Bill Text: CA AB2820 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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

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Bill Title: School accountability: school conditions and climate surveys: technical design group.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-06-21 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. [AB2820 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB2820-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2820

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Introduced by Assembly Member McCarty

February 16, 2018

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An act to add Article 3 (commencing with Section 52053) to Chapter 6.1 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to school accountability, and making an appropriation therefor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2820, as introduced, McCarty. School accountability: Community Engagement and School Climate for Continuous Improvement Block Grant.

Existing law requires, on or before July 1, 2014, the governing boards of school districts and county boards of education to adopt a local control and accountability plan using a state template adopted by the State Board of Education. Existing law requires the local control and accountability plan to include, among other things, a description of annual goals for all pupils and specified subgroups of pupils to be achieved for each state priority, as specified, including, among others, parental involvement and, as a measure of pupil achievement, school climate, and a description of the specific actions the school district or county superintendent of schools will take to achieve those goals.

This bill would establish the Community Engagement and School Climate for Continuous Improvement Block Grant to (1) ensure that the development of the local control and accountability plan and the system of support include practices, resources, and expertise in meaningful community engagement throughout the continuous improvement process, and (2) support local educational agencies in measuring and analyzing school conditions and climate data on an annual basis with valid tools, including, surveys of pupils, parents, and staff and resources, free of charge, to support school conditions and climate improvements in schools at the local level. The bill would appropriate an unspecified sum to an unspecified entity for the administration of the block grant.

Funds appropriated by this bill would be applied toward the minimum funding requirements for school districts and community college districts imposed by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: YES   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) When the local control funding formula was established new requirements were imposed, including, as part of the multiple measures school accountability system, that local educational agencies adopt local control and accountability plans describing goals, actions, and expenditures to address specified state priorities, including, among others, parental involvement and, as a measure of pupil achievement, pupil engagement and school climate, and that they consult with community stakeholders in developing local control and accountability plans. These new priorities and consultation requirements were a significant shift for local educational agencies, many of which where not prepared with the skills and practices necessary for meaningful community engagement and school climate assessment and improvement.

(b) Researchers, community members, and equity advocates agree that when it comes to the development of local control and accountability plans, family and pupil engagement remains a work in progress.

(c) The School Conditions and Climate Work Group, convened by the State Department of Education, found that forward progress on its recommendations to integrate school climate into state accountability, the system of support, and local continuous improvement requires more resources and that local educational agencies currently lack the skills and capacity for this task.

(d) School climate includes the values, expectations, interpersonal relationships, materials and resources, supports, physical environment, and practices that foster a welcoming, inclusive, and academically challenging environment. Positive school conditions and climate ensure people in the school community (pupils, staff, family, and community) feel socially, emotionally, and physically safe, supported, connected to the school, and engaged in learning and teaching.

(e) Meaningful community engagement is the linchpin to effective implementation of the local control funding formula. Practices, resources, and capacities for meaningful local community engagement and school climate must be developed and strengthened as these state priorities are central to the other state priorities and critical for ensuring equity for pupils and families.

SEC. 2.

 Article 3 (commencing with Section 52053) is added to Chapter 6.1 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:

Article  3. Community Engagement and School Climate for Continuous Improvement Block Grant

52053.

 (a) The Legislature finds and declares that it is the responsibility of the department, county offices of education, and the California Collaborative for Education Excellence to provide local educational agencies assistance and support for continuous improvement.

(b) The Community Engagement and School Climate for Continuous Improvement Block Grant is hereby established for both of the following purposes:

(1) To ensure that the development of the local control and accountability plan and the system of support include practices, resources, and expertise in meaningful community engagement throughout the continuous improvement process.

(2) To support local educational agencies in measuring and analyzing school conditions and climate data on an annual basis with valid tools, including, surveys of pupils, parents, and staff and resources, free of charge, to support school conditions and climate improvements in schools at the local level.

SEC. 3.

 The sum of ____ dollars ($____) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to ____ for the administration of the Community Engagement and School Climate for Continuous Improvement Block Grant established pursuant to Section 52053 of the Education Code.