Bill Text: CA AB2306 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Juvenile court school pupils.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-09-22 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 464, Statutes of 2016. [AB2306 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB2306-Amended.html
Bill Title: Juvenile court school pupils.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-09-22 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 464, Statutes of 2016. [AB2306 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB2306-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2306 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 10, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 13, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Frazier
FEBRUARY 18, 2016
An act to add Section 51225 to amend
Sections 4 8645.3, 48645.5, 48647, 51225.1, and 51225.2 of
the Education Code, relating to high school
graduation. juvenile court school pupils.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2306, as amended, Frazier. High school graduation
requirements: pupils transferring from juvenile court schools.
Juvenile court school pupils.
Existing law provides for the administration and operation of
juvenile court schools by the county board of education, and requires
the county office of education and the county probation department
to have a joint transition planning policy to, among other things,
coordinate school placement and enrollment.
This bill would express the Legislature's intent that juvenile
court schools have a rigorous curriculum that includes a course of
study that prepares pupils for high school graduation and career
entry and fulfills the requirements for admission to the California
State University and the University of California. The bill would
require the joint transition planning policy to contain specified
information relating to assisting eligible youth in completing the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and admission
applications for postsecondary educational institutions, thereby
imposing a state-mandated local program.
Existing law prescribes the course of study a pupil is required to
complete while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a
diploma of graduation, and authorizes the governing board of a school
district to prescribe other coursework requirements that are in
addition to the statewide requirements. Existing law exempts
pupils in foster care and pupils who are homeless children or youths
from local graduation requirements and also requires a school
district and county office of education to accept coursework
satisfactorily completed by those pupils while attending another
public school, a juvenile court school, or a nonpublic,
nonsectarian school.
This bill would require a school district to exempt a
pupil from all other coursework requirements for graduation adopted
by the governing board of the school district that are in addition to
the statewide coursework requirements for graduation, unless the
school district makes a finding that the pupil is reasonably able to
complete the additional coursework requirements in time to graduate
from high school. The bill would require the school to which the
pupil transfers to provide notice to the pupil and specified other
parties of the availability of the exemption and whether the pupil
qualifies for the exemption. make that exemption and
requirement to accept coursework satisfactorily completed applicable
to former juvenile court school pupils, as defined. The bill
would also require a county office of education to issue a diploma of
graduation to a pupil who completes statewide coursework
requirements for graduation while attending a juvenile court
school, as specified. school but does not complete c
oursework and other requirements that are in addition to
the statewide graduation requirements. By placing additional
requirements on school districts and county offices of education, 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 these
statutory provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 48645.3 of the
Education Code is amended to read:
48645.3. (a) Juvenile court schools shall be conducted in a
manner as shall be prescribed by the county board of education to
best accomplish the provisions of Section 48645. The minimum
schoolday shall be 240 minutes. Minimum schooldays shall be
calculated on the basis of the average number of minutes of
attendance during not more than 10 consecutive days in which classes
are conducted. The minimum schoolday for pupils in attendance in
approved vocational education programs, work programs prescribed by
the probation department pursuant to Section 883 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, and work experience programs shall be 180 minutes,
which shall be calculated on the basis of the average number of
minutes of attendance during not more than 10 consecutive days in
which classes are conducted. The county board of education shall
adopt and enforce a course of study and evaluate its program in
accordance with Sections 51040, 51041, 51050, and 51054 and the
provisions of Article 3 (commencing with Section 51200)
51220) of Chapter 2 of Part 28, except
subdivision (c) of Section 51220. 28.
(b) Juvenile court schools shall not be closed on any weekday of
the calendar year, except those weekdays adopted by the county board
of education as school holidays or set aside by the county board of
education for inservice purposes. However, the county board of
education may close juvenile court schools when it deems the closing
is necessary to accommodate contingencies.
