SB 266

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law requires each person between the ages of 6 and 18 years not otherwise exempted to attend the public full-time day school or continuation school or classes in the school district in which his or her parent or guardian is a resident. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to adopt a resolution to become a school district of choice, as defined, and accept interdistrict pupil transfers. This bill would enact the Open Enrollment Act to enable pupils residing in the state to attend public schools in school districts other than their school district of residence, as defined. The bill would authorize the parent or guardian of a pupil enrolled in a low-performing school, as defined, to submit an application for the pupil to attend a school in a school district of enrollment, as defined. The bill would authorize a school district of enrollment to adopt specific, written standards for acceptance and rejection of applications for enrollment, subject to specified conditions and a specified priority scheme for applicants. Within 60 days of receiving an application for enrollment, the bill would require a school district of enrollment to notify the applicant parent or guardian and the resident school district in writing whether the application has been accepted or rejected and state in the notification the reasons for the rejection. The bill would require that the average daily attendance for pupils enrolled in a school district of enrollment, pursuant to the bill, be credited to the school district of enrollment pursuant to a specified statute. The bill would require the State Board of Education to adopt regulations to implement these provisions. The bill would make these provisions operative on July 1, 2010, make them inoperative on July 1, 2020, and repeal them on January 1, 2021. By requiring school districts to enroll nonresident pupils and perform other new duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.