Bill Text: CA AB364 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: California After School Teacher Pipeline Program.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-02 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB364 Detail]
Download: California-2009-AB364-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 364 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Torlakson
FEBRUARY 23, 2009
An act to amend Sections 8483.55 and 44393 of, and to add and
repeal Section 44394 of, the Education Code, relating to after school
programs.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 364, as introduced, Torlakson. California After School Teacher
Pipeline Program.
(1) The After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002,
enacted by the initiative measure Proposition 49, establishes the
After School Education and Safety Program to serve pupils in
kindergarten and grades 1 to 9, inclusive, at participating public
elementary, middle, junior high, and charter schools.
The Wildman-Keeley-Solis Exemplary Teacher Training Act of 1997
establishes the California School Paraprofessional Teacher Training
Program for the purpose of recruiting paraprofessionals to
participate in a program designed to encourage them to enroll in
teacher training programs and to provide instructional service as
teachers in the public schools.
This bill would establish the California After School Teacher
Pipeline Program, a pilot program, for the purpose of recruiting
qualified after school instructors to participate on a pilot basis in
the California School Paraprofessional Teacher Training Program. The
bill would require the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to select
up to 4 school districts or county offices of education receiving
program funds under the California School Paraprofessional Teacher
Training Program to apply for pilot program funds. The bill would
require the commission to use the $150,000 annually transferred by
the State Department of Education, as described in (2) below, to
award a grant to each selected applicant, not to exceed $3,500 per
pilot participant per year. The bill would require the commission,
before January 1, 2015, to report to the Legislature regarding the
pilot program, as specified. The bill would make these provisions
inoperative on July 1, 2016, and repeal them on January 1, 2017.
(2) The After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002
makes 1.5% of the funds continuously appropriated for purposes of
that program available to the department for purposes of providing
technical assistance, evaluation, and training services, and for
providing local assistance funds to support program improvement and
technical assistance. The act authorizes the Legislature to amend
that funding provision by a majority vote if the amendment furthers
the purposes of the act.
This bill, commencing with the 2010-11 fiscal year, would require
the department annually to transfer $150,000 of those funds to the
commission for purposes of implementing the California After School
Teacher Pipeline Program.
(3) This bill also would include a finding and declaration of the
Legislature that the bill's provisions further the purposes of the
After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 8483.55 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
8483.55. (a) From the funds appropriated pursuant to subdivision
(b) of Section 8483.5, the department may spend 1.5 percent to cover
evaluation costs and to provide training and support to ensure
quality program implementation, development, and sustainability and
may pay its costs of awarding and monitoring grants.
(b) (1) Beginning with the 2006-07 fiscal
year, 1.5 percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to this article
shall be available to the department for purposes of providing
technical assistance, evaluation, and training services, and for
providing local assistance funds to support program improvement and
technical assistance.
(2) Commencing with the 2010-11 fiscal year, one hundred fifty
thousand dollars ($150,000) of the funds appropriated as described in
this section shall be transferred annually by the department to the
Commission on Teacher Credentialing for purposes of implementing the
California After School Teacher Pipeline Program established in
Section 44394.
(1)
(3) The department shall provide directly,
or contract for, technical assistance for new programs and any
program that is not meeting attendance or performance goals, or both,
and requests that assistance. The department shall allocate an
appropriate level of technical assistance funds to the regional
system of support to support program startup within 45 days after
grant awards to programs.
(2)
(4) (A) Training and support shall include,
but is not limited to, the development and distribution of voluntary
guidelines for physical activity programs established pursuant to
paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 8482.3, that expand the
learning opportunities of the schoolday.
(B) The department shall distribute these voluntary guidelines for
physical activity programs on or before July 1, 2009.
(c) The department shall contract for an independent statewide
evaluation of the effectiveness of programs funded pursuant to this
article to be prepared and submitted to the Legislature. The
evaluation shall include a comparison of outcomes for participating
pupils and similarly situated pupils who did not participate in the
program. A report shall be submitted to the Governor and the
Legislature on or before October 1, 2011, providing data that
includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Data collected pursuant to Section 8484.