(c) (1) The county board of education may adopt and enforce a
course of study that enhances instruction in mathematics and English
language arts for pupils attending juvenile court schools, as
determined by statewide assessments or objective local evaluations
and assessments as approved by the county superintendent of schools.
(2) The enhanced course of study adopted pursuant to paragraph (1)
shall meet the standards adopted pursuant to Section 60605.8, as
appropriate, and shall be tailored to meet the needs of the
individual pupil to increase the pupil's academic literacy and
reading fluency.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that pupils in juvenile
court schools have a rigorous curriculum that includes a course of
study preparing them for high school graduation and career entry and
fulfilling the requirements for admission to the University of
California and the California State University.
SEC. 2. Section 48645.5 of the
Education Code is amended to read:
48645.5. (a) Each public school district and county office of
education shall accept for credit full or partial coursework
satisfactorily completed by a pupil while attending a public school,
juvenile court school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency.
The coursework shall be transferred by means of the standard state
transcript. If a pupil completes the graduation requirements of his
or her school district of residence while being detained, the school
district of residence shall issue to the pupil a diploma from the
school the pupil last attended before detention or, in the
alternative, the county superintendent of schools may issue the
diploma.
(b) A pupil shall not be denied enrollment or readmission to a
public school solely on the basis that he or she has had contact with
the juvenile justice system, including, but not limited to:
(1) Arrest.
(2) Adjudication by a juvenile court.
(3) Formal or informal supervision by a probation officer.
(4) Detention for any length of time in a juvenile facility or
enrollment in a juvenile court school.
(c) Pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (8) of subdivision
(f) of Section 48853.5, a pupil who has had contact with the juvenile
justice system shall be immediately enrolled in a public school.
(d) If a pupil completes the statewide coursework requirements for
graduation specified in Section 51225.3 while attending a juvenile
court school, the county office of education shall issue to the pupil
a diploma of graduation and shall not require the pupil to complete
coursework or other requirements that are in addition to the
statewide coursework requirements.
SEC. 3. Section 48647 of the Education
Code is amended to read:
48647. (a) Local educational agencies are strongly encouraged to
enter into memoranda of understanding and create joint policies,
systems, including data sharing systems, transition centers, and
other joint structures that will allow for the immediate transfer of
educational records, create uniform systems for calculating and
awarding course credit, and allow for the immediate enrollment of
pupils transferring from juvenile court schools.
(b) As part of their existing responsibilities for coordinating
education and services for youth in the juvenile justice system, the
county office of education and county probation department shall have
a joint transition planning policy that includes collaboration with
relevant local educational agencies to improve communication
regarding dates of release and the educational needs of pupils who
have had contact with the juvenile justice system, to coordinate
immediate school placement and enrollment, and to ensure that
probation officers in the community have the information they need to
support the return of pupils who are being transferred from juvenile
court schools to public schools in their communities. The joint
transition planning policy shall describe how the county office of
education and the county probation department shall assist eligible
youth in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) and admission applications for postsecondary educational
institutions.
SEC. 4. Section 51225.1 of the
Education Code is amended to read:
51225.1. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a school district
shall exempt a pupil in foster care, as defined in Section 51225.2,
or a pupil who is a homeless child or youth, as
defined in Section 11434a(2) of Title 42 of the United States Code,
or a former juvenile court school pupil who transfers
between schools any time after the completion of the pupil's second
year of high school from all coursework and other requirements
adopted by the governing board of the school district that are in
addition to the statewide coursework requirements specified in
Section 51225.3, unless the school district makes a finding that the
pupil is reasonably able to complete the school district's graduation
requirements in time to graduate from high school by the end of the
pupil's fourth year of high school.
(b) If the school district determines that the pupil in foster
care, or the pupil who is a homeless child or
youth, or the former juvenile court school pupil is
reasonably able to complete the school district's graduation
requirements within the pupil's fifth year of high school, the school
district shall do all of the following:
(1) Inform the pupil of his or her option to remain in school for
a fifth year to complete the school district's graduation
requirements.
