Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to annually notify parents or guardians of minor pupils of specified rights and responsibilities of the parent or guardian and of specified school district policies and procedures. Existing law requires, as part of the annual notification, a school district offering any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to provide the parent or guardian of each minor pupil enrolled in any of those grades in the school district with written notification that includes, among other things, a brief explanation of college admission requirements and a brief description of what career technical education is, as provided.

This bill would require a school district, county office of education, or charter school to annually notify the parents or guardians of pupils admitted to, or advancing to, grades 7 to 12, inclusive, of specified courses offered by the local educational agency, as provided. The bill would require school districts to provide this notice as part of the annual notification required by the above-described provisions. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, 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, 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to annually notify parents or guardians of minor pupils of specified rights and responsibilities of the parent or guardian and of specified school district policies and procedures. Existing law requires, as part of the annual notification, a school district offering any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to provide the parent or guardian of each minor pupil enrolled in any of those grades in the school district with written notification that includes, among other things, a brief explanation of college admission requirements and a brief description of what career technical education is, as provided.

This bill would require a school district, county office of education, or charter school to annually notify the parents or guardians of pupils admitted to, or advancing to, grades 7 to 12, inclusive, of specified courses offered by the local educational agency, as provided. The bill would require school districts to provide this notice as part of the annual notification required by the above-described provisions. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, 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, 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to annually notify parents or guardians of minor pupils of specified rights and responsibilities of the parent or guardian and of specified school district policies and procedures. Existing law requires, as part of the annual notification, a school district offering any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to provide the parent or guardian of each minor pupil enrolled in any of those grades in the school district with written notification that includes, among other things, a brief explanation of college admission requirements and a brief description of what career technical education is, as provided.

This bill would require a school district, county office of education, or charter school to annually notify the parents or guardians of pupils admitted to, or advancing to, grades 7 to 12, inclusive, of specified courses offered by the local educational agency, as provided. The bill would require school districts to provide this notice as part of the annual notification required by the above-described provisions. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, 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, 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to annually notify parents or guardians of minor pupils of specified rights and responsibilities of the parent or guardian and of specified school district policies and procedures. Existing law requires, as part of the annual notification, a school district offering any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to provide the parent or guardian of each minor pupil enrolled in any of those grades in the school district with written notification that includes, among other things, a brief explanation of college admission requirements and a brief description of what career technical education is, as provided.

This bill would require a school district, county office of education, or charter school serving pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to annually inform parents of specified course offerings that may be available at their childs school, as provided. to annually notify the parents or guardians of pupils admitted to, or advancing to, grades 7 to 12, inclusive, of specified courses offered by the local educational agency, as provided. The bill would require school districts to provide this notice as part of the annual notification required by the above-described provisions. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, 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, 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to annually notify parents or guardians of minor pupils of specified rights and responsibilities of the parent or guardian and of specified school district policies and procedures. Existing law requires, as part of the annual notification, a school district offering any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to provide the parent or guardian of each minor pupil enrolled in any of those grades in the school district with written notification that includes, among other things, a brief explanation of college admission requirements and a brief description of what career technical education is, as provided.

This bill would require a school district, county office of education, or charter school serving pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to annually inform parents of specified course offerings that may be available at their childs school, as provided. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, 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, 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 1796

Author:(Alanis)

As Amended Ver:May 15, 2024

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Requires a local educational agency (LEA), county office of education (COE), or charter school, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, to annually notify the parents or guardians of pupils admitted to, or advancing to, grades 7 to 12, inclusive, of any dual enrollment or International Baccalaureate (IB) opportunities.

Senate Amendments

Added co-authors.

COMMENTS

How do parents learn about course offerings at schools? This bill would require that parents be notified about various course offerings at their children's schools. The author suggests that improving awareness among parents will result in increased offerings and enrollment in these courses, which will ultimately help the state meet its workforce demands. This theory has led to many requirements in statute that parents be notified of many aspects of school policy and operations, as noted below.

The annual notification is not typically the means by which parents learn of course offerings at their children's schools. Course information is provided to students and parents by school counselors and teachers, and through schools' course catalogs, which are usually made available in hard copy and electronically on school district websites. It is through this process that parents typically learn about course offerings like AP, IB, CTE, and dual enrollment.

According to the Author

"In recent years, California has made strides in increasing access to career technical education pathways and designating funding for course development and student success. However, there are still gaps in some of our vital industries across the state, including agriculture and natural resources, manufacturing and product development, and public services. These industries not only play a key role in California's economy and public safety, but these industries also offer competitive salaries and benefits that could change the course of someone's life if they are able to access the necessary coursework and job requirements."

AB 1796 is a small step that local education agencies (LEA)s can take to increase communication with their students and parents/guardians to ensure that every student is provided with the necessary knowledge of what is available to them and what is beneficial for their future success."

Arguments in Support

The Los Angeles County Office of Education writes, "This bill, by requiring educational institutions to annually inform parents of course offerings available at their child's school, addresses a crucial aspect of parental involvement in the education of students and offers transparency to the community. Informed and engaged parental community plays a pivotal role in enhancing student outcomes, particularly in the priority areas of Graduation Rate and College Career Indicator, as highlighted in the California School Dashboard."