(2) Data adopted through the process outlined in subdivision (b)
of Section 8421.5 and subdivision (g) of Section 8482.4.
(3) Number and type of sites and grantees participating in the
program.
(4) Pupil program attendance, as reported semiannually, and pupil
schoolday attendance, as reported annually.
(5) Pupil program participation rates.
(6) Quality of program drawing on the research of the Academy of
Sciences on critical features of programs that support healthy youth
development.
(7) The participation rates of local educational agencies.
(8) Local partnerships.
(9) The academic performance of participating pupils in English
language arts and mathematics, as measured by the results of the
Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program established
pursuant to Section 60640.
(d) A final report shall be submitted to the Governor and the
Legislature on or before December 1, 2011. The final report shall
include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Updated data on the measures specified in subdivision (b),
including, but not limited to, changes in those measures.
(2) The prevalence and frequency of activities included in funded
programs.
SEC. 2. Section 44393 of the Education Code is amended to read:
44393. (a) The California School Paraprofessional Teacher
Training Program is hereby established for the purpose of recruiting
school paraprofessionals to participate in a program designed to
encourage them to enroll in teacher training programs and to provide
instructional service as teachers in the public schools.
(b) The commission, in consultation with the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges, the Chancellor of the California State
University, the President of the University of California, the
chancellors of private postsecondary educational
institutions of higher education that offer
accredited teacher training programs, and representatives of
certificated and classified employee organizations, shall select 24
or more school districts or county offices of education representing
rural, urban, and suburban areas that apply to participate in the
program. The commission shall ensure that, at a minimum, a total of
600 school paraprofessionals are recruited from among the 24 or more
participating school districts or county offices of education. The
criteria adopted by the commission for the selection of school
districts or county offices of education to participate in the
program shall include all of the following:
(1) The extent to which the applicant demonstrates the capacity
and willingness to accommodate the participation of school
paraprofessionals in teacher training programs conducted at
postsecondary educational institutions of higher
education .
(2) The extent to which the applicant's plan for the
implementation of its recruitment program involves the active
participation of one or more local campuses of the participating
postsecondary educational institutions of higher
education in the development of coursework and teaching
programs for participating school paraprofessionals. Each selected
applicant shall be required to enter into a written articulation
agreement with the participating campuses of the postsecondary
educational institutions of higher education
.
(3) The extent to which the applicant's plan for recruitment
attempts to meet the demand for bilingual-crosscultural teachers.
(4) The extent to which the applicant's plan for recruitment
attempts to meet the demand for multiple subject credentialed
teachers interested in teaching kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 3,
inclusive. For purposes of this paragraph, each paraprofessional
selected to participate shall have completed at least two years of
undergraduate college or university coursework and shall have
demonstrated an interest in obtaining a multiple subject teaching
credential for teaching kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 3,
inclusive.
(5) The extent to which the applicant's plan for recruitment
attempts to meet the demand for special education teachers.
(6) The extent to which a developmentally sequenced series of job
descriptions leads from an entry-level school paraprofessional
position to an entry-level teaching position in that school district
or county office of education.
(7) The extent to which the applicant's plan for recruitment
attempts to meet its own specific teacher needs.
(8) The extent to which the applicant's plan for implementation of
its recruitment program involves participation in a district
internship program pursuant to Article 7.5 (commencing with Section
44325) and Section 44830.3 or a university
teacher education internship program pursuant to Article 3
(commencing with Section 44450) of Chapter 3.
(c) An applicant that is selected to participate pursuant to
subdivision (b) shall provide information and assistance to each
school paraprofessional it recruits under the program regarding
admission to a teacher training program.
(d) (1) The applicant shall recruit and organize groups, or
"cohorts," of participants, participants
of no more than 30, and no less than 10, in each cohort.
Cohorts shall be organized to consist of participants having
approximately equal academic experience and qualifications, as
determined by the school district or county office of education. To
the extent possible, the members of each cohort shall proceed through
the same subject matter and credential programs. The members of each
cohort shall enroll in the same college or university and shall be
provided appropriate support , mentoring, advising, and
information throughout the course of their studies by the applicant.
