Student Centered Funding Formula
The Student Centered Funding Formula (SCFF) is all about ensuring community colleges are funded, at least in part, in how well their students are faring. It is upending how California’s community colleges receive state money by basing general apportionments – discretionary funds available to community college districts – on three calculations:
- A base allocation, which largely reflects enrollment.
- A supplemental allocation based on the numbers of students receiving a College Promise Grant, students receiving a Pell Grant and students covered by AB 540.
- A student success allocation based on outcomes that include the number of students who are earning associate degrees and credit certificates, transferring to four-year colleges and universities, have completed transfer-level math and English within their first year of college, have completed nine or more career education units and have attained the regional living wage.
The SCFF’s metrics are in line with the goals and commitment set forth in the California Community Colleges’ Vision 2030 and can have a profound impact closing achievement gaps and boosting key student success outcomes. It was created in coalition with organizations such as the Campaign for College Opportunity, Education Trust-West and other key stakeholders.
Resources
- SCFF Growth Formula Explained – April 2026 (PDF) – These slides provide a step-by-step explanation of the calculations behind the SCFF Growth Formula.
- General Frequently Asked Questions about the SCFF – July 2023 (PDF). Non-technical Frequently Asked Questions can be accessed here: SCFF Non-Technical FAQs – Updated December 2021 (PDF)
- Equity- and Student Centered Strategies in the Context of the SCFF (PDF). This document describes how colleges are maximizing equitable outcomes for students.
- SCFF Resource Estimator User Guide – November 2023 (PDF). This document provides districts with a planning tool that allows users to develop SCFF out-year projections by changing factors related to all components of the SCFF to estimate funding amounts.
- SCFF Resource Estimator Nuts & Bolts Webinar. This recording includes a high-level overview of the SCFF and instructions for accessing the Resource Estimator. The corresponding deck can be accessed here: SCFF Resource Estimator Nuts & Bolts Webinar (PDF).
- Procedure for Obtaining User Log-Ins to the SCFF Resource Estimator (PDF).
- SCFF Metric Definitions – Updated January 11, 2022 (PDF). Earlier Metric definitions can be accessed here: FY 2019-20 Metric Definitions – Updated December 2, 2019 (PDF)
- Updates on the SCFF (PDF). This document outlines updates to the SCFF following the 2019-20 budget.
Supplemental and Student Success Data
Current law requires the Chancellor’s Office to publicly post the data used to calculate the Supplemental and Student Success funding allocations.
The data are published multiple times each year. Preliminary data is posted by November 15, followed by updated datasets based on data runs conducted in early December and mid-January. The final version of the data, reflecting all applicable updates, is posted by March 15.
Each data release reflects the most current information available at the time of posting.
The SCFF Metric Definitions resource was reviewed internally and updated in January 2022. Although minor edits were made, no substantive changes have been made to the metric definitions since their initial implementation in the 2019-20 fiscal year.
Data by Year
Exhibit C Archive
Historical Exhibit C – SCFF’s Total Computational Revenue (TCR) calculation detail by district. Includes funding allocations for State General Fund, Education Protection Account (EPA), and local revenue sources. Newer Exhibit C’s can be viewed on the Apportionment Reports webpage.