Bill Text: CA SB133 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Enrolled

California Senate Bill 133

Bill Title: Education finance: education omnibus trailer bill.

Sponsorship: Committee Bill

Status: (Enrolled) 2026-09-10 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. [SB133 Detail]

Download: California-2025-SB133-Enrolled.html

Enrolled September 09, 2026

Passed IN Senate August 31, 2026

Passed IN Assembly August 31, 2026

Amended IN Assembly August 28, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 133

Introduced by Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review

January 23, 2025

An act to amend Sections 2582, 8281.5, 8320, 8902, 8903, 11800, 12000, 33110, 33110.5, 38100, 41341, 41490, 41585, 42238.022, 44259.4, 44475, 46146.5, 46160, 49507, 52064.5, 52071, 52071.5, 53008.5, 53008.7, 53009, 53009.1, 53025, 54451, 54680, 54682, 54683, 69617, and 76004 of, and to amend and renumber Section 98 of, the Education Code, to amend Section 531 of the Military and Veterans Code, to amend Section 162 of Chapter 44 of the Statutes of 2021, and to amend Section 149 of Chapter 65 of the Statutes of 2026, relating to education finance, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 133, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Education finance: education omnibus trailer bill.

(1) Existing law, for 2025–26 fiscal year, appropriates $50,000,000 from the General Fund to the State Department of Education for allocation to the Kern County Superintendent of Schools to augment the Mathematics Professional Learning Partnership to further support educator training, including mathematics coaches, teachers, and school administrators for implementation of the new mathematics curriculum framework in local educational agencies, and requires the Kern County Superintendent of Schools to submit a revised expenditure plan to the Department of Finance for approval by October 1, 2026.

This bill would require those funds to be available for encumbrance through June 30, 2031, and would delay the deadline for the submitting the revised expenditure report to December 1, 2026. By extending the encumbrance period for an existing appropriation, the bill would make an appropriation.

(2) The Early Education Act, among other things, establishes the California Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program as a state early learning initiative with the goal of expanding access to classroom-based prekindergarten programs. Existing law appropriates $200,000,000 from the General Fund to the State Department of Education for the 2026–27 fiscal year for allocation to local educational agencies for the program, as specified. Existing law requires local educational agencies receiving grants pursuant to the program to do various activities, including, among other things, ensuring expenditures are consistent with the local educational agency’s local plan adopted pursuant to specified provisions.

This bill would, among other things, require a local educational agency that receives a grant pursuant to the program that has not developed a local plan, as described above, to develop that plan for consideration by the governing board or body at a public meeting, as provided, and to make the plan available for review upon request by the department.

Existing law requires the department to award $100,000,000 in competitive grants to local educational agencies to increase the number of highly-qualified teachers available to serve California state preschool programs and transitional kindergarten pupils, and to provide California state preschool program, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten teachers with training in providing instruction in inclusive classrooms, culturally responsive instruction, supporting dual language learners, enhancing social-emotional learning, implementing trauma-informed practices and restorative practices, and mitigating implicit biases to eliminate exclusionary discipline.

This bill would authorize the department to allocate or prorate any returned or collected funds that were appropriated for certain purposes of the California Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program to be used for the above-described competitive grants, and would extend the encumbrance and expenditure periods for those various appropriations for the program, as specified. By expanding the purposes and the encumbrance and expenditure periods of previously appropriated funds, the bill would make an appropriation.

The Early Education Act, among other things, establishes the California Universal Preschool Planning Grant Program with the goal of expanding access universally to preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old children, as provided. Existing law appropriates $50,000,000 for the 2026–27 fiscal year to the department for renewal grants for existing local educational agency grantees or new grants for new local educational agency consortia lead agencies, respectively, as specified.

This bill, among other things, would require the above-described $50,000,000 appropriation to instead be allocated by the department to one designated lead agency within each county that is a local educational agency and would require the department to instead grant these funds in accordance with specified provisions. By changing the purposes of previously appropriated funds, the bill would make an appropriation.

(3) Existing law appropriates $2,836,660,000 in the 2021–22 fiscal year from the General Fund to the department to administer the California Community Schools Partnership Program and requires those funds to be available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2032. Existing law authorizes up to $141,833,000 of that amount to be allocated to contract with local educational agencies to create a network of at least 5 regional technical assistance centers to provide support to local educational agencies, as provided, and requires the department to designate one of those regional technical assistance centers to be the state transformational assistance center for purposes of the program.

This bill would, among other things, authorize the regional technical assistance center serving as the state transformational assistance center to continue serving in that capacity beginning in the 2026–27 school year through the 2029–30 school year or until the new community schools technical assistance structure is adopted by the State Board of Education, as provided.

The Budget Act of 2026 appropriates, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, $1,000,000,000 from the General Fund to the department to administer the California Community Schools Partnership Program to distribute funding to local educational agencies, as defined, in accordance with a specified formula, to support a network of their eligible schoolsites to implement new, and provide ongoing support for existing, community schools, as provided. Existing law requires, as a condition of receiving these funds, a local educational agency to, among other things, use funds for planning to support specified activities.

This bill would authorize the above-described funds for planning to also be used to convene a schoolsite’s shared decisionmaking team or council to prepare its community school implementation plan, as provided. By expanding the purposes for which previously appropriated moneys may be expended, the bill would make an appropriation.

Existing law requires $10,000,000 of the above-described $1,000,000,000 appropriation to be available to the department to select, subject to the approval of the executive director of the state board, at least one local educational agency to implement a specified technical assistance structure and network and to support an ongoing certification process for the allocations to local educational agencies. Existing law requires $2,000,000 of the $10,000,000 to be allocated to the local educational agency serving as the state transformational assistance center for specified activities.

This bill would instead (A) require up to $10,000,000 to be available for those purposes, (B) delay, until the 2031–32 fiscal year, the authorization to use those moneys to support costs related to the ongoing certification process, and (C) require at least $2,000,000 of that amount, subject to the approval of the executive director of the state board, to be allocated to the local educational agency serving as the state transformational assistance center for specified activities.

(4) Existing law establishes the K–12 High-Speed Network (K–12 HSN) to, among other things, provide high-speed, high-bandwidth internet connectivity to the public school system, as provided. Existing law requires the K–12 HSN to provide critical services and functions for public primary and secondary local educational agencies, including, but not limited to, reliable and cost-effective internet service that, among other things, is sufficient to support videoconferencing and related independent study capabilities.

This bill would instead require K–12 HSN to provide reliable and cost-effective internet service that, among other things, is sufficient to support bandwidth-intensive applications, digital learning, and related independent study capabilities.