Arguments in Opposition

None on file

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.

VOTES:

ASM EDUCATION: 7-0-0

YES: Muratsuchi, Addis, Alvarez, Bonta, Flora, Hoover, McCarty

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-0-1

YES: Wicks, Sanchez, Arambula, Bryan, Calderon, Dixon, Mike Fong, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Jim Patterson, Pellerin, Ta, Villapudua

ABS, ABST OR NV: Wendy Carrillo

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 72-0-8

YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Calderon, Juan Carrillo, Wendy Carrillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, Dixon, Flora, Mike Fong, Vince Fong, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Holden, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Lackey, Lee, Low, Lowenthal, Maienschein, McCarty, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Stephanie Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Jim Patterson, Joe Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rendon, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Santiago, Schiavo, Soria, Ta, Ting, Valencia, Villapudua, Waldron, Wallis, Ward, Weber, Wicks, Wilson, Wood, Zbur, Robert Rivas

ABS, ABST OR NV: Arambula, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Cervantes, Megan Dahle, Essayli, Mathis

SENATE FLOOR: 37-0-3

YES: Allen, Archuleta, Ashby, Atkins, Becker, Blakespear, Bradford, Caballero, Cortese, Dahle, Dodd, Durazo, Eggman, Glazer, Gonzalez, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, McGuire, Menjivar, Min, Newman, Nguyen, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Portantino, Roth, Rubio, Seyarto, Skinner, Smallwood-Cuevas, Umberg, Wahab, Wiener, Wilk

ABS, ABST OR NV: Alvarado-Gil, Limón, Stern

UPDATED

VERSION: May 15, 2024

CONSULTANT: Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0003534

 CONSENT  

Bill No: AB 1796

Author: Alanis (R), et al.

Amended: 5/15/24 in Senate

Vote: 21

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 7-0, 5/29/24

AYES: Newman, Ochoa Bogh, Cortese, Glazer, Gonzalez, Smallwood-Cuevas, Wilk

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 72-0, 4/18/24 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Pupil instruction: course offerings: parental notification

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill would require a local educational agency (LEA), county office of education (COE), or charter school, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, to annually notify the parents or guardians of pupils admitted to, or advancing to, grades 7 to 12, inclusive, of any dual enrollment or International Baccalaureate (IB) opportunities.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires, if a school district elects to allow a career technical education (CTE) course to satisfy the requirements related to the visual and performing arts high school graduation requirement, that information about the high school graduation requirements of the school district and how each requirement satisfies or does not satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC) and complete list of CTE courses offered by the school district that satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the CSU and the UC, and which of the specific college admission requirements these courses satisfy. (Education Code (EC) § 48980(l))
2. Requires a school district offering any of grades 9 to 12 to provide the parent or guardian, in the annual notification, information that includes all of the following:
3. A brief description of what CTE is, as defined by the California Department of Education (CDE);
4. The CDE webpage where students can learn more about CTE; and
5. Information about how students may meet with school counselors to help them choose courses at their school that will meet college admission requirements or enroll in CTE courses, or both. (EC § 51229)
6. Establishes the school accountability report card (SARC) to provide data by which a parent can make meaningful comparisons between public schools that will enable them to make informed decisions on the school in which to enroll their children. (EC § 33126)
7. Requires the governing board of each LEA to issue a SARC for each school in the school district, publicize those reports, and to make this information available on the internet. (EC § 35258)

This bill requires a LEA, COE, or charter school, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, to annually notify the parents or guardians of pupils admitted to, or advancing to, grades 7 to 12, inclusive, of any dual enrollment or IB.

Comments

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “In recent years, California has made strides in increasing access to both college and alternative pathways for those graduating with a GED. However, there are still gaps in some of our vital industries across the state, and students are still struggling to afford college tuition as the cost of living increases. International Baccalaureate (IB) and dual enrollment courses are great options for students to earn college credit and learn at a more advanced pace.”
2. Existing Law Provides Information On CTE and Advanced Placement (AP) Courses. The current law requires parents to be informed, either in the annual notification or through the SARC, a report card meant to provide parents and the community with important information about each school is produced by February 1 of each year and can be found on the California CDE website, about the following:
   1. What CTE is, with links for more information;
   2. A list of CTE programs offered by the school district in which pupils at the school may participate;
   3. Information about how students may meet with school counselors to help them choose courses at their school that will meet college admission requirements or enroll in CTE courses, or both;
   4. A complete list of CTE courses offered by the school district that satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the CSU and the UC, and which of the specific college admission requirements these courses satisfy; and
   5. The number of AP courses offered, by subject, and the availability of state funds to pay for AP examination fees.
3. What About Information On Dual Enrollment or IB? While dual enrollment, which provides opportunities for high school students to take college courses and earn college credit, and IB, which helps students develop strong academic, social and emotional characteristics to perform well academically, programs take place at LEA, COE, and charter schools, information is not disseminated to parents in the same manner as dual enrollment and AP courses.

