Today's Law As Amended


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SB-309 School finance: college readiness: grants and notification. (2021-2022)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 41580 of the Education Code is repealed.

41580.
 (a) The sum of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent for transfer by the Controller to Section A of the State School Fund for allocation by the Superintendent to establish the College Readiness Block Grant in the manner and for the purposes set forth in this section.
(b) The College Readiness Block Grant is hereby established for the purposes of providing California’s high school pupils, particularly unduplicated pupils as defined in Sections 42238.01 and 42238.02, additional supports to increase the number of pupils who enroll at institutions of higher education and complete an undergraduate degree within four years.
(c) The Superintendent shall allocate an equal amount per unduplicated pupil enrolled in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, during the 2015–16 fiscal year to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools. A school district, county office of education, or charter school serving at least one unduplicated pupil in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, during the 2015–16 fiscal year shall receive a total allocation of not less than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000). A school district, county office of education, or charter school is eligible for an allocation pursuant to this subdivision only for unduplicated pupils, as defined in Sections 42238.01 and 42238.02, attending a school that is currently accredited or in the process of obtaining accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. These funds are available for expenditure or encumbrance through the 2018–19 fiscal year.
(d) Block grant funds apportioned to eligible local educational agencies shall be used for activities that directly support pupil access and successful matriculation to institutions of higher education. Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Providing teachers, administrators, and counselors with professional development opportunities to improve pupil A–G course completion rates, pupil college-going rates, and college readiness of pupils, including providing for the development of honors and Advanced Placement courses.
(2) Beginning or increasing counseling services to pupils and their families regarding college admission requirements and financial aid programs.
(3) Developing or purchasing materials that support college readiness, including materials that support high performance on assessments required for admittance to a postsecondary educational institution.
(4) Developing comprehensive advising plans to support pupil completion of A–G course requirements.
(5) Implementing collaborative partnerships between high schools and postsecondary educational institutions that support pupil transition to postsecondary education, including, but not limited to, strengthening existing partnerships with the University of California and the California State University to establish early academic outreach and college preparatory programs.
(6) Providing subsidies to unduplicated pupils, as defined in Sections 42238.01 and 42238.02, to pay fees for taking Advanced Placement examinations.
(7) Expanding access to coursework or other opportunities to satisfy A–G course requirements to all pupils, including, but not necessarily limited to, pupils enrolled in schools identified by the department as high schools with 75 percent or greater enrollment of unduplicated pupils, pursuant to subdivision (g). These opportunities may include, but shall not be limited to, new or expanded partnerships with other secondary or postsecondary educational institutions.
(e) As a condition for receiving funds under this article, a school district, county office of education, or charter school shall develop a plan describing how the funds will increase or improve services for unduplicated pupils to ensure college readiness. The plan shall include information regarding how it aligns with the school district’s local control and accountability plan required pursuant to Section 52060, the county superintendent of schools’ local control and accountability plan required pursuant to Section 52066, or the charter school’s local control and accountability plan required pursuant to Section 47605 or 47605.6 and Section 47606.5. The plan shall also include a description of the extent to which all pupils within the school district, county office of education, or charter school, particularly unduplicated pupils, as defined in Sections 42238.01 and 42238.02, will have access to A–G courses approved by the University of California. In order to ensure community and stakeholder input, the plan shall be discussed at a regularly scheduled meeting by the governing board of the school district, county board of education, or governing body of the charter school and adopted at a subsequent regularly scheduled meeting.
(f) As a condition for receiving funds under this article, grant recipients shall report to the Superintendent by January 1, 2017, on how they will measure the impact of the funds received on their unduplicated pupils’ access and successful matriculation to institutions of higher education, as identified within their plan. The department shall compile the information reported pursuant to this subdivision and submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before April 30, 2017, and shall update the state board on the contents of that report at a regularly scheduled meeting of the state board.
(g) The Superintendent shall annually post on the department’s internet website a list of each school with a percentage of unduplicated pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, of at least 75 percent of the school’s total enrollment in grades 9 to 12, inclusive.
(h) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriations made by subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2015–16 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2015–16 fiscal year.

SEC. 2.