Existing law requires the establishment of a K–12 HSN advisory board, as provided, and requires the advisory board to, among other things, meet quarterly and recommend policy direction and broad operational guidance to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the lead education agency, as provided.

This bill would, among other things, require the advisory board to submit, on or before March 1 of each year, an annual report with program highlights to the State Department of Education and the Department of Finance.

(5) Existing law, commencing January 1, 2027, vests all executive and administrative functions of the State Department of Education in an Education Commissioner and transfers various duties of the Superintendent of Public Instruction relating to the State Board of Education and the department to the Education Commissioner.

If a federal law designates a state educational agency or other agency or officer primarily responsible for state supervision of public schools, existing law requires that designation to be deemed to refer to the state board.

If federal law designates a chief state school officer, the bill would require that designation, commencing January 1, 2027, to be deemed to refer to the Education Commissioner.

Existing law, commencing January 1, 2027, for numerous specified provisions of existing law, (A) provides that the Education Commissioner or the department, as specified, succeeds to and is vested with all the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction vested in the Superintendent by those provisions and (B) requires that any actions taken by the Superintendent pursuant to those provisions to instead be deemed to have been taken by the Education Commissioner or the department, as specified.

This bill, commencing January 1, 2027, would apply those provisions to additional provisions of law, as specified.

(6) Existing law requires the department to provide state meal reimbursement to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools that participate in, and comply with the requirements of, the federal School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program, and any applicable state laws and regulations, as provided. Existing law provides that the cost of providing adequate housing for cafeterias, including, but not limited to, permanent kitchen facilities, is a charge against the funds of the school district.

This bill, notwithstanding any other law and with the prior approval of the department, would instead authorize local educational agencies to make infrastructure upgrades for the operation and improvement of school meal service with state funded meal reimbursement provided for meals, as specified.

(7) Existing law appropriates $50,000,000 from the General Fund to the Superintendent to apportion to the Orange County Department of Education to award no less than $30,000,000 as grants to local educational agencies for the purpose of funding schoolwide and districtwide implementation of services or practices aligned to the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support framework, as specified, and requires the Orange County Department of Education to encumber or expend those funds on or before June 30, 2026.

The bill would, upon review and approval by the Orange County Department of Education, authorize funds encumbered by a subgrantee but not yet expended, to be expended until June 30, 2027. By extending the expenditure period of an existing appropriation, the bill would make an appropriation. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on the Orange County Department of Education, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires funds described above not awarded on or before December 15, 2022, to be available for the Orange County Department of Education to provide support to local educational agencies impacted by the fire-related state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor in January 2025, as provided.

This bill would authorize funds that have not been encumbered to be utilized by the Orange County Department of Education for those purposes until June 30, 2027. By extending the encumbrance period of an existing appropriation, the bill would make an appropriation.

(8) Existing law, upon an appropriation for these purposes, requires the State Department of Education, in consultation with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to administer a competitive grant program to award grants to local educational agencies, as defined, to establish dual enrollment programs, as specified. Existing law requires approved applicants to be provided one-time grants, as specified, to (A) start up or expand a middle college or early college high school or program or (B) establish a College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) dual enrollment partnership, or to be provided both grants.

This bill would, among other things, require an applicant that has previously received one of those grants to also be provided a renewal grant upon the completion of the requirements pertaining to that specific grant type, provided they are not currently in an active grant period for that grant type.

(9) Existing law establishes the Pathways to Bilingual Teaching Program and requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to develop and implement a program to award, on a competitive basis, grants of up to $600,000 to consortia of local educational agencies to form broader consortia with 4-year institutions of higher education, or with 4-year institutions of higher education and community colleges, to establish or expand pathways to bilingual teaching to enable bilingual candidates to earn a multiple subject, single subject, PK-3 early childhood education specialist, or education specialist teaching credential, with a bilingual authorization, as provided. Existing law requires broader consortia to enter in an agreement with one or more local educational agencies to hire qualified graduates of the pathway in bilingual teaching positions, as specified. Existing law requires the commission to annually report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature on any grants funded until funds are fully expended, as specified.

This bill would revise the program by, among other things, (A) delaying its implementation until January 1, 2027, (B) making individual local educational agencies, as defined to include school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, or regional occupational centers or programs operated by a joint powers authority or county office of education, eligible for grants but maintaining priority for consortia of local educational agencies, (C) authorizing, instead of requiring, broader consortia to enter into an agreement with one or more local educational agencies to hire qualified graduates of the pathway in bilingual teaching positions, and (D) revising reporting requirements, as specified.

(10) Existing law, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, appropriates $4,400,163,000 from the General Fund to the department for the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant, for allocation to county offices of education, school districts, charter schools, and the state special schools for discretionary purposes, as specified.

Existing law, as a condition of receiving those funds, requires, among other things, a school district or charter school with an existing declining enrollment, or projected declining enrollment in the next 5 years, to hold a public hearing on their plans to address the declining enrollment’s impacts on the local educational agency, including, but not limited to, schoolsite closures or consolidations.

This bill would require the public hearing to be held in conjunction with a required public hearing for purposes of the school district’s or charter school’s local control and accountability plan, and would require the plans to address the declining enrollment’s impacts on the local educational agency to instead include, but not be limited to, attracting and retaining pupils, strengthening course offerings, new program opportunities, class size reduction, facilities management, including potential schoolsite consolidations and closures, and local revenue options.

(11) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a community college district to enter into a CCAP partnership with the governing board of a school district or a county office of education, or the governing body of a charter school or regional occupational center or program, 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, as provided. Existing law provides that a day of attendance for a pupil enrolled in grades 11 and 12 in an early college high school, middle college high school, or dual enrollment courses offered by a local educational agency with or without a CCAP partnership agreement is 180 minutes of attendance if the pupil is also enrolled in a community college, classes of the California State University, or classes of the University of California, as provided.

This bill, for purposes of the above-described 180-minute day of attendance requirement, would require the dual enrollment courses to be offered with a CCAP partnership agreement.

(12) Existing law requires the State Board of Education to adopt evaluation rubrics to measure school district and individual schoolsite performance, for certain purposes, including to identify school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools in need of technical assistance. Existing law also requires the state board to adopt performance criteria and state and local indicators related to the evaluation rubrics.

Existing law, beginning with the release of the 2026 California School Dashboard, and every 3 years thereafter, requires the county superintendent of schools to provide technical assistance for a minimum of 3 years to a school district for which one or more pupil subgroups meets the performance criteria established by the state board, and requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide technical assistance for a minimum of 3 years to a county office of education for which one or more pupil subgroups meets the performance criteria established by the state board, as provided.

