What is LAEF?
A non-profit led by parent volunteers representing each school, the Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) raises funds to provide teachers and essential programs at all Los Altos School District (LASD) neighborhood schools, benefiting every TK-8th grade student each school year. LAEF helps fill the gap in school funding from federal, state, and local sources by raising funds from parents, the community, and corporate matching gifts to sustain and enrich LASD's excellent educational programs beyond what public funding provides.
What does LAEF fund?
For the 2026-27 school year, LAEF is raising $4.35 million to fund teachers and essential programs this school year, including physical education (PE) teachers, librarians, music teachers (4th-6th), the Art Docents program, the Living Classroom program, computer science support, junior high electives, mental health counseling and SEL, classroom supplies and technology, materials, and teacher professional development. LAEF helps fill the gap in school funding from federal, state, and local sources, and is the only way for parents to fund LASD teaching staff in our district.
How do I make a donation?
We gladly accept contributions by check, cash, ACH (eCheck), credit card (one-time or monthly payments), pledge, gifts of stock, employer payroll deduction, crypto, and donor-advised fund (DAF) grants. Estate gifts or donations to the LAEF Endowment Fund are also welcome. Gifts of any amount are appreciated. Donate Now
Increase your impact by applying for a corporate match, if it's available to you. (Both parents can apply.)
What is the suggested annual donation amount?
The suggested donation for the 2026-27 school year is $1,800 per student, or $180/month per student from September to June. This is a $300 per student increase over the prior year due to the realigned areas of responsibility between the LASD Education Partners - LASD, LAEF, and each school's PTA. $900,000 in fundraising for instructional programs and materials has shifted from the PTAs to LAEF, while LASD will take on oversight of these programs to ensure consistent, high-quality implementation across all schools.
Our PTAs will scale back fundraising efforts and continue to focus on building community and enriching the student experience beyond the classroom.
Gifts of any amount are appreciated. Join LAEF's Leadership Circle by donating $6,000 or more. Learn more about Leadership Circle and our giving levels.
LAEF is not funded by a few wealthy donors. It is funded by thousands of individual donations that collectively total the amount raised each year. We encourage all district families to participate at a level that is comfortable for them.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. The Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Tax ID# 94-2862793.
How can I get involved?
Your support - of all kinds - is essential! Please donate to LAEF, join the PTA at your school, participate in school and district-wide events, and volunteer.
There are numerous ways to volunteer. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, neighbor, or community member, we encourage you to reach out to your neighborhood school, connect with a PTA leader, or check in with a teacher to learn how you can support our students and staff.
From volunteering in classrooms and helping at school or district events, to signing up for lunchtime yard duty or making a donation, every act of support helps us create vibrant, welcoming, and enriching learning environments. Together, we can make our schools even stronger!
Links for other volunteer opportunities: Los Altos Educational Foundation, Art Docents, Living Classroom
How do you determine LAEF’s annual grant?
The LAEF Board uses the results of our annual survey and combines them with our many conversations with LASD leadership, school parents, and community members to determine our anticipated fundraising capability and desire to continue funding essential programs. We also discuss the issues facing our schools, district, and larger economy, and gauge our parents and local community's ability to support the annual grant.
LAEF funding is distributed as equitably as possible throughout all TK-8 schools in the Los Altos School District: Almond, Blach, Covington, Gardner, Egan, Loyola, Oak, Santa Rita, and Springer. Your tax-deductible donation benefits every student in our district this school year.
Does LAEF's grant allocation vary year to year?
LAEF works with LASD each school year to determine funding priorities based on curriculum objectives and our fundraising capacity. Refer to How LAEF Funding Works for more information. In the last couple of years, we've made some allocation adjustments:
- Reduced the allocation for elementary STEM programs. LASD has now fully integrated STEM instruction into the core classroom curriculum rather than having a separate, "pull-out" program. Learn more about changes to LAEF STEM funding.
