FAQs

What is LAEF?

The Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) was formed in 1982 in response to the drastic cutbacks in state funding. Comprised of parent volunteers, the LAEF board has 3 voting members from each school in the Los Altos School District: Almond, Blach, Covington, Gardner Bullis, Egan, Loyola, Oak,Santa Rita, and Springer.

What programs do you fund?

The followinf programs will be funded in 2009-10:
Elementary School Staff
Physical Education
Grades 4-6 Fine Arts
K-3 Class Size Reduction
Technology Specialists
Hands-on Science
Art Docents
Junior High School Staff
Science Class Size Reduction
English Class Size Reduciton
Social Studies Class Size Reduction
Technology Specialists

Public school is supposed to be free. Why do I have to pay?

State funding barely covers rising expenses and mandated programs. Without any LAEF funding, programs in music, science, PE & art would not be possible and class sizes would be larger.
Each year we evaluate how much we need to bridge the gap between state funding and maintaining the programs that the children need to succeed.

I can not afford the suggested donation per student. What should I do?

We would like for you to contribute what is comfortable for you. Every donation, however small, makes a difference. LAEF is not endowed by a few wealthy donors, it is the thousands of individual donations that collectively add up to the grand total raised each year. We strive for 100% participation. Please give generously! Your donation is tax-deductible.

How do I make a donation?

Click here to make a donation now. You can pay by check - leave it in the LAEF box in your school office or mail to P.O. Box 98, Los Altos, CA 94024. To make a stock donation, please contact our office at laef@att.net or 650.559.0445

How is the money spent?

Your tax-deductible donation benefits every child in every school during the current school year! The needs of each school are taken into account along with feed back from the principals, the LAEF parent survey and program costs.
The volunteer parent representatives from each school work with the school district to determine how the funds are allocated each year.

Why are both the PTAs and LAEF raising money for the schools?

The PTAs raise money for school-specific expenses such as buying teaching supplies, playground equipment, computers, etc.
LAEF raises money to fund staff for district-wide programs like art, music, P.E., science, technology, and class size reduction.

How is company matching handled?

Many corporations offer matching donation programs. If your company matches personal contributions to charitable organizations, you may be able to double your contribution by simply requesting a matching donation from your company. You must initiate the matching contribution by requesting and completing a special form. Forms are typically available thorough your company HR department or on your company web site.

Is there a phonathon this year?

Yes. The 2009-10 phonathon is scheduled for Oct 19-21. Donate by October 12th to get on our DO NOT CALL list!

I pay enough property taxes already.

Proposition 13, passed by voters in 1978, sharply reduced property tax rates and set strict assessment rules. Most property in the state is assessed when it is sold or when there is new construction. The tax is initially levied at 1 percent of the sales price or value of the improvement, plus any rate needed to cover debt approved by voters at the local level. If property values rise and a school district gets more local tax revenue, the state simply cuts back its funding, so the overall funding does not change. This helps the state, but not the school district, unless it is a “basic aid” district.

How do I get more involved in the campaign?

Contact one of your school’s LAEF representatives, call the LAEF office at (650) 559-0445 or email laef (at) att.net