AB 2507

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law establishes the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program to provide funds to school districts and certain charter schools to offer, outside of any instructional time, expanded learning opportunities, as defined, to pupils enrolled in classroom-based instructional programs in kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, under specified funding methodologies and program conditions. This bill would rename the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program as the Universal Afterschool and Expanded Learning Opportunities Program and would change references to "expanded learning opportunity programs" to instead refer to "afterschool programs." The bill would express the intent of the Legislature to commit more public funding to provide pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, with a welcoming and enriching space through afterschool programs. (2) The After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002, an initiative statute approved by the voters as Proposition 49 at the November 5, 2002, statewide general election, establishes the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program under which participating public schools receive grants to operate before and after school programs serving pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 9, inclusive. The act requires an amount not to exceed $550,000,000 to be continuously appropriated to the State Department of Education from the General Fund in each fiscal year for purposes of the program, and requires the amount to be allocated to public elementary, middle, and junior high schools according to a specified priority scheme, as provided. The act authorizes the Legislature to amend the provisions containing that priority scheme only by a statute, enacted by a 23 vote of each house and signed by the Governor, that furthers the purposes of the act. If the Legislature appropriates at least $5,000,000,000 for a fiscal year in the annual Budget Act or any other statute for purposes of funding the Universal Afterschool and Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, this bill would require, notwithstanding any other law, at least a certain percentage of the total amount appropriated pursuant to the act or by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute or for purposes of the ASES program to be allocated on a priority basis for programs serving middle school pupils, as provided. The bill would set forth a legislative finding and declaration that the bill furthers the purposes of the act. (3) Existing federal law establishes the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program to provide pupils with academic enrichment and other activities during nonschool hours or periods when school is not in session, as provided. Under the program, of the total amount appropriated for after school grants to community learning centers, at least 50% is required to be allocated on a priority basis to community learning centers serving high school pupils and at least 40% is required to be allocated on a priority basis to community learning centers serving elementary and middle school pupils, as provided. In any fiscal year in which the total appropriation exceeds the 2008–09 fiscal year's total appropriation for the program, the excess amount is required to be allocated on a priority basis as 35% to community learning centers serving high school pupils, 50% to community learning centers serving elementary and middle school pupils, and 15% to community learning centers with summer programs serving elementary and middle school pupils, as provided. If the Legislature appropriates at least $5,000,000,000 for a fiscal year in the annual Budget Act or any other statute for purposes of funding the Universal Afterschool and Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, this bill instead would require, of the total amount appropriated pursuant to the program, regardless of that total amount exceeding the program's total 2008–09 fiscal year appropriation, to be allocated on a priority basis with at least 60% to community learning centers serving high school pupils, at least 20% to community learning centers serving middle school pupils, and at least 15% to those centers serving elementary school pupils. (4) Commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year, the bill would require the department, each fiscal year, to provide an add-on to a grant received under the After School Education and Safety Program of 2002 or the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program to increase the grant by a specified cost-of-living adjustment, as provided. Commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year, the bill would, each fiscal year, appropriate an amount necessary to implement these add-on grant provisions from the General Fund to the department for purposes of these provisions. (5) This bill would also make nonsubstantive and conforming changes. (6) Funds appropriated by this bill would be applied toward the minimum funding requirements for school districts and community college districts imposed by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.