(2) An applicant shall require participants to satisfy all of the
following requirements prior to participating in the program:
(A) For the purpose of obtaining current criminal history
information from the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, obtain a certificate of clearance from the commission
pursuant to Sections 44339 to 44341, inclusive, and related
regulations adopted by the commission.
(B) Provide verification of one of the following:
(i) Has earned an associate or higher level degree.
(ii) Has completed at least two years of study at a postsecondary
educational institution.
(iii) Has received a passing score on a formal academic assessment
that demonstrates knowledge of, and the ability to assist in the
instruction of, reading, writing, and mathematics. The formal
academic assessment shall be based upon a job analysis for validity
purposes and shall be made readily available to examinees.
(3) An applicant shall certify that it has received a commitment
from each participant that he or she will accomplish all of the
following:
(A) Graduate from an institution of higher education under the
program with a bachelor's degree.
(B) Complete all of the requirements for and obtain a multiple
subject, single subject, or education specialist teaching credential.
(C) Complete one school year of classroom instruction in the
district or county office of education for each year that he or she
receives assistance for books, fees, and tuition while attending an
institution of higher education under the program.
(4) To the extent that a participant does not fulfill his or her
obligations, as set forth in paragraph (3), the participant shall be
required to repay the assistance. If a participant is laid off, the
participant may shall not be required
to repay the assistance until the participant is offered reemployment
and has an opportunity to fulfill his or her obligations under this
section.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (4), if a
participant is unable to fulfill his or her obligations pursuant to
paragraph (3) due to a serious illness, a pregnancy, or another
natural cause, the time period for repayment of the assistance shall
be extended by a maximum period of one year.
(6) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (4), if an
interruption in employment caused by a natural disaster prevents a
participant from completing one of the required years of service, the
time period for repayment of the assistance shall be extended by a
period equal to the period between the date the interruption of
employment begins and the date employment resumes.
(e) The commission shall contract with an independent evaluator
with a proven record of experience in assessing career-advancement
programs or teacher training programs to conduct an evaluation to
determine the success of the recruitment programs established
pursuant to subdivision (b). The evaluation shall be conducted once
every five years and shall incorporate data annually collected by the
commission and reported to the Legislature. The commission shall
complete the evaluation with existing resources. By January 1 of each
year in which an evaluation is conducted pursuant to this
subdivision, commencing with January 1, 2009, the commission shall
submit the completed evaluation to the Governor and the education
policy and fiscal committees of the Assembly and Senate. The
evaluation shall include, but is not limited to, all of the
following:
(1) The total cost per person participating in the program who
successfully obtains a teaching credential, based upon all state,
local, federal, and other sources of funding.
(2) The economic status of persons participating in the program.
(3) A description of financial and other resources made available
to each recruitment program by participating school districts or
county offices of education, postsecondary educational
institutions of higher education , and other
participating organizations.
(4) The extent to which pupil performance on standardized
achievement tests has improved in classes taught by teachers who have
successfully completed the program, in comparison to classes taught
by other teachers who have equivalent teaching experience.
(5) The extent to which pupil dropout rates and other measures of
delinquency have improved in classes taught by teachers who have
successfully completed the program.
(6) The extent to which teachers who have successfully completed
the program remain in the communities in which they reside and in
which they teach.
(7) The attrition rate of teachers who have successfully completed
the program.
(f) Each selected school district or county office of education
shall report to the commission regarding the progress of each cohort
of school paraprofessionals, the number of prospective
participants who annually apply for the program and are not
accepted due to program capacity restraints, and other
information regarding its recruitment program as the commission may
direct.
(g) No later than January 1 of each year, the commission shall
report to the Legislature regarding the status of the program,
including, but not limited to, the number of school paraprofessionals
recruited, the academic progress of the school paraprofessionals
recruited, the number of school paraprofessionals recruited who are
subsequently employed as teachers in the public schools, the degree
to which the program meets the demand for bilingual and special
education teachers as well as meeting teacher needs in shortage areas
as determined by the school district or county office of education,
the degree to which the program or similar programs can meet that
demand if properly funded and executed, the number of
prospective participants who annually apply for the program and are
not accepted due to program capacity restraints, and other
effects upon the operation of the public schools.
