SB 723

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary education in this state, and authorizes local educational agencies throughout the state to provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. For purposes of calculating apportionments for the 2020–21 fiscal year, existing law requires a local educational agency to offer in-person instruction and authorizes it to offer distance learning, as specified. Existing law requires the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and the State Department of Education, by September 1, 2018, to establish a process to select county offices of education to serve as geographic lead agencies that work collaboratively with the department and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence to advance the purpose of the statewide system of support, as specified. This bill would establish the California Leadership, Excellence, Academic, Diversity, and Service-Learning Tutoring Program. The bill would require the department to administer the tutoring program to provide supplemental individualized learning assistance, both in-person and online, to address learning loss, as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before April 1, 2022, to adopt regulations related to the tutoring program. The bill would require each county office of education to use these regulations to facilitate and implement the program in their county, and would require geographic lead agencies to be available to provide technical assistance to county offices of education and school districts, as specified. The bill would require county offices of education to notify the department, on or before May 1, 2022, of school districts that have decided to participate in the tutoring program. The bill would require the department to announce the list of participating school districts on or before June 1, 2022. The bill would make all public school pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in school districts that meet criteria adopted in the department's regulations eligible to participate in the tutoring program. The bill would require each school district that chooses to participate in the program, upon a subsequent appropriation by the Legislature, to develop and implement supplemental individualized learning assistance for pupils. The bill would require the participating school districts to submit reports to the department detailing learning gains and program costs on before August 1, 2023, and annually thereafter. The bill would require the department, on or before December 1, 2023, to submit a report to the Legislature on the program that includes, but is not limited to, recommendations on how to improve the program. The bill would require the tutoring program to only become operative upon an appropriation by the Legislature. To the extent county offices of education are required to perform additional duties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 the statutory provisions noted above.