This bill requires a LEA, COE, or charter school, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, to annually notify the parents or guardians of pupils admitted to, or advancing to, grades 7 to 12, inclusive, of any dual enrollment or IB they may offer.

1. Increased Pupil Participation and Interest In Dual Enrolment and IB Courses In Recent Years. Dual enrollment has been steadily increasing in California. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, “All community colleges offer some form of dual enrollment, and more than 112,000 high school students in the 2019–20 graduating class participated—an increase of 56 percent from 2015–16.” Further, the article, Dual Enrollment in California, College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) participants are especially likely to enroll in two-year colleges after high school—in line with the program’s goal of aligning K–12 and community college pathways. Other dual enrollment students are more likely to go to four-year colleges.

Conversely, the IB program allows LEAs, COEs, and charter schools to provide an alternative learning forum that challenges students. The courses are classified as Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). Higher Level courses require two years of study in advanced courses, and Standard Level courses require one or two years of study in advanced courses. At least three and not more than four of the six subjects are taken at the HL, and the course balance is taken at the SL. This allows students to explore some subjects in depth and some more broadly. Students earning the IB Diploma receive advanced college credit at prestigious universities worldwide. Many highly competitive colleges and universities recognize the IB Diploma for admissions and advanced standing. The UC schools award a full year’s college credit to a diploma student who scores 30 out of 45 on the IB assessments. Several schools have already implemented such programs for their students.

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 1171 (Newman, 2024) requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to annually update information on the Cambridge Assessment International Education program available on the CDE’s website to include current information on the various programs available to school districts to offer or access Cambridge Assessment International Education Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced (A) level courses, including online courses. Requires and authorizes the use of the Cambridge Assessment International Education program throughout the Education Code where AP and IB are currently specified. This bill was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 532 (Hernández, Chapter 238, Statutes of 2011) requires the SPI to annually update the information on AP available on the CDE website to include current information on the various means available to school districts to offer or access AP courses, including online courses, and to annually communicate with high schools that offer AP courses in fewer than five subjects and inform them of the various options for making AP courses and other rigorous courses available to pupils who may benefit from them. Required the SPI to annually update information on the IB and AP available on the CDE’s website and to provide support to high schools that offer IB courses. Encouraged the Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges, the Academic Senate of the CSU, and the Academic Senate of the UC to continue their efforts to adopt consistent systemwide guidelines for the acceptance and granting of credit for IB DP courses taken by students while they are in high school.

SB 553 (Hart, Chapter 83, Statutes of 1992) authorized school districts receiving economic impact aid funds to expend those funds to pay for all or part of the costs of AP examinations that are charged to economically disadvantaged pupils. Required the SPI, no later than June 30, 1995, to submit a report to the Legislature describing the effectiveness of that funding in increasing the number of economically disadvantaged pupils enrolled in AP courses who take and pass AP examinations.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes

SUPPORT: (Verified 6/10/24)

California Catholic Conference

California Federation of Teachers

California State PTA

Generation Up

Los Angeles County Office of Education

San Bernardino Community College District

OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/10/24)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the California Federation of Teachers, “CFT — A Union of Educators & Classified Professionals, AFT, AFL-CIO, supports Assembly Bill 1796 (Alanis), which requires a local educational agency (LEA) to notify, as part of its annual notification process, parents, or guardians of students in grades seven through 12 of any dual enrollment and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses it offers. Dual Enrollment and International Baccalaureate courses offer students a wonderful opportunity to get a jump-start on higher education requirements while fulfilling current secondary education graduation requirements. These programs can set students on a direct path to obtaining higher education in a faster, more efficient manner and stir their desires for learning. These programs of course may go unfilled if households are unaware of their existence. This bill requires a basic notification to households about these opportunities for students. CFT joins the author in hope that it leads to further enrollment and completion of Dual Enrollment classes, IB classes, and launches more students into jump-starting their higher education careers. For these reasons, CFT supports AB 1796 and urges an AYE vote.”

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 72-0, 4/18/24

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Calderon, Juan Carrillo, Wendy Carrillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, Dixon, Flora, Mike Fong, Vince Fong, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Holden, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Lackey, Lee, Low, Lowenthal, Maienschein, McCarty, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Stephanie Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Jim Patterson, Joe Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rendon, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Santiago, Schiavo, Soria, Ta, Ting, Valencia, Villapudua, Waldron, Wallis, Ward, Weber, Wicks, Wilson, Wood, Zbur, Robert Rivas

NO VOTE RECORDED: Arambula, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Cervantes, Megan Dahle, Essayli, Mathis

Prepared by: Kordell Hampton / ED. / (916) 651-4105

6/12/24 10:58:52

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Josh Newman, Chair

2023 - 2024 Regular

Bill No: AB 1796 Hearing Date: May 29, 2024

Subject: .