- Reduced the allocation for Computer Science. California Proposition 28 funds now cover much of the program expense.
- Added Living Classroom program to our funded programs. LAEF is pleased to be funding this engaging, nature-based program.
How does the LASD Education Partners benefit my student and their school?
LASD Education Partners combines the strength of the Los Altos School District (LASD), the Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF), and the nine school PTAs to provide the instruction, funding, and community support that make an excellent, well-rounded education possible, beyond what public funding alone can provide.
- LASD provides outstanding classroom teachers & staff, curriculum, facilities, and student services across its high-performing schools. This is the foundation of every student's experience.
- LAEF helps fund specialized teachers & staff, as well as instructional materials & programs beyond what public funding provides.
- PTAs build community, provide volunteer support, and enrichment events and programs beyond the classroom.
LAEF and the PTAs are only possible with your financial support.
Does LAEF play a role in determining the curriculum?
No, decisions about curriculum are made entirely by the Los Altos School District (LASD). LAEF is also not involved in personnel hiring or management of District employees. LAEF's purpose is to help fund staff and programs prioritized by LASD and parents. LASD would not be able to provide a well-rounded education without additional funding from LAEF.
Are LAEF and MVLA High School Foundation the same organization?
No, the two foundations are separate entities. The Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) raises funds for the 7 elementary schools and 2 junior high schools in the Los Altos School District. The Mountain View Los Altos High School Foundation (MVLA High School Foundation) raises funds for Los Altos High School and Mountain View High School. Parents are strongly encouraged to donate to both foundations if they have students in the schools each foundation supports. Here's where to donate to each foundation: www.LAEFonline.org/donate and www.mvlafoundation.org/donate
Public schools are supposed to be free. Why should I donate?
Many of us choose to live in the Los Altos School District for our great public schools, but educational excellence comes at a price. The funding we receive is significantly lower than that of other highly ranked school districts across the country. This is because California voters passed Proposition 13, a 1978 state measure that limits property tax increases, which caused a decline in funding for our schools. In our school district, housing values are high, but our effective property tax rate* is one of the lowest in the state due to the long-time homeownership common in our community. State and local taxes do not fully fund excellent public schools for our students.
We encourage parents and community members to donate to LAEF and fund the high-quality education we value. We believe that strong schools are the foundation of a thriving community. For more information, watch the 2-minute video "Funding an Excellent Public Education".
* Jeff Collins, “California property tax quirk,” The Mercury News, December 1, 2016
What is the LAEF Endowment Fund?
LAEF's Endowment Fund is designed to provide a long-term, stable source of funding for the Los Altos School District (LASD).
Since our founding in 1982, the Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) has been supported by the generosity of many benefactors - individuals who have contributed time, talent, and money. These investments have helped build a first-class school district dedicated to giving children an enriched, well-rounded education.
The LAEF Endowment Fund was established in 1997 with the purpose of providing a stable source of financial support to LASD. The fund has grown through the generosity and vision of many who recognize the Foundation as a capable and agile steward of their philanthropic resources.
We invite all district families, community members, and foundations to make an impact by contributing to the LAEF Endowment Fund.
Does LAEF apply for grants?
LAEF applies for and receives grants from local community organizations like the Kiwanis Club and family foundations. Grant money from large foundations and corporations is often intended for disadvantaged student populations and underperforming schools.
LASD FAQs: Annual Budget, Property Taxes & Bond/Parcel Tax Measures
How much money does it cost to educate each student in LASD? Where does the funding come from?
LASD budgeted expenditures of $27,894 per student for the 2026-27 school year, against revenues of $27,866 per student. 91% of LASD funding comes from the local community. Property taxes pay for 72% of the needed funds, with another 8% coming from the state and the federal government. LASD looks to other local sources, such as parcel taxes, developer fees, and fundraising from LAEF for the remaining 20% of needed funds. Refer to LASD's website for budget details.
