What it Means to Move from a Tier 2 to a Tier 1 District

Starting in the 2025–26 school year, many schools and districts across the state will likely shift from Tier 2 to Tier 1 status under California’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P), unlocking significantly higher per-student funding.*

But what does shifting from Tier 2 to Tier 1 really mean?

Whether you're a district administrator, program provider, or a community partner, this transition comes with both exciting opportunities and important requirements. We’ve broken it down below into 5 key highlights to help you understand the changes, prepare for compliance, and make the most of what Tier 1 has to offer.

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1. Upgraded Funding: $1,580 → $2,750 per UPP Student

Starting in the 2025–26 school year, districts with 55% + Unduplicated Pupil Percentage (UPP) will move from Tier 2 to Tier 1, unlocking a major funding boost of 74%. Tier 1 provides $2,750 per UPP student versus just $1,580 under Tier 2.*

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* Note: The Governor has proposed an additional $515 million in funding to support schools, and the legislature appears likely to approve it. However, the timing of the release is still being debated. Under the Governor’s plan, the full amount would be distributed at the start of the 2025–26 school year. The legislature’s version would delay the release until January 2026, effectively cutting the increase in half for that fiscal year.

2. What Counts Toward UPP?

A district’s Unduplicated Pupil Percentage (UPP) includes students who meet any of the following criteria:

Eligible for free or reduced-price meals
English learners
Youth in foster care
Youth experiencing homelessness
Migrant Youth

Each student is counted only once toward the total, even if they fall into multiple categories. This “unduplicated” approach ensures a fair calculation of need across districts and helps determine how much ELO-P funding a district qualifies for. Understanding your UPP is key to planning for the shift to Tier 1 and maximizing available resources.

3. Program Access & Fee Structure

Tier  1 mandates universal access to expanded learning for all TK–6 students, but only unduplicated students attend for free. Non‑unduplicated families may be charged, but schools/districts must offer a sliding fee scale (ideally with at least four tiers). No unduplicated student should ever be charged.

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4. Program Length Requirements

Requirements aim to provide consistent, full-day support for students and working families. To meet them, districts often need to collaborate with school-day staff, expanded learning providers, and community partners to build a seamless and sustainable program structure.

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Districts must deliver:

9-hour days combining instructional and expanded learning time (before/after school),
Plus at least 30 non‑school days (e.g., summer, intersessions) of 9 hours each

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5. Enrollment Priority & Accountability

Districts are required to prioritize unduplicated students when enrolling for expanded learning programs. This means that students who qualify based on income, foster care, language status, migrant status, or housing insecurity must be offered enrollment first.

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If an eligible student declines or opts out of the program, it does not negatively affect the district’s compliance status. However, districts are held accountable through annual audits. If they fail to offer access to all eligible students or fall short on the required number of program hours or days, they may face financial penalties with funding reductions for each day a program is found to be out of compliance.

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Careful planning, documentation, and proactive outreach are essential to avoid these risks and ensure every qualified student has access to expanded learning opportunities.

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Why Tier  1 Matters for Districts & Partners

With more resources comes the opportunity to expand impact, strengthen partnerships, and build programs that truly meet the needs of your community. Here's how Tier 1 funding can elevate your work.

Guaranteed Funding: School districts receive $2,750 per unduplicated student guaranteed. In contrast, Tier 2 funding per student is variable, and calculated only after all Tier 1 funding has been distributed. Most recently, that amount has been approximately $1,580 per student per year.
Deeper Impact: With ~$1,170 more per student, districts can dramatically expand enrichment, staffing, and support services. Planning for programs can start sooner and be more thoughtful in budgeting and execution.
Strategic Expansion: Tier  1 flexibility supports various partners (after‑school providers, CBOs, mental health, STEAM, arts, nutrition), enabling holistic programs.
Workforce Readiness: More funding supports investment in training, safety, and curriculum quality.

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Context: ELO‑P’s Evolution

To understand the significance of the shift to Tier 1, it helps to look at how ELO‑P has grown. Here's a brief look at how we got here:

2021

Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) is established through Assembly Bill 130
Codified in Education Code §46120
Launches California’s model for 9-hour days and 30 non-school days of expanded learning each year
Source: California Department of Education

2021–2024

The state invests a total of $13.75 billion into ELO-P
Aims to reach a long-term funding goal of $5 billion per year
Source: Children Now & Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO)

2025–26 (Proposed)

Governor Newsom’s proposed budget includes a $435 million increase in January 2025 and then increases that amount to $515 million after the May 2025 revision
The purpose of this increase in funding is to lower the Tier 1 eligibility threshold from 75% to 55% Unduplicated Pupil Percentage (UPP)
This expansion would make approximately 27% of California districts newly eligible
An estimated 65,000 additional students would qualify for Tier 1 funding
Source: California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance (CA3) & LAO

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What This Means for Our District Partners

As districts secure Tier  1 status, they’ll have unprecedented resources and flexibility to:

Expand community partnerships (CBOs, arts, STEAM, mental health)
Deepen enrichment quality and staff development
Support whole‑child development and equity

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🔍 In Summary

Increasing to Tier 1 funding is a transformative opportunity for districts and partners to expand quality, equity, and impact in expanded learning.

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🎯 Bottom Line

Moving from Tier  2 to Tier  1 opens doors to sustainable funding, program growth, and enriched support for more communities. Preparing now, through UPP assessment, planning, partnerships, logistics, and data systems, will help districts and partners hit the ground running in 2025–26.

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Looking for a knowledgeable expanded learning partner that navigates your district through the ever-evolving journey of ELO-P, state and federal funding? Connect with us today and learn how EDMO is a trusted partner for building high-quality programs, maximizing funding impact, and supporting you and your students every step of the way.

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