This bill would, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, require the county superintendent of schools to provide technical assistance to any school district for which one or more pupil subgroups meets the performance criteria established by the state board, as reported on the 2025 California School Dashboard, and the Superintendent to provide technical assistance to any county office of education for which one or more pupil subgroups meets the performance criteria established by the state board, as reported on the 2025 California School Dashboard. By imposing new duties on county superintendents of schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires the State Department of Education to annually publish information on all local educational agencies identified for prioritized support through universal assistance pursuant to the universal and targeted assistance county office of education funding grant, as determined by the state board’s targeted assistance criteria.

This bill would instead require the department to make the above-described determination about local educational agencies identified for prioritized support using solely the most recent year of performance data on the state indicators and specified performance criteria adopted by the state board for local educational agency assistance and intervention, as provided.

(13) Existing law makes various appropriations for the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program and augmentation of that program, including, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, $350,000,000 from the General Fund to the department for further augmentation of that program. Existing law specifies various reporting requirements related to the program and the augmentations of the program.

This bill would, among other things, revise existing reporting requirements and require additional reporting, as specified.

(14) Existing law establishes the Golden State Pathways Program 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 pupils to advance seamlessly from high school to college and career and provide the workforce needed for economic growth, and, for the 2021–22 fiscal year, appropriates $500,000,000 from the General Fund to the department for the Superintendent to competitively award grant funds to school districts, charter schools, county offices of education, or regional occupational centers or programs operated by a joint powers authority or county office of education. Existing law authorizes the Superintendent, in consultation with the executive director of the state board, to use up to 5% of the total appropriation to contract with up to 10 local educational agencies for the provision of technical assistance to local educational agencies, applicants, and grant recipients, as provided, and requires those specific funds to be available for encumbrance and expenditure for 5 fiscal years.

This bill would require the funds for contracting with up 10 local educational agencies for the provision of technical assistance to instead be available for encumbrance and expenditure until June 30, 2029. By extending the encumbrance and expenditure period for an existing appropriation, the bill would make an appropriation.

Existing law requires the Superintendent, in consultation with the executive director of the state board, to contract with an independent entity to evaluate the program’s effectiveness in meeting its specified goals, and requires the evaluation to be completed no sooner than June 30, 2027, and no later than June 30, 2028.

The bill would extend the evaluation’s deadline by 2 years to instead be no later than June 30, 2030, and would require the department, by June 30, 2028, to report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, the Department of Finance, and the Governor on the process for awarding grants, the name of each grant recipient, the amount awarded to each grant recipient, and the activities provided with grant funds.

(15) Existing law establishes California’s New Americans in Schools (CalNAS) program and appropriates $100,000,000 from the General Fund to the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, to award grants on a competitive basis to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to provide services for newcomer pupils, English learners, and immigrant families, as specified. Existing law requires $10,000,000 of that amount to be available to the State Department of Education to competitively award a grant to a local educational agency, or a consortium of local educational agencies, to provide statewide technical assistance for the program, as specified.

This bill would, among other things, (A) revise award prioritization factors, (B) provide definitions for immigrant families and newcomer pupils, (C) require the $10,000,000 to be awarded instead to a local educational agency or consortium of local educational agencies to serve as a statewide technical assistance center and provide technical assistance for the CalNAS program, as specified, and (D) authorize the statewide technical assistance center, subject to the approval and oversight of the department, to use no more than 10% of their allocation to subcontract with qualified nonprofit entities to support implementation of the required services. By revising the purposes of an existing appropriation, the bill would make an appropriation.

(16) Existing law establishes the Dream Resource Center Grant Program for the purpose of providing pupils, including undocumented pupils, in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, with specified resources. Existing law requires the department, in administering the program, to review applications and award grants based off of a tiered point system that prioritizes applications for funding, as provided.

This bill would, among other things, revise the point system for prioritization, as specified.

(17) Existing law establishes the Golden State Teacher Grant Program under the administration of the Student Aid Commission and requires the commission to provide, among other grants, one-time federally funded grants of up to $20,000 to each student enrolled, or who has applied for enrollment, on or after July 1, 2026, in certain professional preparation programs leading to a special education credential if the student commits to working at a priority school or a California preschool program for 4 years within the 8 years following the date the student completes the professional preparation program. Existing law limits those grants to up to $10,000 for a California resident student enrolled, or who has applied for enrollment, on or after July 1, 2026, in a professional preparation program leading to a special education credential at a private postsecondary educational institution approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing as a qualified institution, as specified.

This bill would, for purposes of those grants, require the special education credential to instead be a preliminary special education credential.

(18) Existing law authorizes the Adjutant General to enter into a cooperative agreement with the City of Oakland and a school district for the purposes of establishing an Oakland Military Institute, as specified.

This bill would authorize the Adjunct General to instead into a cooperative agreement with the Oakland Military Institute College Preparatory Academy, a California charter school, as specified.

(19) Existing law, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, appropriates $30,000,000 from the General Fund to the department for allocation to the Riverside County Office of Education and the El Dorado County Office of Education, in equal amounts, in support of the Supporting Inclusive Practices project, as provided.

This bill would instead appropriate those funds to the department for allocation to only the El Dorado County Office of Education, or for allocation pursuant to other legislation, in support of the Supporting Inclusive Practices project. By revising the required allocation of an existing appropriation, the bill would make an appropriation.

(20) The Budget Act of 2026 reappropriates $46,000,000 from the General Fund to the department for grants to local educational agencies to support youth experiencing homelessness. Existing law, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, appropriates an additional $70,000,000 from the General Fund to the department for allocation to local educational agencies to increase the identification of, and improve educational outcomes for, homeless children and youths, and requires those funds to be available for encumbrance and expenditure through June 30, 2029. Existing law, as a condition of funding, specifies reporting requirements by a recipient local educational agency relating to those funds, including submitting a final report on or before December 31, 2029, as provided.

This bill would instead require both of those amounts to be available for encumbrance and expenditure through June 30, 2030, and would delay the final report deadline by one year to instead be on or before December 31, 2030. By extending the encumbrance and expenditure periods for existing appropriations, the bill would make an appropriation.

(21) This bill would also delete obsolete references, make conforming changes, and make other nonsubstantive changes.

(22) 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.

(23) Certain 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.

(24) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

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

SECTION 1.

Section 98 of the Education Code, as added by Section 1 of Chapter 45 of the Statutes of 2026, is amended and renumbered to read:

99.

Both of the following mean a natural person:

(a) A public school employee, including, but not limited to, certificated employees, classified employees, teachers, educators, short-term employees, principals, administrators, counselors, school nurses, school psychologists, and school social workers.

(b) A contractor performing services in a public school.

SEC. 2.

Section 2582 of the Education Code is amended to read:

2582.