SUMMARY

This bill would require a local educational agency (LEA), county office of education (COE), or charter school, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, to annually notify the parents or guardians of pupils admitted to, or advancing to, grades 7 to 12, inclusive, of any dual enrollment or International Baccalaureate (IB) opportunities.

BACKGROUND

Existing Law:

Education Code (EC)

1. Requires, if a school district elects to allow a career technical education (CTE) course to satisfy the requirements related to the visual and performing arts high school graduation requirement, that information about the high school graduation requirements of the school district and how each requirement satisfies or does not satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC) and complete list of CTE courses offered by the school district that satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the CSU and the UC, and which of the specific college admission requirements these courses satisfy. (EC § 48980(l))
2. Requires a school district offering any of grades 9 to 12 to provide the parent or guardian, in the annual notification, information that includes all of the following:
3. A brief description of what CTE is, as defined by the California Department of Education (CDE);
4. The CDE webpage where students can learn more about CTE; and
5. Information about how students may meet with school counselors to help them choose courses at their school that will meet college admission requirements or enroll in CTE courses, or both. (EC § 51229)
6. Establishes the school accountability report card (SARC) to provide data by which a parent can make meaningful comparisons between public schools that will enable them to make informed decisions on the school in which to enroll their children. (EC § 33126)
7. Requires the governing board of each LEA to issue a SARC for each school in the school district, publicize those reports, and to make this information available on the internet. (EC § 35258)

ANALYSIS

This bill would require a LEA, COE, or charter school, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, to annually notify the parents or guardians of pupils admitted to, or advancing to, grades 7 to 12, inclusive, of any dual enrollment or IB.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “In recent years, California has made strides in increasing access to both college and alternative pathways for those graduating with a GED. However, there are still gaps in some of our vital industries across the state, and students are still struggling to afford college tuition as the cost of living increases. International Baccalaureate (IB) and dual enrollment courses are great options for students to earn college credit and learn at a more advanced pace.”
2. Existing Law Provides Information On CTE and Advanced Placement (AP) Courses. The current law requires parents to be informed, either in the annual notification or through the SARC, a report card meant to provide parents and the community with important information about each school is produced by February 1 of each year and can be found on the California CDE website, about the following:
   1. What CTE is, with links for more information;
   2. A list of CTE programs offered by the school district in which pupils at the school may participate;
   3. Information about how students may meet with school counselors to help them choose courses at their school that will meet college admission requirements or enroll in CTE courses, or both;
   4. A complete list of CTE courses offered by the school district that satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the CSU and the UC, and which of the specific college admission requirements these courses satisfy; and
   5. The number of AP courses offered, by subject, and the availability of state funds to pay for AP examination fees.

What About Information On Dual Enrollment or IB?

While dual enrollment, which provides opportunities for high school students to take college courses and earn college credit, and IB, which helps students develop strong academic, social and emotional characteristics to perform well academically, programs take place at LEA, COE, and charter schools, information is not disseminated to parents in the same manner as dual enrollment and AP courses.

This bill requires a LEA, COE, or charter school, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, to annually notify the parents or guardians of pupils admitted to, or advancing to, grades 7 to 12, inclusive, of any dual enrollment or IB they may offer.

1. Increased Pupil Participation and Interest In Dual Enrolment and IB Courses In Recent Years. Dual enrollment has been steadily increasing in California. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, “All community colleges offer some form of dual enrollment, and more than 112,000 high school students in the 2019–20 graduating class participated—an increase of 56 percent from 2015–16.” Further, the article, Dual Enrollment in California, College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) participants are especially likely to enroll in two-year colleges after high school—in line with the program’s goal of aligning K–12 and community college pathways. Other dual enrollment students are more likely to go to four-year colleges.

Conversely, the IB program allows LEAs, COEs, and charter schools to provide an alternative learning forum that challenges students. The courses are classified as Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). Higher Level courses require two years of study in advanced courses, and Standard Level courses require one or two years of study in advanced courses. At least three and not more than four of the six subjects are taken at the HL, and the course balance is taken at the SL. This allows students to explore some subjects in depth and some more broadly. Students earning the IB Diploma receive advanced college credit at prestigious universities worldwide. Many highly competitive colleges and universities recognize the IB Diploma for admissions and advanced standing. The UC schools award a full year’s college credit to a diploma student who scores 30 out of 45 on the IB assessments. Several schools have already implemented such programs for their students.

1. Related Legislation.

SB 1171 (Newman, 2024) would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to annually update information on the Cambridge Assessment International Education program available on the CDE’s website to include current information on the various programs available to school districts to offer or access Cambridge Assessment International Education Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced (A) level courses, including online courses. Requires and authorizes the use of the Cambridge Assessment International Education program throughout the Education Code where AP and IB are currently specified.

SB 532 (Hernández, Chapter 238, Statutes of 2011) requires the SPI to annually update the information on AP available on the CDE website to include current information on the various means available to school districts to offer or access AP courses, including online courses, and to annually communicate with high schools that offer AP courses in fewer than 5 subjects and inform them of the various options for making AP courses and other rigorous courses available to pupils who may benefit from them. Requires the SPI to annually update information on the IB and AP available on the CDE’s website and to provide support to high schools that offer IB courses. Encouraged the Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges, the Academic Senate of the CSU, and the Academic Senate of the UC to continue their efforts to adopt consistent systemwide guidelines for the acceptance and granting of credit for IB DP courses taken by students while they are in high school.