Each property in the state of California is limited to a 1% maximum property tax levy collected by the county of residence. The county then distributes that 1% to various public agencies, including K-12 school districts, community college districts, towns/cities, and the county itself. Santa Clara County distributes the collected taxes to TK-8 public schools, with 20% of residential property tax allocated for the schools run by LASD.
For example, if you are a resident within LASD boundaries and have a $2 million home, you pay about $20,000 each year in taxes. LASD would receive about $4,000 of your payment.
Put another way, LASD gets 20% of every property tax dollar. The remainder is allocated to the MVLA High School District, Foothill College, city services (including streets, police, etc.), the library, and other related expenses. LASD and BCS receive 100% of parcel tax dollars.
I already pay high property taxes (and school parcel taxes). Why do I need to support LAEF?
We recognize that most parents moved to LASD because of the high-performing schools. Regardless of where you stand on taxation and spending, property taxes don't provide enough funds to cover physical education (PE) teachers, librarians, music teachers (4th-6th), the Art Docents program, the Living Classroom program, computer science support, junior high electives, and mental health counseling and SEL, classroom supplies and technology, materials, and teacher professional development. For example, LAEF’s annual grant to LASD for the 2026-27 school year comprises 4% of LASD’s overall budget and will make the difference between schools that offer bare-bones curricula or provide the quality education that we value. We believe that strong schools are the foundation of a thriving community.
How does parcel tax funding protect academic excellence in local schools?
Parcel tax funding enables LASD to maintain the excellent educational program our district delivers, retain excellent teachers, and protect small class sizes and small neighborhood schools. Refer to LASD's parcel tax website for details about parcel taxes and the independent citizen oversight of the funds.
Does the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Finance (CACF) provide oversight of parcel tax expenditures?
Yes, the CACF, an independent body charged with overseeing the district's finances, ensures local control over local funding in our district so that all funds are spent as promised. Refer to CACF's webpage and the ABCs of Los Altos School District Finance for more detailed information.
The community has approved bond measures in the past. Why do we need both bond and LAEF funding?
Bond measure funds can only be used for facility upgrades and improvements, not for teachers or enrichment programs, which is what parcel taxes fund and what LAEF supports with our annual grant.
Can LAEF share funds with other educational foundations or schools in our area?
The Los Altos Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds from parents, the community, and corporate matching gifts to sustain and enrich the Los Altos School District's excellent educational program for TK-8th-grade students beyond what public funding provides. We believe that strong schools are the foundation of a thriving community.
California has designated Los Altos School District a "Community-Funded" district — one of the 8% of school districts in our state whose local taxes are perceived to meet minimum school funding requirements. It receives only 7% of its total funding from state and federal sources and thus relies on local revenue sources such as property taxes, parcel taxes, and donations to provide essential educational programs. Direct support from parents and the community through LAEF funds physical education (PE) teachers, librarians, music teachers (4th-6th), the Art Docents program, the Living Classroom program, computer science support, junior high electives, mental health counseling and SEL, classroom supplies and technology, materials, and teacher professional development. This local support makes the difference between schools that offer bare-bones curricula and schools that provide the quality education that we value.
Occasionally, we are asked about sharing funds with educational foundations or schools in our area that may have more limited resources. Our Articles of Incorporation state that the funds we raise and the work we do are for the sole purpose of improving student education in the Los Altos School District, thereby precluding the use of funds for any other purpose. In addition, given fundraising challenges over the last several years, any alternative use of funds would jeopardize programs that our parents and students value highly.
We encourage parents and community members to give directly to organizations that they are passionate about, rather than using LAEF as a pass-through funding organization. Both the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation are great places to start learning about individual organizations that could benefit from your financial support. Donations made directly to these foundations will be put to use, benefiting a variety of local nonprofits. In addition, the nearby Ravenswood Educational Foundation provides funding for elementary and middle schools in East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park.
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