(a) The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department for allocation to the Kern County Superintendent of Schools to augment the Mathematics Professional Learning Partnership, established by Section 114 of Chapter 38 of the Statutes of 2024 and augmented by Section 95 of Chapter 8 of the Statutes of 2025, to further support educator training, including mathematics coaches, teachers, and school administrators for implementation of the new mathematics curriculum framework in local educational agencies. These funds shall be available for encumbrance through June 30, 2031.

(1) The Mathematics Professional Learning Partnership shall continue to support the California Mathematics Project along with its other existing partners and shall expand upon collaborations with the Rural Math Collaborative to provide training in and support mathematics coaching in local educational agencies in rural areas. These support providers shall also train coaches who can be deployed to provide mathematics coaching in schools and local educational agencies with the highest need of support.

(2) The Kern County Superintendent of Schools shall use these funds to build upon the expenditure plan submitted to the Department of Finance pursuant to Section 95 of Chapter 8 of the Statutes of 2025 and shall submit a revised expenditure plan to the Department of Finance for approval by December 1, 2026.

(b) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

SEC. 3.

Section 8281.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:

8281.5.

(a) The California Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program is hereby established as a state early learning initiative with the goal of expanding access to developmentally appropriate classroom-based preschool and prekindergarten programs at local educational agencies.

(b) For the 2021–22 fiscal year, the sum of three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department for allocation to local educational agencies for the California Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program pursuant to this section. These funds shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2024.

(c) (1) Of the total amount appropriated under subdivision (b), the department shall allocate two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) in the 2021–22 fiscal year to local educational agencies as follows:

(A) A minimum base grant to all local educational agencies that operate kindergarten programs as determined using California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 kindergarten enrollment from the 2020–21 certification, as follows:

(i) For local educational agencies with an enrollment of 1 to 23 pupils, inclusive, the minimum base grant shall be twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).

(ii) For local educational agencies with an enrollment of 24 to 99 pupils, inclusive, the minimum base grant shall be fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

(iii) For local educational agencies with an enrollment of 100 or more pupils, the minimum base grant shall be one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

(B) A minimum base grant for each county office of education of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for each local educational agency in their county that operates kindergarten programs to support countywide planning and capacity building.

(i) Sixty percent shall be available as enrollment grants. These grants shall be allocated based on the local educational agency’s proportional share of total California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 kindergarten enrollment for the 2019–20 fiscal year, as applied to the total amount of program funds available for the enrollment grant. For purposes of this clause, the total statewide kindergarten enrollment shall be calculated using the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 kindergarten enrollment minus the transitional kindergarten program enrollment for the 2019–20 fiscal year for each local educational agency.

(ii) Forty percent shall be available as supplemental grants. These grants shall be allocated based on the local educational agency’s California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 kindergarten enrollment minus the transitional kindergarten program enrollment for the 2019–20 fiscal year, multiplied by the local educational agency’s unduplicated pupil percentage, as calculated pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 42238.02 or subdivision (b) of Section 2574 certified as of the second principal apportionment. Funds for this purpose shall be distributed percent-to-total from funds available for the supplemental grant.

(D) Notwithstanding any other law, any kindergarten enrollment reported by a county office of education shall be attributed to the school district of geographic residence.

(2) Grant funds may be used for costs associated with creating or expanding California state preschool programs or transitional kindergarten programs, or to establish or strengthen partnerships with other providers of prekindergarten education within the local educational agency, including Head Start programs, to ensure that high-quality options for prekindergarten education are available for four-year-old children. Allowable costs include, but are not necessarily limited to, planning costs, hiring and recruitment costs, staff training and professional development, classroom materials, and supplies.

(3) Local educational agencies receiving grants pursuant to this subdivision shall do both of the following:

(A) Commit to providing program data to the department, as specified by the department, including, but not limited to, recipient information and participating in overall program evaluation.

(B) Develop a plan for consideration by the governing board or body at a public meeting on or before June 30, 2022, for how all children in the attendance area of the local educational agency will have access to full-day learning programs the year before kindergarten that meet the needs of parents, including through partnerships with the local educational agency’s expanding learning offerings, the After School Education and Safety Program, the California state preschool program, Head Start programs, and other community-based early learning and care programs.

(4) (A) Funds that are allocated or awarded pursuant to this subdivision shall be expended by June 30, 2028. Notwithstanding any other law, on June 30, 2030, any unexpended funds of the amount awarded for purposes of this subdivision shall revert to the General Fund.

(B) The department shall initiate collection proceedings for grant funds used by local educational agencies in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of this section, including, but not limited to, failing to submit all required data pursuant to paragraph (3).

(C) The department may allocate or prorate any returned or collected funds pursuant to this subdivision for the purposes provided in subdivision (f).

(d) (1) For the 2022–23 fiscal year, the sum of three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department for allocation to local educational agencies for the California Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program pursuant to this section. These funds shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2026. The department shall allocate funds to local educational agencies as follows:

(A) A minimum base grant to all local educational agencies that operate kindergarten programs, as determined using California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 kindergarten enrollment from the 2021–22 certification, as follows:

(i) For local educational agencies with an enrollment of 1 to 500 pupils, inclusive, the minimum base grant shall be twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).

(ii) For local educational agencies with an enrollment of 501 or more pupils, the minimum base grant shall be fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

(i) Sixty percent shall be available as enrollment grants. These grants shall be allocated based on the local educational agency’s proportional share of total California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 kindergarten enrollment for the 2021–22 fiscal year, as applied to the total amount of program funds available for the enrollment grant. For purposes of this clause, the total statewide kindergarten enrollment shall be calculated using the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 kindergarten enrollment minus the transitional kindergarten program enrollment for the 2020–21 fiscal year for each local educational agency.

(ii) Forty percent shall be available as supplemental grants. These grants shall be allocated based on the local educational agency’s California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 kindergarten enrollment minus the transitional kindergarten program enrollment for the 2020–21 fiscal year, multiplied by the local educational agency’s unduplicated pupil percentage, as calculated pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 42238.02 or subdivision (b) of Section 2574, as applicable, and certified as of the second principal apportionment. Funds for this purpose shall be distributed percent-to-total from funds available for the supplemental grant.

(D) Notwithstanding any other law, any kindergarten enrollment reported by a county office of education shall be attributed to the school district of geographic residence.

(2) Grant funds may be used for costs associated with creating or expanding California state preschool programs or transitional kindergarten programs, or to establish or strengthen partnerships with other providers of prekindergarten education within the local educational agency, including Head Start programs, to ensure that high-quality options for prekindergarten education are available for children four years of age. Allowable costs shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, classroom operating costs, planning costs, hiring and recruitment costs, staff training and professional development, classroom materials, and supplies.

