SB 460: Pupils redesignated as fluent English proficient: local control funding formula: local control and accountability plans.

(1)Existing law establishes a public school financing system that requires state funding for county superintendents of schools, school districts, and charter schools to be calculated pursuant to a local control funding formula, as specified. Existing law requires funding pursuant to the local control funding formula to include, in addition to a base grant, supplemental and concentration grant add-ons that are based on the percentage of certain categories of pupils, known as unduplicated pupils, served by the county superintendent of schools, school district, or charter school. Existing law includes among unduplicated pupils, a pupil who is classified as an English learner, eligible for a free or reduced-price meal, or a foster youth, as defined, and requires county superintendents of schools, school districts, and charter schools to submit and report data relating to these pupils.

This bill, until statewide pupil redesignation standards are adopted after January 1, 2016, by statute or regulation, or until July 1, 2019, whichever occurs first, would include a pupil who is redesignated as fluent English proficient, as specified, as an unduplicated pupil. The bill would authorize a county superintendent of schools, school district, or charter school to receive a specified percentage of the supplemental and concentration grant add-ons for pupils redesignated as fluent English proficient for the 2 consecutive fiscal years following redesignation, as specified. By requiring county superintendents of schools, school districts, and charter schools to also submit and report data related to pupils redesignated as fluent English proficient, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make the operation of the above-specified provisions contingent upon the enactment of an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, as specified.

(2)Existing law requires the governing board of each school district and each county board of education to adopt a local control and accountability plan and requires the governing board of each school district and each county board of education to update its local control and accountability plan before July 1 of each year. Existing law requires a local control and accountability plan to include, among other things, a description of the annual goals to be achieved for each state priority, as specified, for all pupils and certain subgroups of pupils. Existing law requires a charter school petition to contain, among other things, a reasonably comprehensive description of annual goals to be achieved in each applicable state priority, as specified, for all pupils and certain subgroups of pupils, and specific annual actions to achieve those goals. Existing law requires a charter school to annually update the goals and annual actions to achieve those goals, as specified. Existing law provides that, among other things, implementation of the academic content and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education is a state priority.

This bill would add, within that state priority, identification of any specialized programs or services provided to pupils redesignated as fluent English proficient in order for them to maintain proficiency in English and access the common core academic content standards, adopted as specified, and a broad course of study that includes certain subject areas. The bill would specify that a local control and accountability plan also include a description of the annual goals to be achieved for each state priority for pupils redesignated as fluent English proficient. By requiring the governing board of each school district and each county board of education to include additional information in the local control and accountability plan, and requiring each charter school to include additional information in its annual goals, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(3)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.