 Section 41580 is added to the Education Code, to read:

41580.
 (a) Contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for these purposes, the Superintendent shall establish the A–G Completion Improvement Grant Program in the manner and for the purpose set forth in this section.
(b) The A–G Completion Improvement Grant Program is hereby established for the purpose of providing additional supports to local educational agencies to help increase the number of California high school pupils, particularly unduplicated pupils, who graduate from high school with A–G eligibility.
(c) (1) (A) For the 2021–22 fiscal year, the Superintendent shall allocate one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000), if sufficient funds have been appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a), in an equal amount per unduplicated pupil enrolled in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, for the 2020–21 fiscal year to each local educational agency that is identified by the department pursuant to subdivision (g) as having an overall A–G completion rate of less than 45 percent. A local educational agency that is otherwise eligible and is receiving concentration grant funding during the 2020–21 fiscal year shall receive a total allocation under this paragraph of not less than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000). These funds are available for expenditure or encumbrance through the 2025–26 fiscal year. It is the intent of the Legislature that funds be appropriated for these purposes on an ongoing annual basis.
(B) The allocation under this subdivision shall be known as an A–G Access Grant.
(2) An A–G Access Grant shall be used for activities that directly support pupil access to, and successful completion of, the A–G course requirements. Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(A) Providing teachers, administrators, and counselors with professional development opportunities to improve the local educational agency’s A–G completion rate.
(B) Developing comprehensive advising plans and pupil supports, including tutoring programs, to improve the local educational agency’s A–G completion rate.
(C) Expanding access to coursework or other opportunities to satisfy A–G course requirements to all pupils, including, but not necessarily limited to, unduplicated pupils. These opportunities may include, but shall not be limited to, course development, course review, and new or expanded partnerships with other secondary or postsecondary educational institutions.
(d) (1) (A) For the 2021–22 fiscal year, the Superintendent shall allocate fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), if sufficient funds have been appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a), in an equal amount per unduplicated pupil enrolled in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, for the 2020–21 fiscal year to each local educational agency that certifies to the department that it has incorporated the A–G course requirements into its local graduation requirements and is identified by the department pursuant to subdivision (g) as having an overall A–G completion rate of less than 80 percent. A local educational agency that is otherwise eligible and is receiving concentration grant funding during the 2020–21 fiscal year shall receive a total allocation under this paragraph of not less than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000). These funds are available for expenditure or encumbrance through the 2025–26 fiscal year. It is the intent of the Legislature that funds be appropriated for these purposes on an ongoing annual basis.
(B) The allocation under this subdivision shall be known as an A–G Success Grant.
(2) An A–G Success Grant shall be used for activities that directly support the successful completion of the A–G course requirements. Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to, either of the following:
(A) Providing teachers, administrators, and counselors with professional development opportunities to improve the local educational agency’s A–G completion rate.
(B) Developing comprehensive advising plans and pupil supports, including tutoring programs, to improve the local educational agency’s A–G completion rate.
(3) The Legislature encourages local educational agencies to direct A–G Success Grant funds towards pupils in danger of not achieving a grade of “C” or better in A–G courses.
(e) A grant recipient shall develop a plan describing how the funds received under this section will increase or improve services for unduplicated pupils to improve A–G eligibility. The plan shall include information regarding how it aligns with the school district’s local control and accountability plan required pursuant to Section 52060, the county superintendent of schools’ local control and accountability plan required pursuant to Section 52066, or the charter school’s local control and accountability plan required pursuant to Section 47605 or 47605.6 and Section 47606.5. The plan shall also include a description of the extent to which all pupils within the local educational agency, particularly unduplicated pupils, will have access to A–G courses approved by the University of California. In order to ensure community and stakeholder input, the plan shall be discussed at a regularly scheduled meeting by the governing board of the school district, county board of education, or governing body of the charter school and adopted at a subsequent regularly scheduled meeting.
(f) A grant recipient shall report to the Superintendent on or before December 31, 2023, on how they are measuring the impact of the funds received under this section on its A–G completion rate, as identified within their plan, and the outcomes based on those measurements. The department shall compile the information reported pursuant to this subdivision and submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before April 30, 2024, and shall update the state board on the contents of that report at a regularly scheduled meeting of the state board. A grant recipient shall report to the Superintendent on or before August 31, 2026, on final outcomes that measure the impact of the funds received under this section on its A–G completion rate.
(g) The Superintendent shall annually post on the department’s internet website in an easily accessible location a list of each local educational agency’s and each individual high school’s A–G completion rate.
(h) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “A–G completion rate” means the percentage of pupils who have satisfied the A–G subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California with a grade of “C” or better in each of the required courses upon graduation for the prior year.
(2) “A–G course” means a course that may be used to satisfy the A–G subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3) “A–G eligibility” means the pupil has satisfied the A–G subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California with a grade of “C” or better in each of the required courses.
(4) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.
(5) “Unduplicated pupil” has the same meaning as in Sections 42238.01 and 42238.02.

SEC. 3.