SB 553 (Hart, Chapter 83, Statutes of 1992) authorized school districts receiving economic impact aid funds to expend those funds to pay for all or part of the costs of AP examinations that are charged to economically disadvantaged pupils. Required the SPI, no later than June 30, 1995, to submit a report to the Legislature describing the effectiveness of that funding in increasing the number of economically disadvantaged pupils enrolled in AP courses who take and pass AP examinations.

SUPPORT

California Federation of Teachers

California State PTA

Generation Up

Los Angeles County Office of Education

San Bernardino Community College District

OPPOSITION

None received

-- END --

Date of Hearing: April 10, 2024

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1796

Author:(Alanis) – As Amended Ver:April 1, 2024

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes

SUMMARY:

This bill requires a local educational agency (LEA) to notify, as part of its annual notification process, parents or guardians of students in grades seven through 12 of any dual enrollment and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses it offers.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Minor, ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund costs for schools to provide the new parental notification. If schools provide the notification as a printed one-page document, costs would be about $.10 per document. If schools use online messaging systems, as many do, costs would be lower. Statewide costs would depend on the number of schools providing the notification as a printed document versus online. For example, if 25% of the state’s approximately 3 million students in grades seventh through 12 received the notification as a printed one-page document, costs would total $75,000 statewide annually.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill’s requirements to be a reimbursable state mandate, the state would need to reimburse these costs to LEAs or provide funding through the K-12 Mandate Block Grant.

COMMENTS:

1. Background. California Education Code section 48980 requires LEAs to provide numerous notifications to parents or guardians at the beginning of each school year. Notifications range from information about an LEA’s sexual harassment policy to a parent’s ability to access state funds for the costs of Advanced Placement exam fees.

This bill adds to this section of law a subsection directing an LEA serving students in grades seven through 12, inclusive, to annually notify parents or guardians of its dual enrollment and IB course offerings.

1. Prior Legislation. Various bills have added information to the annual notification LEAs provide to students. Some recent additions to annual notification requirements are listed below:

AB 659 (Aguiar-Curry), Chapter 809, Statutes of 2023, requires an LEA to include, as part of its annual notification to students advancing to sixth grade, information about human papillomavirus immunization.

AB 889 (Joe Patterson), Chapter 123, Statutes of 2023, requires an LEA to include in its annual notification information about the dangers associated with using synthetic drugs.

AB 452 (Friedman), Chapter 452, Statutes of 2022, requires an LEA to include in its annual notification information about California’s child access prevention laws and laws relating to the safe storage of firearms.

Analysis Prepared by: Natasha Collins / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: March 20, 2024

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Al Muratsuchi, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1796 (

Author:Alanis) – As Introduced Ver:January 4, 2024

SUBJECT: Pupil instruction: course offerings: parental notification

SUMMARY: Requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to inform parents of students in grades 9 through 12^th grade of any Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), dual enrollment, or career technical education (CTE) course offerings that may be available at their child’s school. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires that, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, LEAs offering any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, inform the parent or guardian of each minor student enrolled in any of those grades of AP, IB, dual enrollment, or CTE course offerings that may be available at their child’s school.
2. Defines LEA, for purposes of this requirement, to mean a school district, county office of education (COE), or charter school.

EXISTING LAW:

Annual notification about CTE courses:

1. Requires that parents and guardians be annually notified about numerous topics, including rights and responsibilities of parents, sexual harassment policies, residency requirements, availability of individualized instruction, the availability of funds to pay for advanced placement fees, a list of CTE courses offered, use of pesticides, adherence to human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization policies, synthetic drugs, safe storage of firearms, and others. (Education Code (EC) 48980, 48980.4, 48985.5, 48986)
2. Requires that, if a school district elects to allow a CTE course to satisfy a graduation requirement the school district include, in the annual notification a complete list of CTE courses offered by the school district that satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC), and which of the specific college admission requirements these courses satisfy. (EC 48980)
3. Requires a school district offering any of grades 9 to 12 to provide the parent or guardian, in the annual notification, information that includes all of the following:
4. A brief description of what CTE is, as defined by the California Department of Education (CDE);
5. The CDE webpage where students can learn more about CTE; and
6. Information about how students may meet with school counselors to help them choose courses at their school that will meet college admission requirements or enroll in CTE courses, or both. (EC 51229)

School Accountability Report Card (SARC) notification about AP and CTE course offerings:

1. Establishes the SARC, to provide data by which a parent can make meaningful comparisons between public schools that will enable them to make informed decisions on the school in which to enroll their children. (EC 33126)
2. Requires the governing board of each LEA to issue a SARC for each school in the school district, publicize those reports, and to make this information available on the internet.  (EC 35256, 35258)
3. Requires the SARC to include:
4. The number of AP courses offered, by subject; and
5. CTE data measures, including a list of programs offered by the school district in which students at the school may participate (EC 33126)

