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AB-2168 Special education: teachers: grant program.(2017-2018)

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Date Published: 09/05/2018 04:00 AM
AB2168:v92#DOCUMENT

Enrolled  September 04, 2018
Passed  IN  Senate  August 29, 2018
Passed  IN  Assembly  August 30, 2018
Amended  IN  Senate  August 24, 2018
Amended  IN  Senate  August 17, 2018
Amended  IN  Senate  June 20, 2018
Amended  IN  Assembly  May 02, 2018
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 04, 2018
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 20, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2168

Introduced by Assembly Member Thurmond

February 12, 2018

An act to add Chapter 3.9 (commencing with Section 44790) to Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to special education.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2168, Thurmond. Special education: teachers: grant program.
Existing law requires that every individual with exceptional needs who is eligible to receive special education instruction and related services receive that instruction and those services at no cost to his or her parents or, as appropriate, to him or her. Existing law requires that a special education teacher who provides special education instruction and educational services meet the same “highly qualified” requirements and personnel qualifications as are provided in specified federal law.
This bill would require the establishment of a statewide framework and training and support network for the purpose of training and supporting qualified mentor teachers who will be supporting the new statewide influx of special education teachers in California to be contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or other legislation for this purpose. The bill would require the State Department of Education to award grants on a competitive basis using criteria it establishes. The bill would require the department to allocate a one-time grant of $500,000, upon the appropriation of funds for the above-described purposes, to an eligible entity, as defined, with demonstrated expertise in the area of teacher retention at elementary and secondary schools. The bill would require the department to offer $1,500,000, upon the appropriation of funds for the above-described purposes, as grants to local educational agencies, as defined, to create or expand local and regional infrastructure to support special education teacher mentoring for the purpose of supporting the retention of new special education teachers.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares that in order to ensure the retention of new special education teachers entering the teaching field, it is essential California have a mechanism for growing, supporting, and maintaining high-quality, well-trained, and supported teacher mentors. It is the intent of the Legislature to develop a statewide framework and network to serve as a linkage and foundation of support to accomplish this retention.

SEC. 2.

 Chapter 3.9 (commencing with Section 44790) is added to Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:
CHAPTER  3.9. Special Education Teacher Grant Program

44790.
 The establishment of a statewide framework and training and support network for the purpose of training and supporting qualified mentor teachers who will be supporting the new statewide influx of special education teachers in California, pursuant to this chapter, shall be contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or other legislation for this purpose.

44790.2.
 (a) For purposes of this section, “eligible entity” means any of the following:
(1) An institution of higher education.
(2) A nonprofit public benefit corporation.
(3) A county office of education or school district.
(4) A partnership among multiple organizations of the types described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive.
(b) Upon appropriation of funds pursuant to Section 44790, the department shall allocate a one-time grant of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the purposes set forth in Section 44790 to an eligible entity with demonstrated expertise in the area of teacher retention at elementary and secondary schools.

44790.4.
 (a) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, charter school, or special education local plan area.
(b) Upon appropriation of funds pursuant to Section 44790, the department shall offer one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) as grants to local educational agencies to create or expand local and regional infrastructure to support special education teacher mentoring for the purpose of supporting the retention of new special education teachers.
(c) A local educational agency may use funds awarded pursuant to this section for activities that include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Training for existing teachers to become mentor teachers.
(2) Stipends for mentor teachers. Any stipend provided to a mentor teacher shall be consistent with any applicable local bargaining agreement.
(3) Piloting mentor teacher training systems.
(d) A teacher shall not be required to attain an additional credential or certificate through the commission in order to be a mentor teacher.
(e) No teacher shall be required to be trained as a mentor teacher.

44790.6.
 The department shall award grants pursuant to this chapter on a competitive basis using criteria it establishes.