(2) Inform the pupil, and the person holding the right to make
educational decisions for the pupil, about how remaining in school
for a fifth year to complete the school district's graduation
requirements will affect the pupil's ability to gain admission to a
postsecondary educational institution.
(3) Provide information to the pupil about transfer opportunities
available through the California Community Colleges.
(4) Permit the pupil to stay in school for a fifth year to
complete the school district's graduation requirements upon agreement
with the pupil, if the pupil is 18 years of age or older, or, if the
pupil is under 18 years of age, upon agreement with the person
holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil.
(c) To determine whether a pupil in foster care, or
a pupil who is a homeless child or youth, or a former
juvenile court school pupil is in the third or fourth year of
high school, either the number of credits the pupil has earned to the
date of transfer or the length of the pupil's school enrollment may
be used, whichever will qualify the pupil for the exemption.
(d) (1) (A) Within 30 calendar days of the date that a pupil in
foster care who may qualify for the exemption from local graduation
requirements pursuant to this section transfers into a school, the
school district shall notify the pupil, the person holding the right
to make educational decisions for the pupil, and the pupil's social
worker or probation officer of the availability of the exemption and
whether the pupil qualifies for an exemption.
(B) If the school district fails to provide timely notice pursuant
to subparagraph (A), the pupil described in subparagraph (A) shall
be eligible for the exemption from local graduation requirements
pursuant to this section once notified, even if that notification
occurs after the termination of the court's jurisdiction over the
pupil, if the pupil otherwise qualifies for the exemption pursuant to
this section.
(2) (A) Within 30 calendar days of the date that a pupil who is a
homeless child or youth may qualify for the exemption from local
graduation requirements pursuant to this section transfers into a
school, the school district shall notify the pupil, the person
holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, and
the local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youth
designated pursuant to Section 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii) of Title 42 of the
United States Code, of the availability of the exemption and whether
the pupil qualifies for an exemption.
(B) If the school district fails to provide timely notice pursuant
to subparagraph (A), the pupil described in subparagraph (A) shall
be eligible for the exemption from local graduation requirements
pursuant to this section once notified, even if that notification
occurs after the pupil is no longer a homeless child or youth, if the
pupil otherwise qualifies for the exemption pursuant to this
section.
(3) (A) Within 30 calendar days of the date that a former juvenile
court school pupil may qualify for the exemption from local
graduation requirements pursuant to this section transfers into a
school, the school district shall notify the pupil, the person
holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, and
the pupil's social worker or probation officer of the availability of
the exemption and whether the pupil qualifies for an exemption.
(B) If the school district fails to provide timely notice pursuant
to subparagraph (A), the pupil described in subparagraph (A) shall
be eligible for the exemption from local graduation requirements
pursuant to this section once notified, even if that notification
occurs after termination of the court's jurisdiction over the pupil,
if the pupil otherwise qualifies for the exemption pursuant to this
section.
(e) If a pupil in foster care, or a pupil who
is a homeless child or youth, or a former juvenile court school
pupil is exempted from local graduation requirements pursuant
to this section and completes the statewide coursework requirements
specified in Section 51225.3 before the end of his or her fourth year
of high school and that pupil would otherwise be entitled to remain
in attendance at the school, a school or school district shall not
require or request that the pupil graduate before the end of his or
her fourth year of high school.
(f) If a pupil in foster care, or a pupil who
is a homeless child or youth, or a former juvenile court school
pupil is exempted from local graduation requirements pursuant to
this section, the school district shall notify the pupil and the
person holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil
how any of the requirements that are waived will affect the pupil's
ability to gain admission to a postsecondary educational institution
and shall provide information about transfer opportunities available
through the California Community Colleges.