(h) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that each fiscal year,
funding for the California School Paraprofessional Teacher Training
Program be allocated to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for
grants to applicants pursuant to this section. A grant to an
applicant shall not exceed three thousand five hundred dollars
($3,500) per participant per year. Funding for grants to applicants
pursuant to this subdivision shall be contingent upon an
appropriation in the annual Budget Act.
(2) The commission shall report to the Department of Finance by
March 31 of each year the amount of funds collected by school
districts and county offices of education as repayment of assistance
pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) and the amount of funds
that remain unspent from the funds appropriated to the commission in
the annual Budget Act for purposes of the program.
SEC. 3. Section 44394 is added to the Education Code, to read:
44394. (a) For purposes of this section, unless the context
clearly requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(1) "After school instructor" means an employee who meets the
minimum standards of the paraprofessional job classification as
defined by the applicant school district or county office of
education and who is employed in an after school program by a school
district, city, county, or nonprofit organization that receives funds
pursuant to the 21st Century High School After School Safety and
Enrichment for Teens program (Article 19 (commencing with Section
8420) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1), the After
School Education and Safety Program (Article 22.5 (commencing with
Section 8482) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1), or
the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program (Article 22.6
(commencing with Section 8484.7) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Division 1
of Title 1) either as a grantee or through a school district
subcontract. This definition of "after school instructor" applies
only to this section.
(2) "Applicant" means a school district or county office of
education receiving program funds under the California School
Paraprofessional Teacher Training Program established in Section
44393 and applying for pilot program funds pursuant to the California
After School Teacher Pipeline Program established in subdivision
(b).
(3) "Postsecondary educational institutions" means the California
Community Colleges, the California State University, the University
of California, and private postsecondary educational institutions
that offer an accredited teacher training program.
(4) "Pilot" means the California After School Teacher Pipeline
Program.
(5) "Pilot participant" means an after school instructor who
elects to participate in the California School Paraprofessional
Teacher Training Program and the California After School Teacher
Pipeline Program.
(6) "Program" means the California School Paraprofessional Teacher
Training Program.
(7) "Teacher training program" means an undergraduate or graduate
program of instruction conducted by a campus of a postsecondary
educational institution that includes a developmentally sequenced
career ladder to provide instruction, coursework, and clearly defined
tasks for each level of the ladder, and that is designed to qualify
pupils enrolled in the program for a teaching credential authorizing
instruction in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(b) The California After School Teacher Pipeline Program is hereby
established for the purpose of recruiting qualified after school
instructors to participate on a pilot basis in the California School
Paraprofessional Teacher Training Program established pursuant to
Section 44393.
(c) The commission shall select up to four applicants to
participate in the pilot project.
(d) In addition to satisfying all of the requirements of the
program, the commission shall require applicants for the pilot to
demonstrate all of the following:
(1) A screening process that will determine if a pilot participant'
s after school instruction experience ensures participant readiness
for the pilot.
(2) How the applicant will ensure professional support for pilot
participants, including, but not limited to, mentor teacher
oversight, classroom experience, and academic content instruction
experience.
(3) How the applicant will track pilot participants within the
program.
(4) That the applicant and pilot participants will meet all the
same requirements pursuant to Section 44393 for this pilot,
including, but not limited to, the requirements for participant
eligibility and commitments, program design, and program reporting.
(e) (1) From the funds transferred to the commission pursuant to
paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8483.55, the commission
shall award a grant to each selected applicant, not to exceed three
thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500) per pilot participant per
year. The commission may award funding for after school instructors
to participate in the pilot only to the extent that the funds
described in this paragraph cover all of the costs associated with
instructor participation in the pilot and any costs incurred by the
commission pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) The commission shall include this pilot and pilot participants
in all the reporting requirements pursuant to Section 44393.
(3) Before January 1, 2015, the commission shall report to the
Legislature regarding the pilot. The report shall include the ability
of applicants to successfully integrate the pilot into their
existing program and the number of participants in the pilot who
receive teaching credentials.
(f) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2016, and, as
of January 1, 2017, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2017, deletes or
extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 4. The Legislature finds and declares that this act furthers
the purposes of the After School Education and Safety Program Act of
2002.
