SB 542

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law requires each school district that has one or more pupils who are English learners and, to the extent required by federal law, a county office of education and a charter school to assess the English language development of each of those pupils in order to determine their level of proficiency. Existing law requires annual assessments to continue until a pupil is redesignated as English proficient and requires the assessment to utilize primarily the English language development test identified or developed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction pursuant to specified provisions. The Leroy Greene California Assessment of Academic Achievement Act requires school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education to administer to each of their pupils in grades 2 to 11, inclusive, certain achievement tests, including the standards-based achievement tests that are part of the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program. This bill would require that a pupil in any of grades 3 to 11, inclusive, be eligible to be reclassified as fluent English proficient if the pupil attains the proficient level of performance on the English language arts STAR test, a score of intermediate or above on all portions of the California English Language Development Test, and a 3.0 grade point average at the end of the school year, and, upon attainment of these requirements, would require the pupil to be reclassified as fluent English proficient upon verified approval submitted by the pupil's parent or legal guardian. To the extent this bill would require local educational agencies to perform additional duties regarding the reclassification of English learners, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize a school district to continue to receive state funding designated for its English learners for up to 2 years after the pupil has been reclassified as fluent English proficient, and would state the intent of the Legislature that the school district use the funding for the purpose of monitoring pupils who have been reclassified as fluent English proficient for up to 2 years. The bill also would correct some cross-references. 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.