(3) Local educational agencies receiving grants pursuant to this subdivision shall do all of the following:

(A) Commit to providing program data to the department, as specified by the department, including, but not limited to, recipient information and participating in overall program evaluation.

(B) If the local educational agency did not develop the plan required pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), develop a plan for consideration by the governing board or body at a public meeting on or before March 30, 2023, for how all children in the attendance area of the local educational agency will have access to full-day learning programs the year before kindergarten that meet the needs of parents, including through partnerships with the local educational agency’s expanding learning offerings, the After School Education and Safety Program, the California state preschool program, Head Start programs, and other community-based early learning and care programs. A plan developed pursuant to this subparagraph satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c).

(D) Commit to planning with their county’s local planning council, local tribes, and the California state preschool program and Head Start program providers in their region.

(E) Offer transitional kindergarten to all eligible pupils interested in transitional kindergarten within their attendance area by the 2025–26 school year.

(4) (A) Funds allocated or awarded pursuant to this subdivision shall be expended by June 30, 2028. Notwithstanding any other law, on June 30, 2030, any unexpended funds of the amount awarded for purposes of this subdivision shall revert to the General Fund.

(B) The department may allocate or prorate any returned or collected funds pursuant to this subdivision for the purposes provided in subdivision (f).

(5) The department shall initiate collection proceedings for grant funds used by local educational agencies in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of this section, including, but not limited to, failing to submit all required data pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3).

(e) (1) For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the sum of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department for allocation to local educational agencies for the California Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program pursuant to this section. These funds shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2032. The department shall allocate funds to local educational agencies as follows:

(i) For local educational agencies with an enrollment of 1 to 500 pupils, inclusive, the minimum base grant shall be twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).

(ii) For local educational agencies with an enrollment of 501 or more pupils, the minimum base grant shall be fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

(ii) Forty percent shall be available as supplemental grants. These grants shall be allocated based on the local educational agency’s California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 kindergarten enrollment for the 2025–26 fiscal year, multiplied by the local educational agency’s unduplicated pupil percentage, as calculated pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 42238.02 or subdivision (b) of Section 2574, as applicable, and certified as of the second principal apportionment. Funds for this purpose shall be distributed percent-to-total from funds available for the supplemental grant.

(D) Notwithstanding any other law, any kindergarten enrollment reported by a county office of education shall be attributed to the school district of geographic residence.

(2) (i) Grant funds may be used for costs associated with creating or expanding developmentally appropriate California state preschool programs or transitional kindergarten programs, or to establish or strengthen partnerships with other providers of prekindergarten education within the local educational agency, including Head Start programs, to ensure that high-quality options for prekindergarten education are available for children four years of age. Allowable costs shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, planning costs, hiring and recruitment costs, staff training and professional development, developmentally appropriate classroom materials and furnishings, and supplies.

(ii) It is the intent of the Legislature that local educational agencies support ongoing professional development for preschool and transitional kindergarten educators and site administrators on developmentally appropriate curricula pursuant to Section 48000 and best practices in the classroom, including, but not limited to, behavioral supports and early childhood behavioral interventions.

(iii) It is further the intent of the Legislature that local educational agencies use funds pursuant to this subdivision to increase the number of highly qualified teachers, classroom aides, and site administrators available to serve California state preschool programs and transitional kindergarten pupils, and to provide California state preschool program, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten teachers with training in providing instruction in inclusive classrooms, culturally responsive instruction, supporting dual language learners, enhancing social-emotional learning, implementing trauma-informed practices and restorative practices, and mitigating implicit biases to eliminate exclusionary discipline, pursuant to this subdivision.

(3) Local educational agencies receiving grants pursuant to this subdivision shall do all of the following.

(A) Commit to providing program data to the department, as specified by the department, including, but not limited to, recipient information and participating in overall program evaluation.

(B) (i) Ensure expenditures are consistent with their local plan adopted pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c).

(ii) If the local educational agency did not develop the plan required pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), develop a plan for consideration by the governing board or body at a public meeting for how all children in the attendance area of the local educational agency will have access to full-day learning programs the year before kindergarten that meet the needs of parents, including through partnerships with the local educational agency’s expanding learning offerings, the After School Education and Safety Program, the California state preschool program, Head Start programs, and other community-based early learning and care programs. A plan developed pursuant to this clause satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c).

(iii) A plan developed pursuant to clause (ii) shall be made available to review upon request by the department.

(C) Collaborate with their county’s local planning council, local tribes, and the California state preschool program and Head Start program providers in their region.

(D) Offer transitional kindergarten to all eligible pupils interested in transitional kindergarten within their attendance area.

(E) Offer full-day transitional kindergarten on any schoolsite offering kindergarten or develop a plan for consideration by the governing board or body at a public meeting on or before June 30, 2028, for how the local educational agency will offer full-day transitional kindergarten on any schoolsite offering kindergarten.

(4) (A) Funds allocated or awarded pursuant to this subdivision shall be expended by June 30, 2032. Notwithstanding any other law, on June 30, 2034, any unexpended funds of the amount awarded for purposes of this subdivision shall revert to the General Fund.

(B) The department may allocate or prorate any returned or collected funds pursuant to this subdivision for the purposes provided in subdivision (f).

(6) It is the intent of the Legislature that local educational agencies support California state preschool programs to transition their service models to offer full-day, high-quality preschool services for three-year-old children, and support Head Start programs to transition to Early Head Start service models for infants and toddlers.

(7) It is further the intent of the Legislature, that local educational agencies offer full-day transitional kindergarten at all schoolsites offering kindergarten enrollment, and offer full-day kindergarten for all children in the year before first grade enrollment.

(f) (1) (A) Of the total amount appropriated under subdivision (b), the department shall award one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in competitive grants to local educational agencies to increase the number of highly-qualified teachers available to serve California state preschool programs and transitional kindergarten pupils, and to provide California state preschool program, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten teachers with training in providing instruction in inclusive classrooms, culturally responsive instruction, supporting dual language learners, enhancing social-emotional learning, implementing trauma-informed practices and restorative practices, and mitigating implicit biases to eliminate exclusionary discipline, pursuant to this section. These funds shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2024.

(B) Any funds allocated for purposes of this subdivision pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (c), subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (d), or subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (e) shall be available for encumbrance through June 30, 2034.

(2) The department shall develop and administer a process to award grants under paragraph (1), subject to approval of the executive director of the state board, on a competitive basis to local educational agencies. To apply for a grant, a local educational agency shall submit an application to the department describing how it will allocate funds and increase either the number of credentialed teachers meeting the requirements of subdivision (g) of Section 48000, or the competencies of California state preschool programs, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten teachers to enhance their ability to provide instruction in inclusive classrooms, provide culturally responsive instruction, support dual language learners, enhance social-emotional learning, implement trauma-informed and restorative practices, and mitigate implicit biases to eliminate exclusionary discipline.

