AB 1661: School accountability: federal compliance with accountability requirements.

Commencing with the 201718 school year, the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, requires the state to identify schools for comprehensive support and improvement pursuant to specified accountability system requirements. The federal Every Student Succeeds Act provides for the allotment of formula grants to states for various activities to support effective educational instruction.

This bill would update cross-references to the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act and make various conforming changes, including to provisions relating to foster youth and provisions relating to parent and family engagement programs. By imposing additional requirements on school districts and county offices of education in regards to written parent and family engagement programs, and to the extent other changes are in addition to what is required by federal law, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.