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AB-51 Early childcare and education: California state preschool program.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 09/27/2024 10:00 AM
AB51:v88#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 51
CHAPTER 618

An act to add Section 8222 to the Education Code, relating to early childcare and education.

[ Approved by Governor  September 26, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State  September 26, 2024. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 51, Bonta. Early childcare and education: California state preschool program.
The Early Education Act establishes the California Universal Preschool Planning Grant Program with the goal of expanding access universally to preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old children across the state through a mixed-delivery system, as defined. The act requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish rules and regulations for the staffing of all preschool programs under contract with the State Department of Education.
This bill would, notwithstanding any provision of the act to contrary, require the department to, among other things, provide prospective California state preschool program providers an equitable opportunity to establish a trained workforce and administrative systems, and technical assistance on how to meet the requirements of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, as provided. The bill would, notwithstanding any provision of the act to contrary, require the department to, among other things, develop early learning resources, as specified, and to develop and implement a proactive one-time 3-year outreach, capacity building, training, and technical assistance plan that targets prospective and new contractors, as provided. The bill would make its provisions operative only upon appropriation by the Legislature for its purposes.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 8222 is added to the Education Code, to read:

8222.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the department shall do all of the following:
(1) Provide prospective California state preschool program contractors an equitable opportunity to establish a trained workforce and administrative systems, and technical assistance on how to meet the requirements of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, including applicants that meet either of the following:
(A) The applicant has not received a California state preschool program contract within the last five years.
(B) The applicant has not previously received a California state preschool program contract.
(2) Develop early learning resources, including, but not limited to, early learning resources regarding all of the following:
(A) The importance of early learning to improve school readiness for kindergarten and pupil outcomes in elementary and secondary schools.
(B) Best practices of existing successful early learning programs.
(C) Information on statutes and regulations pertaining to early learning programs.
(D) Instructions for paper and electronic applications for administrative and funding purposes relating to operating an early learning program, including requests for applications.
(3) Develop and communicate guidance to inform prospective and existing universal preschools, as defined in Section 8320, about current flexibilities available to serve children in mixed-income settings, such as through combining public funding and private tuition.
(4) Develop and implement a proactive one-time three-year outreach, capacity building, training, and technical assistance plan that shall target prospective and new contractors, and which shall include, but not be limited to, a plan for application technical assistance for prospective first-time California state preschool program contractors. The plan shall include both web-based and in-person opportunities for training and technical assistance.
(5) Disseminate information regarding training and technical assistance events, trainings, and resources through multiple communication channels, including, but not limited to, letters, departmental LISTSERVs, and social media.
(6) (A) Create, for purposes of more effective outreach and communication and to provide more services and educational opportunities to three- and four-year-old children, a separate webpage on its internet website that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(i) Detailed information on starting, funding, and operating a California state preschool program.
(ii) Existing resources from the department pertaining to technical assistance for early learning programs, including past and upcoming webinars and events.
(iii) The early learning resources described in paragraph (2).
(iv) Dates and times of upcoming trainings and technical assistance events conducted pursuant to paragraph (4).
(v) Online electronic applications.
(B) The department shall complete the webpage described in subparagraph (A), and make it publicly accessible, on or before January 1, 2026. The department shall annually update the webpage, including, but not limited to, updating the webpage to reflect any new or revised statutes or regulations.
(C) The department may modify the California state preschool program request for application requirements to simplify and streamline the application process for prospective California state preschool program contractors.
(b) This section shall only become operative upon appropriation by the Legislature for its purposes.