Career Technical Education

1. Authorizes the Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CTEIG) Program as a state education, economic, and workforce development initiative with the goal of providing students in kindergarten through 12^th grade with the knowledge and skills necessary to transition to employment and postsecondary education. (EC 53070)
2. Authorizes the K-12 component of the Strong Workforce Program (SWP) to create, support, or expand high-quality CTE programs at the K-12 level that are aligned with the workforce development efforts occurring through the SWP, and authorizes, commencing with the 2018-19 fiscal year, and subject to an annual appropriation, $150 million to be apportioned annually by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) to local consortia. (EC 88827)
3. Establishes the California Golden State Pathways Program (GSPP) to provide LEAs with the resources to promote pathways in high-wage, high-skill, high-growth areas, including technology, health care, education, and climate-related fields that, among other things, allow students to advance seamlessly from high school to college and career and provide the workforce needed for economic growth. (EC 53020)
4. Federal law, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins) provides federal support for CTE programs and focuses on improving the academic and technical achievement of CTE students, strengthening the connections between secondary and postsecondary education and improving accountability.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate

1. Allocates $547 million for the A–G Completion Improvement Grant Program. Authorizes, as a use of the grant, subsidies for AP and IB exam fees for unduplicated (foster youth, low-income, and English learner (EL)) pupils. (EC 41590)
2. Authorizes a school principal’s evaluation to include local and state academic assessments, state standardized assessments, formative, summative, benchmark, end of chapter, end of course, AP, IB, college entrance, and performance assessments. (EC 44671)
3. Authorizes the governing board of a school district to, and urges it to, provide access to a comprehensive educational counseling program for all students enrolled in the school district. States the intent of the Legislature that a school district that provides educational counseling to its pupils implement a structured and coherent counseling program within a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework. Authorizes educational counseling to include counseling in developing a list of coursework and experience necessary to assist and counsel each pupil to begin to satisfy the A–G requirements for admission to the UC and the CSU and encourage participation in college preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, and early college, dual enrollment, AP, and IB programs. (EC 49600)
4. Requires the local control and accountability plan (LCAP) template, adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE), and the LCAP adopted by a school district, COE, or charter school, to include as a measure of pupil achievement the percentage of pupils who have passed an AP examination with a score of 3 or higher. (EC 52060, 52066)
5. Requires the SPI to annually update the information on AP courses available on the CDE’s website to include current information on the various means available to school districts to offer or access AP courses, including online courses. Requires the SPI to annually communicate with high schools that offer AP courses in fewer than five subjects, and inform them of the various options for making AP courses and other rigorous courses available to pupils who may benefit from them.
6. Authorizes a school district to help pay for all or part of the costs of one or more AP and IB examinations that are charged to economically disadvantaged pupils. (EC 52240 and 52922)
7. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to annually update information on the IB Diploma Program available on the CDE’s website. Requires the SPI to also provide support to high schools that offer IB courses to facilitate communication with the Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges, the Academic Senate of the CSU, and the Academic Senate of the UC about the rigor of those courses and to ensure that college credit is given to pupils who participate so that they benefit from successful efforts in IB programs. (EC 52922)

Dual enrollment

1. Authorizes a student to undertake courses at a California Community College (CCC) if the governing board of a school district, upon recommendation of the principal of the student’s high school and with parental consent, determines a student would benefit from advanced or vocational coursework. The student may attend the CCC during any session or term as a special part-time or full-time student and take one or more courses of instruction offered at the CCC. Provides methods for parents to petition for students to attend CCC courses and methods for appeals in case of a denial. Includes criteria for allocating attendance and funding for high school students who attend courses at the CCC.
2. Stipulates that summer dual enrollment courses may be offered if a student has met specified conditions and if the principal has not recommended summer session attendance to more than 5% of the student’s grade population in the previous year.
3. Authorizes the governing board of a CCC district to enter into a CCAP partnership with the governing board of a school district, COE, or the governing body of a charter school for the purpose of offering or expanding dual enrollment opportunities for pupils who may not already be college bound or who are underrepresented in higher education, with the goal of developing seamless pathways from high school to community college for CTE or preparation for transfer, improving high school graduation rates, or helping high school pupils achieve college and career readiness. (EC 76004)
4. Establishes Middle College High Schools (MCHS). Requires each MCHS to be structured as a broad-based, comprehensive instructional program focusing on college preparatory and school-to-work curricula, career education, work experience, community service, and support and motivational activities. Authorizes the specific design of a MCHS to vary depending on the circumstances of the community college or school district.
5. States that Early College High Schools (ECHS) are small, autonomous schools that blend high school and college into a coherent educational program. In ECHS, pupils begin taking college courses as soon as they demonstrate readiness and the college credit earned may be applied toward completing an associate or bachelor’s degree, transferring to a four-year university, or obtaining a skills certificate. (EC 11302)

FISCAL EFFECT: This bill has been keyed as a possible state mandated local program by the Office of Legislative Counsel.

