Today's Law As Amended


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SB-1115 Professional learning: mathematics and literacy.(2023-2024)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.
 (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) Schools are in a state of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and while there have been promising gains in mathematics and English language arts proficiency scores, pupils and educators continue to need support.
(2) In order to retain and recruit California’s educator workforce, it is critical that educators are provided with comprehensive, effective, and equitable professional learning rooted in sound theoretical principles and evidence-based practices.
(3) High-quality professional learning has a positive impact on educator practices and improves pupil learning outcomes.
(4) All educators should feel prepared to teach mathematics and literacy.
(5) Research shows that strategic preparation and ongoing professional learning for educators is key for addressing and narrowing the achievement gap.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide robust professional learning in literacy and mathematics to at least 300,000 classified and credentialed staff.

SEC. 2.

 Section 44473 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 44472, to read:

44473.
 (a) On or before January 1, 2026, the department shall identify and recommend high-quality professional learning programs for certificated and classified staff that support pupil development in mathematics and literacy and do all of the following:
(1) Include literacy professional learning for certificated and classified staff serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 6, inclusive, that align with the principles of the science of reading by focusing on results-driven methods of teaching, which may include, but is not limited to, offerings such as Lexia LETRS and CORE Learning.
(2) Support the development of biliteracy in pupils.
(3) Have proven, evidence-based outcomes for pupils.
(4) Have proven, evidence-based outcomes for educator knowledge and instruction.
(5) Focus on pupil engagement and equity.
(6) Address supports for pupils.
(7) Support educators at different stages and roles in their careers with offerings of varied duration and intensity that tie to their specific responsibilities.
(b) (1) The sum of ____ ($____) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent for allocation to local educational agencies for purposes of providing high-quality professional learning programs for certificated and classified staff that support pupil development in mathematics and literacy, including, but not limited to, those identified and recommended by the department pursuant to subdivision (a).
(2) For purposes of this section, the department may also:
(A) Identify and leverage current and future funding opportunities, including appropriate public, private, and federal funding to support the use of high-quality professional learning programs for certificated and classified staff that support pupil development in mathematics and literacy.
(B) (i) Establish, where appropriate, project partnerships with other public and private agencies, to support the use of high-quality professional learning programs for certificated and classified staff that support pupil development in mathematics and literacy.
(ii) Notwithstanding any other law, contracts awarded pursuant to clause (i) are exempt from the personal services contracting requirements of Article 4 (commencing with Section 19130) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the Public Contract Code, and the State Contracting Manual, the approval of the Department of General Services, and the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program requirements of Article 6 (commencing with Section 999) of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code.
(3) A local educational agency may use funds allocated pursuant to this section for any high-quality professional learning programs for certificated and classified staff that support pupil development in mathematics and literacy, including, but not limited to, those identified and recommended by the department, if they comply with the requirements specified in paragraphs (1) to (7), inclusive, of subdivision (a).
(c) As a condition of receiving funds apportioned pursuant to this section, a local educational agency shall report to the department, in a manner prescribed by the department and at times prescribed by the department, measurable outcomes of pupil achievement due to the professional learning provided pursuant to this section, including, but not limited to, test scores, pupil attendance, and graduation rates.
(d) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, charter school, or state special school.