(1)
Existing law establishes various programs that relate to reading development for elementary pupils, including the Reading Initiative Program, the Comprehensive Reading Leadership Program, and the Back to Basics Summer School Reading Program. Under existing law, the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, is required to include instruction in the skill of reading.
This bill would do each of the following with regard to reading development:
(a)
Establish the Elementary School Intensive Reading Program, whereby increased funding would be available, upon application, to school districts that maintain kindergarten and any of grades 1 to 4, inclusive, for the operation of a program that provides multiple, intensive reading opportunities for pupils in those grades and would require a school district, when expending these funds, to give first priority to increasing instructional opportunities for pupils who are experiencing difficulty learning to read. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with input from an advisory committee, to evaluate the program. The bill would appropriate $75,000,000 to the State School Fund for allocation by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to school districts that apply for funding pursuant to this program, and would require that the appropriation be included in the amounts appropriated by the state in the 1999–2000 fiscal year for the purpose of meeting the state’s minimum funding obligation to school districts and community college districts under Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution for that fiscal year.
(b)
Establish the Governor’s Reading Award Program, to be administered by the state Secretary for Education, whereby annual awards of up to $5,000 would be provided to schools offering instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 8, inclusive, whose pupils meet certain reading criteria. The bill would require the state Secretary for Education to develop criteria for the awards. The bill would appropriate $2,000,000 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for allocation to applicant school districts, and would require that the appropriation be included in the amounts appropriated by the state in the 1999–2000 fiscal year for the purpose of meeting the state’s minimum funding obligation to school districts and community college districts under Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution for that fiscal year.
(c)
Request the Regents of the University of California to jointly establish, with the Trustees of the California State University and the independent colleges and universities, the California Reading Professional Development Institutes. The bill would appropriate $6,000,000 to the State School Fund for allocation by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to school districts, and would require that the appropriation be included in the amounts appropriated by the state in the 1999–2000 fiscal year for the purpose of meeting the state’s minimum funding obligation to school districts and community college districts under Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution for that fiscal year.
(2)
Existing provisions of the California Constitution establish the University of California as a public trust under the administration of the Regents of the University of California.
This bill would request the Regents of the University of California to develop a teacher preparation program to be known as the Governor’s Teacher Scholars Program and to develop an administrator preparation program to be known as the Governor’s Principal Leadership Institute, in accordance with prescribed criteria.
The bill would also require the state Secretary for Education to contract for the development and establishment of a public involvement campaign to promote reading in the public schools and would appropriate $4,000,000 from the General Fund for this purpose.
The bill would appropriate, without regard to fiscal years, a total of $7,000,000 from the General Fund to the Regents of the University of California for the Governor’s Teacher Scholars Program, the Governor’s Principal Leadership Institute, and for administering the California Reading Professional Development Institutes.
The bill would not be applicable to the University of California and the $7,000,000 appropriation would not be operative unless and until the Regents of the University of California act, by resolution, to make the bill applicable.
(3)
The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.