COMMENTS:

Need for the bill. According to the author, “In recent years, California has made strides in increasing access to career technical education pathways and designating funding for course development and student success. However, there are still gaps in some of our vital industries across the state, including agriculture and natural resources, manufacturing and product development, and public services. These industries not only play a key role in California’s economy and public safety, but these industries also offer competitive salaries and benefits that could change the course of someone’s life if they are able to access the necessary coursework and job requirements.”

AB 1796 is a small step that local education agencies (LEA)s can take to increase communication with their students and parents/guardians to ensure that every student is provided with the necessary knowledge of what is available to them and what is beneficial for their future success.”

Current law already requires that parents be informed of CTE and AP course offerings in multiple ways. As noted above, current law requires parents to be informed, in the annual notification or through the SARC (which is often included in the annual notification) of the following:

• What CTE is, with links for more information;
• A list of CTE programs offered by the school district in which pupils at the school may participate;
• Information about how students may meet with school counselors to help them choose courses at their school that will meet college admission requirements or enroll in CTE courses, or both;
• A complete list of CTE courses offered by the school district that satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the CSU and the UC, and which of the specific college admission requirements these courses satisfy; and
• The number of AP courses offered, by subject, and the availability of state funds to pay for AP examination fees.

Since information about CTE and AP courses is already provided to parents, staff recommends that the bill be amended to limit the notification of parents in this bill to dual enrollment and IB programs.

How do parents learn about course offerings at schools? This bill would require that parents be notified about various course offerings at their children’s schools. The author suggests that improving awareness among parents will result in increased offerings and enrollment in these courses, which will ultimately help the state meet its workforce demands. This theory has led to many requirements in statute that parents be notified of many aspects of school policy and operations, as noted below.

However, the annual notification is not the means by which parents learn of course offerings at their children’s schools. Course information is provided to students and parents by school counselors and teachers, and through schools’ course catalogs, which are usually made available in hard copy and electronically on school district websites. It is through this process that parents typically learn about course offerings like AP, IB, CTE, and dual enrollment.

Does anyone really read the annual notification anymore? Doing so would take weeks. Over the years, this Committee has supported many pieces of legislation that have required additional information be added to the annual parent notification. Additionally, federal law requires certain notifications to be provided to parents.

One sample annual notification available online identifies the following required parent notifications that are either required or recommended to be included in the annual notification to parents, depending upon the programs and policies of the district:

• Rules and procedures on school discipline (EC 35291)
• Duty concerning conduct of pupils (44807)
• Duties of pupils (5 California Code of Regulations (CCR) 300)
• Hazing prohibition (EC 48900(q))
• Dress code/gang apparel (EC 35183)
• Attendance of suspended pupil’s parent (EC 48900.1)
• School accountability report card (EC 35256, 35258)
• Safe place to learn act (EC 234.1)
• Pupil records/notice of privacy rights of parents and students (EC 49063 et seq., 49069.7, 49073, 34 CFR 99.30, 34 CFR 99.34, and applicable federal law)
• Release of pupil directory information (EC 49073, 34 CFR 99.37)
• Release of information to military services (EC 49073.5; 20 USC 7908)
• Participation in state assessments and option to request exemption (EC 60615, 5 CCR 852)
• High school curriculum: notification regarding college preparatory courses (EC 51229)
• Advanced placement examination fees (EC 48980(j), EC 52242)
• Release of student records/compliance with subpoena or court order (EC 49076 and 49077).
• Release of student records to school officials and employees of the district (EC 49076(a)(1) and 49064(d))
• Child health and disabilities prevention program (Health and Safety Code (HSC) 124085)
• Physical examination; parent refusal to consent (EC 49451)
• Vision appraisal (EC 49455)
• Scoliosis screening notice (EC 49451 and 49452.5)
• Dental fluoride treatment (HSC 104830 et seq.)
• Pupil nutrition/notice of free and reduced price meals (EC 48980(b), 49510, 49520, 49558)
• Communicable diseases (EC 48216 and 49403)
• Medication (EC 49423, 49423.1)
• Medical and hospital services for pupils (EC 49471 and 49472)
• Availability of individualized instruction/presence of pupil with temporary disability in hospital (EC 48206.3, 48207-48208)
• Continuing medication regimen (EC 49480)
• Sun protective clothing/use of sunscreen (EC 35183.5)
• Asbestos (40 CFR 763.84, 40 CFR 763.93)
• Use of pesticides (EC 17611.5, 17612 and 48980.3)
• Comprehensive school safety plan (EC 32280 et seq.)
• Notice of compliance (EC 32289)
• Tobacco-free schools (HSC 104420)
• Minimum age of admission to kindergarten (EC 48000)
• Pregnant and parenting pupils (EC 221.51, 222, 222.5, 46015)
• Prospectus of school curriculum (EC 49091.14)
• Multilingual education (EC 310)
• Special education (IDEA)
• Special education; child find system (EC 56301)
• Special education complaints (5 CCR 3080)
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Statement of nondiscrimination (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972; Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973; EC 200 et seq.)
• Educational equity regardless of immigration status, citizenship, or religion (EC 234.7)
• Fingerprinting program (EC 32390):
• Children in homeless situations (42 USC 11431-11435)
• Instruction in comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention (EC 51938) health instruction/conflicts with religious training and beliefs (EC 51240)
• Choosing a school within district in which the parent lives and choosing a school outside the district in which the parent lives (EC 48300 through 48315; 46600 et seq.; §48204(b)):
• The Open Enrollment Act (EC 48350 et seq.)
• Notice of alternative schools (EC 58501
• Grade reduction/loss of academic credit (EC 48980(i))
• Absences for confidential medical services (EC 46010.1)
• Absence for religious instruction (EC 46014)
• Notice of minimum days and pupil-free staff development days (EC 48980(c))
• Non-mandatory programs for parental/pupil participation (EC 49091.18)
• Sex equity in career planning (EC 221.5(d))
• Sexual harassment policy (EC 231.5; 5 CCR 4917)
• Drug-free campus (alcohol and other drug use prevention education)
• Right to refrain from harmful use of animals (EC 32255 et seq.)
• Parent rights under the Every Student Succeeds Act: qualifications of school staff, student reports on state assessments, limited English proficient students (20 USC 6301 et seq.)
• Uniform complaint procedures (5 CCR 4622)
• School buses/passenger safety (EC 39831.5)
• Megan’s law notification (Penal Code (PC) 290.4)
• Excused absences (EC 48205)
• Investing for future education (EC 48980(d))
• Complaints concerning deficiencies related to instructional materials, etc. (EC 35186)
• School accreditation (EC 35178.4)
• Pupil fees (EC 49010 et seq.)
• LCAP (EC 52059.5-52077)
• The Age discrimination Act (42 USC 6101 et seq.)
• The Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act (34 CFR 108.6)
• Safe storage of firearms (EC 48986)
• Adherence to HPV immunization policies (EC 48980.4)