 Section 51228 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51228.
 (a) (1)  Each school district maintaining any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, shall offer to all otherwise qualified pupils in those grades a course of study fulfilling the requirements and prerequisites for admission to the California public institutions of postsecondary education and  education, including, but not limited to, the A–G subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California, and  shall provide a timely opportunity to each of those pupils to enroll within a four-year period in each course necessary to fulfill those requirements and prerequisites prior to  before  graduation from high school.
(2) Commencing with the 2026–27 school year, each county office of education and charter school maintaining any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, shall comply with the requirements described in paragraph (1).
(b) Each school district maintaining any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, shall offer to all otherwise qualified pupils in those grades a course of study that provides an opportunity for those pupils to attain entry-level employment skills in business or industry upon graduation from high school. Districts are encouraged to provide all pupils with a rigorous academic curriculum that integrates academic and career skills, incorporates applied learning in all disciplines, and prepares all pupils for high school graduation and career entry.
(c) A school district that adopts a required curriculum that meets or exceeds the model standards developed and adopted by the state board pursuant to Section 51226 shall be deemed to have fulfilled its responsibilities pursuant to subdivision (b).
(d) A school district that adopts a required curriculum pursuant to subdivision (c) that meets or exceeds the model standards developed by the state board pursuant to Section 51226, or that adopts alternative means for pupils to complete the prescribed course of study pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 51225.3, may substitute pupil demonstration of competence in the prescribed subjects through a practical demonstration of these skills in a regional occupational center or program, work experience, interdisciplinary study, independent study, credit earned at a postsecondary institution, or other outside school experience, as prescribed by Section 51225.3.

SEC. 4.

 Section 51229 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51229.
 (a) Each school year, as part of the annual notification required pursuant to Section 48980, a school district  a local educational agency  offering any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, shall provide the parent or guardian of each minor pupil enrolled in any of those grades in the district  local educational agency  with written notification that, to the extent possible, shall not exceed one page in length and that includes all of the following:
(1) A brief explanation of the college admission requirements. A–G course requirements for college admission. 
(2) Whether the local educational agency has adopted the A–G course requirements for college admissions into its local graduation requirements.
(3) The A–G completion rate for each high school within the local educational agency.
(4) Notification that if a pupil does not complete the A–G course requirements for college admission with a grade of “C” or better in each of the required courses, the pupil is not eligible for admission to the University of California or the California State University directly from high school.
(2) (5)  A list of the current University of California and California State University internet websites that help pupils and their families learn about college admission requirements and  requirements,  that list high school courses that have been certified by the University of California as satisfying the requirements for admission to the University of California and the California State University. University, and that offer those courses online by the University of California. 
(3) (6)  A brief description of what career technical education is, as defined by the department.
(4) (7)  The internet address for the portion of the department’s  internet website of the department  where pupils can learn more about career technical education.
(5) (8)  Information about how pupils may meet with school counselors to help them choose courses at their schools school  that will meet college admission requirements or enroll in career technical education courses, or both.
(b) (1) Each school year, a local educational agency offering grade 8 shall provide the parent or guardian of each minor pupil enrolled in grade 8 in the local educational agency with written notification that, to the extent possible, shall not exceed one page in length and that includes all of the following:
(A) A brief explanation of the A–G course requirements for college admission.
(B) The A–G completion rate for each high school within the local educational agency, if applicable, and within the pupil’s school district of residence for grade 9, as determined by the pupil’s current address.
(6) (C)  A separate and distinct disclosure, provided as part of the school district’s annual parent notification, as required by the federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g), that data may be shared with the California College Guidance Initiative to provide pupils and their families with direct access to online tools and resources for college and career planning. Notification that if a pupil does not complete the A–G course requirements for college admission with a grade of “C” or better in each of the required courses, the pupil is not eligible for admission to the University of California or the California State University directly from high school. 
(7) (D)  Direction to the CaliforniaColleges.edu platform in order to access resources  A list of the current University of California and California State University internet websites  that help pupils and their families learn about college admissions requirements. admission requirements, that list high school courses that have been certified by the University of California as satisfying the requirements for admission to the University of California and the California State University, and that offer those courses online by the University of California. 
(2) A school district subject to this subdivision may include the information required by this subdivision within the notification required pursuant to Section 48980.
(c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “A–G completion rate” means the percentage of pupils who have satisfied the A–G subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California with a grade of “C” or better in each of the required courses upon graduation for the prior year.
(b) (2)  For purposes of this section, “college admission requirements”  “A–G course requirements for college admission”  means the list of courses that satisfy the A–G  subject matter  requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California.
(3) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.
SEC. 5.
 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.