If you work in a California school, you’ve probably heard people talking about “ELOP funding” and wondered what it actually means for your students, staff, and budget. ELOP, short for Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, is a major state investment designed to help schools offer free before‑school, after‑school, and summer learning for elementary students, especially those who need the most support.

In this blog, we’ll break down what ELOP funding is, where it comes from, who qualifies, and smart ways to use it to maximize impact on students and families.

What Is ELOP?

The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) is a California state program that provides ongoing funding to school districts and charter schools to expand learning time beyond the traditional school day for transitional kindergarten (TK) through sixth grade students.

Instead of being a one‑time grant, ELOP is part of the state education budget and is intended to be a long‑term funding stream to support free enrichment, academic help, and supervised care before and after school and during non‑school days.

Where Does ELOP Funding Come From?

ELOP funding comes from California’s General Fund and is administered by the California Department of Education as part of the state’s K‑12 budget. Funds are apportioned to local educational agencies (LEAs)—school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools—through the state’s regular Principal Apportionment process.[atsclub]​

The amount a district or charter receives depends mainly on:

• Prior‑year average daily attendance (ADA) for TK–6 students in classroom‑based programs.[atsclub]​
  
• Unduplicated Pupil Percentage (UPP), which counts students who are English learners, eligible for free or reduced‑price meals, or foster youth.
  

Because allocations are tied to ADA and UPP, districts with higher shares of historically underserved students receive more ELOP funding to support expanded learning 

Who Qualifies for ELOP Funds?

ELOP funding is available to California LEAs serving TK–6 students in classroom‑based instruction, including traditional districts and charter schools.

Key points about eligibility:

• LEAs must serve TK–6 students and operate classroom‑based programs.
  
• Charter schools are eligible but must submit their own board‑approved expanded learning program plan.[atsclub]​
  
• Funding is weighted toward schools and districts with higher percentages of English learners, low‑income students, and foster youth, as measured by the UPP.
  

Recent budget changes have expanded access by lowering the UPP threshold for the higher ELOP funding rate from 75 percent to 55 percent in many cases, meaning more districts now qualify for higher per‑pupil support.

How Much Funding Do Schools Receive?

While exact allocations vary by year and district, recent state budgets have committed billions of dollars to ELOP statewide. Funding for each LEA is calculated based on ADA and UPP, with minimum per‑site amounts to ensure even smaller schools can operate meaningful programs.

Some key patterns in recent years include:

• Districts and schools above the higher UPP threshold receive a per‑pupil amount (for example, around 2,750 dollars per eligible student in recent budgets) plus at least a six‑figure minimum per LEA or site.
  
• Districts below the threshold still receive ELOP funds at a lower variable per‑pupil rate but maintain a guaranteed minimum amount.
• Total statewide ELOP funding has been in the multi‑billion‑dollar range, with increases in several budget cycles to expand access and support more robust programming.

For district leaders, the practical implication is that ELOP is a significant, recurring line item that can fundamentally reshape how before‑school, after‑school, and summer learning are delivered.

What Can ELOP Funding Be Used For?

ELOP funding is intentionally flexible within state guidelines so that districts can design programs that reflect local needs while meeting basic requirements for expanded learning.

Allowable uses generally include:

• Staff salaries and benefits for expanded learning program staff, including teachers, support staff, and program leaders.
  
• Enrichment activities such as STEM clubs, arts, music, sports, robotics, and hands‑on learning experiences.
  
• Academic support including homework help, small‑group tutoring, and targeted interventions for English learners and struggling students.
  
• Materials and supplies such as curriculum, manipulatives, technology, and activity kits.
  
• Transportation to and from before‑school or after‑school programs, especially in districts with large geographic areas or limited family transportation.
  
• Meals and snacks to ensure students have access to nutrition during extended days.
  
• Professional development and training for expanded learning staff to ensure quality and alignment with daytime instruction.

Districts must keep detailed records showing that ELOP funds are used appropriately and aligned to legal requirements; auditors review spending and can require unspent or misused funds to be returned.

Program Requirements and Expectations

To receive and keep ELOP funding, LEAs must meet specific program requirements set by the state. While details can be updated through legislation and budget acts, some core expectations include:

• Offering a combined total of at least nine hours per day of instructional time plus expanded learning (for example, a full school day plus before‑ or after‑school programming).[atsclub]​
  
• Providing at least 30 non‑school days of programming each year (e.g., summer, intersessions, or holidays).[atsclub]​
  
• Making programs accessible to all TK–6 students, with particular emphasis on students who are low‑income, English learners, or in foster care.

• Posting a board‑approved ELOP program plan that describes schedules, staffing, partnerships, student access, and alignment with district goals.
  
• Advertising programs inclusively and tracking participation to show that a sufficient share of high‑need students can and do participate.

In practice, this means districts cannot treat ELOP as a niche or invitation‑only program. It should be integrated into the broader strategy for equity, learning acceleration, and family support.

Strategic Ways to Use ELOP Funding

Because ELOP is recurring and substantial, the most effective districts think strategically rather than treating it as short‑term grant money. Here are smart ways schools are using ELOP funds:

• Building robust after‑school enrichment that blends academics and fun, such as STEM clubs, arts programs, makerspaces, and project‑based learning experiences.
  
• Targeting support for English learners and low‑income students through language‑rich programs, reading and listening tools, and small‑group instruction.
  
• Partnering with community‑based organizations, nonprofits, and enrichment providers to expand capacity and offer specialized programming without overburdening school staff.
  
• Extending learning into summer with camps and academies that keep students engaged, prevent learning loss, and give families reliable childcare.
  
• Aligning expanded learning with core academic goals so that after‑school time reinforces daytime instruction rather than operating in isolation.

A simple example: a district might use ELOP funding to partner with a community STEM provider to run daily after‑school robotics clubs at all elementary schools, with priority enrollment for English learners and students receiving free or reduced‑price meals. This leverages external expertise while meeting ELOP’s equity and enrichment goals.

How to Get Started With ELOP

For districts and schools that want to make the most of ELOP:

1. Review state guidance and current budget language to confirm eligibility, funding levels, and deadlines for your LEA.
   
2. Analyze your ADA and UPP data to understand your likely allocation and identify the highest‑need student groups.
   
3. Engage families, teachers, and community partners to design a program that addresses academic, social‑emotional, and childcare needs.
   
4. Develop and adopt a clear expanded learning program plan, then align staffing, facilities, and partnerships accordingly.
   
5. Build systems to track attendance, participation, and outcomes, and use that data to refine programs over time.
   

Done well, ELOP funding can transform how students experience school beyond the bell, turning “after school” into a powerful engine for opportunity, connection, and growth.