Additionally, the SARC requires that parents be notified of the following regarding each of their children’s schools:

• Demographic data;
• School safety and climate for learning information;
• Academic data;
• School completion rates;
• Class sizes;
• Teacher and staff information;
• Curriculum and instruction descriptions;
• Postsecondary preparation information; and
• Fiscal and expenditure data

Some of these topics may include attachments ranging from a few sentences (policy on sunscreen use) to hundreds of pages, most notably the LCAP. Many school districts use electronic enrollment systems in which parents click once or a few times to acknowledge receipt of this information. While the law relating to these topics may be important, the Committee may wish to consider whether parents need to be annually notified of all of these topics, and if the annual notification has ceased to be an effective way of communicating this information.

Enrollment in CTE and dual enrollment is already growing significantly. According to the Perkins Collaborative Resource Network, enrollment in CTE courses in California has increased dramatically, from 368,950 in 2019-20 to 647,608 in 2021-22.

According to a 2021 policy brief from The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), Dual Enrollment in California, more than 112,000 California high school students graduating in the 2019–20 school year participated in dual enrollment—an increase of 56% from 2015–16. The growth is attributed in part to the authorization of CCAPs in 2016 and higher Latino student participation. Earlier research from the UC Davis Wheelhouse in collaboration with the California Education Lab and Policy Analysis for California Education, found California has exceeded the national average of dual enrolment participation.

Arguments in Support. The Los Angeles County Office of Education writes, “This bill, by requiring educational institutions to annually inform parents of course offerings available at their child's school, addresses a crucial aspect of parental involvement in the education of students and offers transparency to the community. Informed and engaged parental community plays a pivotal role in enhancing student outcomes, particularly in the priority areas of Graduation Rate and College Career Indicator, as highlighted in the California School Dashboard.”

Recommended Committee Amendments. As noted above, staff recommends that this bill be amended to limit the notification of parents in this bill to dual enrollment and IB programs.

Related legislation. AB 359 (Holden) of the 2023-24 Session would make numerous changes to College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnerships for the purpose of offering or expanding dual enrollment opportunities for all pupils, and would require enrollment in, and pupil outreach for, CCAP partnerships to be prioritized for pupils who may not already be college bound or who are underrepresented in higher education.

AB 377 (Muratsuchi and McCarty) of the 2023-24 Session would have required the consolidation of specified K-12 CTE programs, increases ongoing funding for the CTEIG program to $450 million per year; required specified CTE staffing at the state and regional level to support local CTE programs and pathways; and deleted authorization for the K-12 SWP. Would have required the CDE to establish a stakeholder workgroup to consider improvements to the CTEIG program. This bill was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

AB 1509 (Quirk-Silva) of the 2023-24 Session would have authorized the State Board of Education (SBE), for purposes of authorized A–G Completion Improvement Grant fund activities and various other purposes, to expressly approve additional exam programs, and would have required the SBE to begin to develop the approval criteria, as provided. This bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Los Angeles County Office of Education

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916) 319-2087