(g) A pupil in foster care, or a pupil who is a
homeless child or youth, or a former juvenile court school pupil
who is eligible for the exemption from local graduation
requirements pursuant to this section and would otherwise be entitled
to remain in attendance at the school shall not be required to
accept the exemption or be denied enrollment in, or the ability to
complete, courses for which he or she is otherwise eligible,
including courses necessary to attend an institution of higher
education, regardless of whether those courses are required for
statewide graduation requirements.
(h) If a pupil in foster care, or a pupil who
is a homeless child or youth, or a former juvenile court
school pupil is not exempted from local graduation
requirements or has previously declined the exemption pursuant to
this section, a school district shall exempt the pupil at any time if
an exemption is requested by the pupil and the pupil qualifies for
the exemption.
(i) If a pupil in foster care, or a pupil who
is a homeless child or youth, or a former juvenile court school
pupil is exempted from local graduation requirements pursuant
to this section, a school district shall not revoke the exemption.
(j) (1) If a pupil in foster care is exempted from local
graduation requirements pursuant to this section, the exemption shall
continue to apply after the termination of the court's jurisdiction
over the pupil while he or she is enrolled in school or if the pupil
transfers to another school or school district.
(2) If a pupil who is a homeless child or youth is exempted from
local graduation requirements pursuant to this section, the exemption
shall continue to apply after the pupil is no longer a homeless
child or youth while he or she is enrolled in school or if the pupil
transfers to another school or school district.
(3) If a former juvenile court school pupil is exempted from local
graduation requirements pursuant to this section, the exemption
shall continue to apply after the termination of the court's
jurisdiction over the pupil while he or she is enrolled in school or
if the pupil transfers to another school or school district.
(k) A school district shall not require or request a pupil in
foster care, or a pupil who is a homeless child or
youth, or a former juvenile court school pupil to
transfer schools in order to qualify the pupil for an exemption
pursuant to this section.
(l) (1) A pupil in foster care, the person holding the right to
make educational decisions for the pupil, the pupil's social worker,
or the pupil's probation officer shall not request a transfer solely
to qualify the pupil for an exemption pursuant to this section.
(2) A pupil who is a homeless child or youth, the person holding
the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, or the local
educational agency liaison for homeless children and youth designated
pursuant to Section 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii) of Title 42 of the United
States Code, shall not request a transfer solely to qualify the pupil
for an exemption pursuant to this section.
(3) A former juvenile court school pupil, the person holding the
right to make educational decisions for the pupil, the pupil's social
worker, or the pupil's probation officer shall not request a
transfer solely to qualify the pupil for an exemption pursuant to
this section.
(m) (1) A complaint of noncompliance with the requirements of this
section may be filed with the local educational agency under the
Uniform Complaint Procedures set forth in Chapter 5.1 (commencing
with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of
Regulations.
(2) A complainant not satisfied with the decision of a local
educational agency may appeal the decision to the department pursuant
to Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title
5 of the California Code of Regulations and shall receive a written
decision regarding the appeal within 60 days of the department's
receipt of the appeal.
(3) If a local educational agency finds merit in a complaint, or
the Superintendent finds merit in an appeal, the local educational
agency shall provide a remedy to the affected pupil.
(4) Information regarding the requirements of this section shall
be included in the annual notification distributed to, among others,
pupils, parents or guardians of pupils, employees, and other
interested parties pursuant to Section 4622 of Title 5 of the
California Code of Regulations.
SEC. 5. Section 51225.2 of the
Education Code is amended to read:
51225.2. (a) (1) For
purposes of this section, "pupil the
following definitions apply:
(1) "Pupil in foster care" means
a child who has been removed from his or her home pursuant to Section
309 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, is the subject of a
petition filed under Section 300 or 602 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, or has been removed from his or her home and is
the subject of a petition filed under Section 300 or 602 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2) For purposes of this section, "pupil
"Pupil who is a homeless child or youth" means a pupil who
meets the definition of "homeless child or youth" in Section 11434a
(2) of Title 42 of the United States Code.