(3) A local educational agency may apply on behalf of a consortium of providers within the local educational agency’s program area, including California state preschool programs and Head Start programs operated by community-based organizations.

(4) An applicant shall demonstrate all of the following to be considered for a grant award:

(A) A need for preschool and transitional kindergarten or kindergarten professional development in a region.

(B) A need for preschool and transitional kindergarten teachers in a region.

(D) The ability to connect the preschool, transitional kindergarten, or kindergarten program to before and after school programs and extended day services.

(E) A plan to integrate preschool, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten professional development opportunities.

(F) A plan for recruiting new preschool, transitional kindergarten, or kindergarten teachers with experience in early learning and care settings and collaborating with institutions of higher education to ensure a qualified prekindergarten teacher pipeline.

(G) A plan for how principals and administrators overseeing the transitional kindergarten program, or other prekindergarten program, will receive training and professional development on the value and tenets of effective instruction for young children.

(5) In awarding grants under paragraph (1), the department shall establish a methodology that accounts for all of the following:

(A) The percentage of transitional kindergarten and kindergarten pupils eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

(B) The percentage of dual language learners that the local educational agency is serving or is planning to serve in a California state preschool program or transitional kindergarten program.

(C) The percentage of pupils with disabilities the local educational agency is serving or planning to serve in an inclusive California state preschool program or transitional kindergarten program.

(D) The percentage of pupils served, or planned to be served, in full-day California state preschool, transitional kindergarten, or kindergarten programs offered by the local educational agency or community-based organizations.

(E) The extent to which applicants operate in an attendance area where a significant disproportionality of particular races or ethnicities, as described in Section 1418(d) of Title 20 of the United States Code, has been identified in special education.

(F) The extent to which the local educational agency is located in an area that has more than three young children, three to five years of age, inclusive, for every licensed childcare slot.

(G) The extent to which applicants plan to partner with community-based California state preschool programs and Head Start programs in their program area to ensure those teachers have access to professional development along with teachers employed by the local educational agency.

(6) Grants awarded under paragraph (1) for professional development may be used for costs associated with the educational expenses of current and future California state preschool program, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten professionals that support their attainment of required credentials, permits, or professional development in early childhood instruction or child development, including developing competencies in serving inclusive classrooms and dual language learners. Professional development grant funds shall be used for any of the following purposes:

(A) Tuition, supplies, and other related educational expenses.

(B) Transportation and childcare costs incurred as a result of attending classes.

(C) Substitute teacher pay for California state preschool program, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten professionals that are currently working in a California state preschool program, transitional kindergarten, or kindergarten classroom.

(D) Stipends and professional development expenses, as determined by the Superintendent.

(E) Career, course, and professional development coaching, counseling, and navigation services.

(F) Linked courses, cohorts, or apprenticeship models.

(G) Training and professional development for principals and other administrators of transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, on the value and tenets of effective instruction for young children.

(H) Other educational expenses, as determined by the Superintendent.

(7) Local educational agencies awarded funding pursuant to paragraph (1) may partner with local or online accredited institutions of higher education or local agencies that provide high-quality or credit-bearing trainings, or apprenticeship programs that integrate and embed higher education coursework with on-the-job training of professionals.

(8) Professional learning provided pursuant to this subdivision shall, as applicable, be aligned to the preschool learning foundations and academic standards pursuant to Sections 51226, 60605, 60605.1, 60605.2, 60605.3, 60605.4, 60605.8, and 60605.11, as those sections read on June 30, 2020, and former Section 60605.85, as that section read on June 30, 2014.

(9) Local educational agencies receiving grants under this subdivision shall commit to providing program data to the department, as specified by the department, including, but not necessarily limited to, recipient information, including demographic information, educational progress, and the type of courses taken, and participating in overall program evaluation.

(10) The department shall provide a report to the Department of Finance and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before October 1, 2024, on the expenditure of funds and relevant outcome data in order to evaluate the impact of the grants awarded under this subdivision.

(11) (A) Funds allocated or awarded pursuant to this subdivision shall be expended by June 30, 2028. Notwithstanding any other law, on June 30, 2029, any unexpended funds of the amount awarded for purposes of this subdivision shall revert to the General Fund.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), any unexpended funds allocated for purposes of this subdivision pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (c), subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (d), and subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (e) shall be expended by June 30, 2034. Notwithstanding any other law, any unexpended funds of the amount awarded for purposes of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (c), subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (d), and subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (e) shall revert to the General Fund on June 30, 2035.

(g) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Full-day transitional kindergarten” means full-day transitional kindergarten as authorized pursuant to Section 8973.

(2) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(h) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (b) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2020–21 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2020–21 fiscal year.

(i) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (d) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2021–22 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2021–22 fiscal year.

(j) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (e) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

SEC. 4.

Section 8320 of the Education Code is amended to read:

8320.

(a) The California Universal Preschool Planning Grant Program is hereby established with the goal of expanding access universally to preschool programs for three- and four-year-old children across the state through a mixed-delivery system.

(b) As used in this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Children with exceptional needs” has the same meaning as defined in Section 8205.

(2) “Mixed-delivery system” means a system of early childhood education services that is delivered through a variety of providers, programs, and settings, including Head Start agencies or delegate agencies funded under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 9831, et seq.), public, private, or proprietary agencies, including community-based organizations, public schools, and local educational agencies that offer center-based childcare and preschool programs, tribal childcare and preschool, and family childcare through a family childcare home education network.

(3) “Three- and four-year-old children” has the same meaning as “three-year-old children” and “four-year-old children,” as those terms are defined in Section 8205.

(4) “Universal preschool” means those programs that offer part-day or full-day, or both, educational programs for three- and four-year-old children, and may be offered through a mixed-delivery system.

(c) (1) (A) Pursuant to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, for each of the 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25 fiscal years, the Superintendent shall consult with the Director of Social Services and shall create an application to award grant funds to one designated lead agency within each county, as set forth in this section. Each county shall submit a single planning grant application.

(B) The county grant submission shall contain a signed agreement from the resource and referral agencies in the county and the local planning council.

(2) (A) (i) A local planning council established pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 10485) of Chapter 31 of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall have first priority for grant awards from their county’s allocation of funds calculated for each county, as described paragraph (1) of subdivision (d).

(ii) A local planning council shall express interest by submitting a letter of intent to the department on a template developed by the Superintendent in consultation with the State Department of Social Services.

