDP provider. Information on becoming a CHDP provider is here.
  • Family PACT – for Family PACT services (reproductive health/sensitive services), if the school district is an approved Family PACT provider. Information on becoming a Family PACT provider is here.

To stay updated on school health funding opportunities, you can:

Additional Academically-Focused Opportunities

  • Title I-A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
  • 21st Century Community Learning Centers/Title IV-B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
  • After School Education and Safety Program
  • McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
  • Foster Youth Services

Health- and Safety-Focused Opportunities