(3) "Former juvenile court school pupil" means a pupil who, upon
completion of the pupil's second year of high school, transfers to a
school district from a juvenile court school.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a school district and county
office of education shall accept coursework satisfactorily completed
by a pupil in foster care or care, a
pupil who is a homeless child or youth, or a former juvenile
court school pupil while attending another public school, a
juvenile court school, or a nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency
even if the pupil did not complete the entire course and shall issue
that pupil full or partial credit for the coursework completed.
(c) The credits accepted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be
applied to the same or equivalent course, if applicable, as the
coursework completed in the prior public school, juvenile court
school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency.
(d) A school district or county office of education shall not
require a pupil in foster care or care,
a pupil who is a homeless child or youth
youth, or a former juvenile court school pupil to retake a
course if the pupil has satisfactorily completed the entire course in
a public school, a juvenile court school, or a nonpublic,
nonsectarian school or agency. If the pupil did not complete the
entire course, the school district or county office of education
shall not require the pupil to retake the portion of the course the
pupil completed unless the school district or county office of
education, in consultation with the holder of educational rights for
the pupil, finds that the pupil is reasonably able to complete the
requirements in time to graduate from high school. When partial
credit is awarded in a particular course, the pupil in foster
care or care, the pupil who is a
homeless child or youth youth, or the former
juvenile court school pupil shall be enrolled in the
same or equivalent course, if applicable, so that the pupil may
continue and complete the entire course.
(e) A pupil in foster care or care,
a pupil who is a homeless child or youth
youth, or a former juvenile court school pupil shall not be
prevented from retaking or taking a course to meet the eligibility
requirements for admission to the California State University or the
University of California.
(f) (1) A complaint of noncompliance with the requirements of this
section may be filed with the local educational agency under the
Uniform Complaint Procedures set forth in Chapter 5.1 (commencing
with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of
Regulations.
(2) A complainant not satisfied with the decision of a local
educational agency may appeal the decision to the department pursuant
to Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title
5 of the California Code of Regulations and shall receive a written
decision regarding the appeal within 60 days of the department's
receipt of the appeal.
(3) If a local educational agency finds merit in a complaint, or
the Superintendent finds merit in an appeal, the local educational
agency shall provide a remedy to the affected pupil.
(4) Information regarding the requirements of this section shall
be included in the annual notification distributed to, among others,
pupils, parents or guardians of pupils, employees, and other
interested parties pursuant to Section 4622 of Title 5 of the
California Code of Regulations.
SEC. 6. If the Commission on State Mandates
determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs
shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of
Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
SECTION 1. Section 51225 is added to the
Education Code, to read:
51225. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, for a pupil who at any
time after he or she completes 10th grade transfers to a school
district from a juvenile court school, the school district shall
exempt the pupil from all other coursework requirements for
graduation adopted by the governing board of the school district that
are in addition to the statewide coursework requirements specified
in Section 51225.3, unless the school district makes a finding that
the pupil is reasonably able to complete the additional coursework
requirements in time to graduate from high school.
(b) If a pupil completes the statewide coursework requirements for
graduation specified in Section 51225.3 while attending a juvenile
court school, the county office of education shall issue to the pupil
a diploma of graduation and shall not require the pupil to complete
other coursework requirements that are in addition to the statewide
coursework requirements.
(c) (1) Within 30 calendar days of the date that a pupil who may
qualify for the exemption from local graduation requirements pursuant
to subdivision (a) transfers into a school, the school district
shall notify the pupil, the person holding the right to make
educational decisions for the pupil, and the pupil's social worker or
probation officer of the availability of the exemption and whether
the pupil qualifies for an exemption.
(2) If the school district fails to provide timely notice pursuant
to paragraph (1), the pupil shall be eligible for the exemption from
local graduation requirements pursuant to this section once
notified, even if that notification occurs after the termination of
the court's jurisdiction over the pupil, if the pupil otherwise
qualifies for the exemption pursuant to this section.
SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates
determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs
shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of
Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
