Bill Text: CA AB1510 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Public schools: parental access.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2010-01-14 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. [AB1510 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB1510-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1510	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 17, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 16, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 14, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Eng

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to amend Section 51101.1 of the Education Code, relating to
public schools.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1510, as amended, Eng. Public schools: parental access.
   Existing law provides that the parents and guardians of pupils
enrolled in public schools have the right and should have the
opportunity, as mutually supportive and respectful partners in the
education of their children within the public schools, to be informed
by the school, and to participate in the education of their
children, as specified, except to the extent that informing a parent
or guardian or permitting participation by a parent or guardian in
the education of a child conflicts with a valid restraining order,
protective order, or order for custody or visitation issued by a
court of competent jurisdiction. Existing law requires a school
district to take all reasonable steps to ensure that all parents and
guardians of pupils who speak a language other than English are
properly notified in English and in their home language of these
rights and opportunities.
    This bill would authorize parents and guardians of English
learners to bring an oral language interpreter to all conferences,
meetings, or proceedings held at a  school  district
building or schoolsite or sponsored by the  school  district
or school, except when prohibited by state or federal law.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 51101.1 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
   51101.1.  (a) A parent or guardian's lack of English fluency does
not preclude a parent or guardian from exercising the rights
guaranteed under this chapter. A school district shall take all
reasonable steps to ensure that all parents and guardians of pupils
who speak a language other than English are properly notified in
English and in their home language, pursuant to Section 48985, of the
rights and opportunities available to them pursuant to this section.

   (b) Parents and guardians of English learners are entitled to
participate in the education of their children pursuant to Section
51101 and as follows:
   (1) To receive, pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of
Section 51101, the results of their child's performance on
standardized tests, including the English language development test.
   (2) To be given any required written notification, under any
applicable law, in English and the pupil's home language pursuant to
Section 48985.
   (3) To participate in school and district advisory bodies in
accordance with federal and state laws and regulations.
   (4) To support their children's advancement toward literacy.
School personnel shall encourage parents and guardians of English
learners to support their child's progress toward literacy both in
English and, to the extent possible, in the child's home language.
School districts are encouraged to make available, to the extent
possible, surplus or undistributed instructional materials to parents
and guardians, pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 60510, in
order to facilitate parental involvement in their children's
education.
   (5) To be informed, pursuant to Sections 33126 and 48985, about
statewide and local academic standards, testing programs,
accountability measures, and school improvement efforts.
   (6) To bring an oral language interpreter to conferences,
meetings, or proceedings held at a  school  district
building or schoolsite or sponsored by the  school  district
or school, except when doing so would conflict with state or federal
law.  Nothing in this paragraph shall   This
paragraph does not require a school district to bear the cost of an
oral language interpreter who is brought by a parent, but this
paragraph shall not be construed to  reduce or eliminate any
existing duties of a school district under state or federal law to
provide a language interpreter.
   (c) A school with a substantial number of pupils with a home
language other than English is encouraged to establish parent centers
with personnel who can communicate with the parents and guardians of
these children to encourage understanding of and participation in
the educational programs in which their children are enrolled.