Today's Law As Amended


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SB-723 Pupil instruction: tutoring program: learning loss mitigation.(2021-2022)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.
 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt elementary and secondary education in the state, and the impact will last long after the pandemic. Early evidence shows that pupils have experienced significant learning loss in both English language arts and mathematics, particularly in earlier grades.
(b) For example, EdSource found: “On the MAP (MAP Growth Assessment) fourth-grade and eighth-grade English language arts test, low-income pupils showed a 7 percent decline in the normal rate of learning, while wealthier pupils showed a 5 percent faster than normal growth rate. Combining the two rates equal a one-year learning gap of 12 percent. On the fifth-grade MAP English language arts test, English language learners showed 30 percent less growth than normal, while non-English learners showed only a 10 percent drop - a gap of 20 percentage points.”
(c) On average, pupils in grades 4 to 12, inclusive, received less instruction than required by the state during distance learning. In addition, access to in-person learning was more limited in school districts with higher high-poverty, Black, Latino, and English language learner pupils.
(d) There is a significant learning loss in both English language arts and mathematics with earlier grades most affected, and Black, Latino, low-income, and English language learners falling more behind.
(e) Current tutoring efforts under the local control funding formula shall not be displaced by the California LEADS (Leadership, Excellence, Academic, Diversity, and Service-Learning) Tutoring Program established by this act, but instead this statewide tutoring program shall be an additional tool for school districts to use.
(f) The California LEADS Tutoring Program will strengthen the teacher pipeline by encouraging pupils to explore careers in education and allow college students to receive college credit toward their degrees to remain on track for graduation.

SEC. 2.

 Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 58550) is added to Part 31 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:

CHAPTER  4. California LEADS Tutoring Program
58550.
 The California LEADS (Leadership, Excellence, Academic, Diversity, and Service-Learning) Tutoring Program is hereby established.
58551.
 For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a) “COVID-19 learning loss” means the missed opportunities for in-person learning caused by school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All public school pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in school districts that meet criteria adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 58552, shall be eligible to participate in the California LEADS Tutoring Program.
(b) “Geo leads” means the geographic lead agencies selected pursuant to Section 52073.
(c) “LEADS participants” means school districts that decide to participate in the California LEADS Tutoring Program.
(d) “Supplemental individualized learning assistance” means tutoring, taking place outside of normal school hours, both online and in-person, designed to help address COVID-19 learning loss.
58552.
 (a) The geo leads shall administer the California LEADS Tutoring Program under the statewide system of support to provide supplemental individualized learning assistance, both in-person and online, to pupils to address COVID-19 learning loss. It is the intent of the Legislature that the California LEADS Tutoring Program continue in existence after the COVID-19 pandemic.
(b) The department shall, on or before April 1, 2022, adopt regulations to govern the California LEADS Tutoring Program. Geo leads shall use these regulations to facilitate and implement the program. The regulations shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) The subjects and modes of instruction for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to be offered by the tutoring program.
(2) Criteria for school districts that are eligible to participate in the program, including those that are in the red or orange tier based on the academic indicator on the California School Dashboard maintained by the department pursuant to Section 52064.5.
(3) Guidelines on how school districts will conduct outreach to pupils to enroll in the program.
(4) Require instruction in English language arts and mathematics. The regulations may authorize instruction in other subjects.
(5) Guidelines on selecting tutors that ensure all of the following:
(A) All tutor applicants are thoroughly vetted.
(B) All tutor applicants who are themselves pupils or students are in good academic standing.
(C) All tutor applicants have passed a criminal background check.
(D) All tutor applicants have been interviewed and obtained relevant training.
(E) Retired teachers are encouraged to become tutors.
(F) Recipients of the State Seal of Biliteracy are encouraged to participate in the program and become a tutor.
(6) Proposed mechanisms for tutors enrolled in postsecondary educational institutions to receive college credit and workstudy for tutoring.
(7) Provide mechanisms for the California LEADS Tutoring Program to strengthen the teacher pipeline by encouraging tutors to pursue careers in education.
(8) Guidelines for LEADS participants to compensate tutors with stipends for their work during the duration of the program.
58553.
 (a) On or before May 1, 2022, geo leads shall notify the department of school districts that have decided to participate in the California LEADS Tutoring Program.
(b) The department shall, on or before June 1, 2022, announce the list of school districts that have decided to participate in the California LEADS Tutoring Program.
58554.
 Upon being announced as a LEADS participant and appropriation by the Legislature, each LEADS participant shall be apportioned funding that shall be used for supplemental individualized learning assistance.
58555.
 Each LEADS participant shall, on or before August 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, submit a report to the department detailing learning gains and program costs.
58556.
 (a) The department shall, on or before December 31, 2023, submit a report to the Legislature on the California LEADS Tutoring Program that includes, but is not limited to, a recommendation on how to improve the program.
(b) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
58557.
 This chapter shall become operative only upon an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or in another statute for this purpose.