(iii) If a local planning council wishes to partner with other counties in their region pursuant to subdivision (j), the local planning council shall indicate this intent in their letter of intent.

(B) (i) In counties where the local planning council does not submit a letter of intent to receive an award, a resource and referral agency established pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10217) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code that operates in the county may submit a joint letter of intent with the local planning council to the Superintendent, on a template developed by the Superintendent in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, indicating interest in conducting the activities of this grant in their county.

(ii) The joint letter submitted pursuant to clause (i) shall designate a lead fiscal agency and describe the partnership the resource and referral agencies will use to meet the requirements of the grant.

(iii) If a resource and referral agency wishes to partner with other counties in their region pursuant to subdivision (j), the resource and referral agency shall indicate this intent in their letter of intent.

(C) Once letters of intent have been submitted, the Superintendent shall require the designated lead agency from each county to submit an application that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following information:

(i) A description of how it will allocate funds and achieve tasks described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e).

(ii) A description of how the applicant will partner with the county office of education and other local educational agencies in the county on the work required pursuant to Section 8281.5 to ensure activities conducted under this grant meet community needs for universal preschool in a mixed-delivery system not already addressed.

(D) All grantees shall be required to coordinate with the county office of education on the work required pursuant to Section 8281.5. In counties where the county office of education operates the resource and referral agency or the local planning council, the staff responsible for those activities at the county office of education shall be included and financially supported to participate in the activities of this grant.

(E) The grantee shall form a single working group that shall include, but not be limited to, representatives from the county offices of education, school districts, charter schools offering transitional kindergarten, resource and referral programs, alternative payment programs operating preschool programs, First 5 county commissions, contracted state preschool programs, including both local educational agency and community-based organization programs, general childcare programs serving preschool-age children, tribal preschool programs, private center-based childcare preschool providers, licensed family childcare providers, educators, exclusive bargaining representatives, Head Start, faculty at local institutions of higher education focusing on child development or early childhood education, and early childhood education teacher preparation programs, including institutions of higher education.

(d) The Superintendent shall develop and administer a grant process and award grant funds to each county that applies for funding for the 2022–23 fiscal year if the application conforms with the requirements of this section. Funds shall be allocated using a methodology for determining the amount of funds in each county that accounts for all of the following:

(1) (A) Base grant funding that reflects the number of three- and four-year-old children in the county or region.

(B) Add-on funding that reflects both of the following:

(i) The number of three- and four-year-old children in the county or region who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in, subsidized preschool programs as part of the mixed-delivery system for universal preschool, as determined by the Superintendent.

(ii) The number of three- and four-year-old children with exceptional needs in the county or region.

(2) To the extent funds are available in the Budget Act of 2023, existing grantees shall be eligible to apply for a renewal grant subject to terms and conditions developed by the Superintendent.

(3) (A) To the extent funds are available in the Budget Act of 2024, the following entities shall be eligible to apply for a grant subject to terms and conditions developed by the Superintendent:

(i) Existing grantees.

(ii) Newly formed consortia.

(iii) Individual counties that participated in a former consortium for this grant, with the first priority for the funds going to the local planning council, pursuant to the process described in subdivision (c), as appropriate.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in a county that previously received funds from this grant, where the previous grantee or consortia of grantees does not intend to reapply for funding pursuant to subparagraph (A), the following entities shall be eligible to apply as part of an existing or newly formed consortia, with the following priority order:

(i) The local planning council.

(ii) Resource and referral agencies.

(iii) First 5 county commissions.

(C) If an entity applies for the grant pursuant to subparagraph (B), the grant submission shall include a signed statement, from all entities within the county with a higher priority and within the same priority, that acknowledges their intent not to apply for the funds.

(D) An entity receiving funds pursuant to this paragraph shall complete all activities of the grant pursuant to subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c), subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c), and paragraph (2) of subdivision (e).

(E) The entity applying for funds in each county pursuant to this paragraph shall express interest by submitting a letter of intent to the department on a template developed by the Superintendent, before submitting the request for data.

(F) Each county shall submit a single planning grant application for the relevant fiscal year.

(G) If funds are awarded pursuant to this paragraph to a First 5 county commission, the First 5 county commission shall collaborate with, and subgrant funds, where appropriate, to local planning councils and resource and referral agencies to implement the activities of this section.

(4) (A) (i) For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department for allocation to one designated lead agency within each county that is a local educational agency pursuant to subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive. These funds shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2032.

(ii) A county office of education shall have first priority for grant awards from their county’s allocation of funds calculated for each county, as described in paragraph (1).

(B) (i) A county office of education shall express interest by submitting a letter of intent to the department on a template developed by the department.

(ii) If a county office of education wishes to partner with other counties in their region pursuant to subdivision (j), the county office of education shall indicate this intent in their letter of intent.

(iii) The letter of intent shall include signatures from the local planning council and resource and referral agencies in the county or region acknowledging the county office of education’s intent to apply.

(C) (i) In counties where the county office of education does not submit a letter of intent to receive an award, a school district or charter school that operates in the county may submit a joint letter of intent with the county office of education to the department, on a template developed by the department, indicating interest in conducting the activities of this grant in their county.

(ii) If the school district or charter school wishes to partner with other counties in their region pursuant to subdivision (j), the school district or charter school shall indicate this intent in their letter of intent.

(iii) The letter of intent shall include signatures from the local planning council and resource and referral agencies in the county or region acknowledging the school district’s or charter school’s intent to apply.

(D) Once letters of intent have been submitted, the department shall require the designated lead agency from each county to submit an application that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(i) A description of how it will allocate funds and achieve tasks described in subdivision (f).

(ii) A description of how the applicant will partner with the local planning council, resource and referral agency, and other local educational agencies in the county on the work required pursuant to Section 8281.5 to ensure activities conducted under this grant meet community needs for universal preschool in a mixed-delivery system not already addressed.

(iii) (I) For a designated lead agency that was a prior grantee pursuant to the allocations in subdivision (c), information on how the lead agency intends to build on previous efforts.

(II) For a designated lead agency that was not a prior grantee pursuant to the allocations in subdivision (c), information on how the lead agency will build on previous efforts of the prior grantee and include the prior grantee in the work moving forward, as appropriate.

(iv) Signatures from the local planning council and resource and referral agencies in the county or region supporting the application and the activities listed in the application.

(E) All grantees shall be required to coordinate with the county office of education on the work required pursuant to Section 8281.5. In counties where the county office of education operates the resource and referral agency or the local planning council, the staff responsible for those activities at the county office of education shall be included and financially supported to participate in the activities of this grant.

(F) All grantees shall be required to identify funds within their county or region, or both, for a one-to-one funding match.

(e) (1) Grant funds issued pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (d) may be used for costs associated with any of the following:

(A) Assessing the parental preferences and the need for access to available high-quality universal preschool through a mixed-delivery system for three- and four-year-old children in the county or region by program type.

(B) Establishing or strengthening partnerships with other providers of early childhood education services and family childcare home education networks within the county or region’s mixed-delivery system and with tribal partners, to ensure that high-quality options for universal preschool, including inclusive preschool programs and multilingual programs, are available for three- and four-year-old children.

(C) Engaging in community-level coordination and planning with agencies participating in the county or region’s mixed-delivery system to implement high-quality universal preschool options.

(D) Coordinating with special education local and regional partners, including regional centers and local educational agencies, to ensure three- and four-year-old children with exceptional needs in the county or region have access to universal preschool through the mixed-delivery system in the least restrictive environment in accordance with Section 1412(a)(5)(A) of Title 20 of the United States Code.

(E) Partnering with the regional agency responsible for the system described in Section 8203.1 to fund and support workforce development, coaching, and other quality improvement activities to support the universal preschool mixed-delivery system.

(F) Other costs, as specified by the Superintendent.

(2) Entities receiving grants pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (d) shall do all of the following:

(A) Plan for the provision of high-quality universal preschool options for three- and four-year-old children, through a mixed-delivery system that ensures access to high-quality full- and part-day learning experiences, coordinated services, and referrals for families to access health and social-emotional support services. Indicators of quality shall be determined by the Superintendent pursuant to Section 8203.

(B) Plan for increasing inclusion of children with exceptional needs in universal preschool.

(C) Assist existing and aspiring universal preschool site supervisors, teachers, and other support staff in identifying and accessing local workforce pathway programs, including financial support programs, to increase the number of site supervisors, teachers, and other support staff who have required credentials and degrees.

(D) Provide outreach services and enrollment support for families of three- or four-year-old children, to meet family needs and provide those children with high-quality full- and part-day learning experiences.

(E) Partner to plan for, align and coordinate the plans, and conduct the activities described in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, with all local educational agencies in the county or region that received funding pursuant to the California Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program (Article 13.2 (commencing with Section 8281.5)).

(F) Partner with tribes to reflect family and tribal community needs, as sovereign nations, in the planning and implementation of the universal preschool mixed-delivery system.

(G) Commit to providing program data to the department, as specified by the Superintendent, including, but not limited to, plan development steps and participants engaged in the grant activities and planning, core needs of critical communities, including tribal communities, and recipient information and participation in overall program evaluation.

(H) Develop a plan for consideration by the county board of education at a public meeting on or before June 30, 2023, for how all four-year-old children and an increased number of at-promise three-year-old children in the county may access full-day learning programs before kindergarten that meet the needs of parents, including through partnerships with the universal preschool programs in the mixed-delivery system and expanded learning offerings.

(f) (1) Grant funds issued in the 2026–27 fiscal year pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) may be used for costs associated with any of the following:

(C) Engaging in community-level coordination and planning with agencies participating in the county or region’s mixed-delivery system to implement high-quality universal preschool options.

(F) Other costs, as specified by the department.

(2) Entities receiving grants issued in the 2026–27 fiscal year pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) shall do all of the following:

(A) Plan and coordinate countywide or regionwide, or both, for the provision of high-quality universal preschool options for three- and four-year-old children, through a mixed-delivery system that ensures access to high-quality full- and part-day learning experiences, coordinated services, and referrals for families to access health and social-emotional support services. Indicators of quality shall be determined by the department pursuant to Section 8203.

(B) Plan and coordinate countywide or regionwide, or both, for the increased inclusion of children with exceptional needs in universal preschool.

(D) Provide outreach services and enrollment support for families of three- or four-year-old children to meet family needs and provide those children with high-quality full- and part-day learning experiences.

(E) Coordinate grant efforts with efforts underway by local educational agencies in the county or region that received funding pursuant to the California Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program (Article 13.2 (commencing with Section 8281.5)).

(F) Partner with tribes to reflect family and tribal community needs, as sovereign nations, in the planning and implementation of the universal preschool mixed-delivery system.

(G) Commit to providing program data to the department, as specified by the department, including, but not limited to, plan development and implementation steps, participants engaged in the grant activities and planning, core needs of critical communities and families, including tribal communities, and recipient information and participation in overall program evaluation.

(g) (1) If the entity receiving the grant in a county is a local planning council, the local planning council shall collaborate with, and subgrant funds where appropriate to, local resource and referral agencies to implement the activities of this section.

(2) If the entity receiving the grant in a county is a resource and referral agency, the resource and referral agency shall collaborate with, and subgrant funds where appropriate to, the local planning council to implement the activities of this section.

(h) If the entity receiving a grant in a county pursuant to the allocation in paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) is a local educational agency that does not operate a resource and referral agency or the local planning council, the local educational agency shall collaborate with, and subgrant funds where appropriate to, the local planning council or the local resource and referral agencies, or both, to implement the activities of this section.

(i) (1) (A) Funds that are allocated or awarded pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (d) shall be expended on or before June 30, 2028. Notwithstanding any other law, on June 30, 2029, any unexpended funds of the amount awarded for purposes of this subdivision shall revert to the General Fund.

(B) The department shall initiate collection proceedings for grant funds used by grantees in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of this section, including, but not limited to, failing to submit all required data pursuant to subparagraph (G) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e).

(2) (A) Funds that are allocated or awarded pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) shall be expended on or before June 30, 2032. Notwithstanding any other law, on June 30, 2033, any unexpended funds of the amount awarded for purposes of this subdivision shall revert to the General Fund.

(j) This section does not prohibit counties from joining together to address regional needs with their funding and developing regional plans.

(k) The Superintendent shall provide a report to the Department of Finance and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before October 1, 2033, on the expenditure of funds and relevant outcome data in order to evaluate the impact of the grants awarded under this section.

(l) For purposes of this section, the State Department of Education may enter into exclusive or nonexclusive contracts with nongovernmental entities on a bid or negotiated basis. A contract entered into or amended pursuant to this section shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, and Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and shall be exempt from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.

(m) Notwithstanding any other law, a contracted nongovernmental entity described in subdivision (l) may subcontract as necessary in the performance of its duties, subject to approval of the Superintendent.

(n) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(o) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

SEC. 5.

Section 8902 of the Education Code is amended to read:

8902.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to exacerbate conditions associated with poverty, including food insecurity, housing and employment instability, and inadequate health care.

(2) Community schools offer unique models to more efficiently and effectively provide trauma-informed integrated educational, health, and mental health services to pupils with a wide range of needs that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

(3) Additional investment in community schools that provide integrated pupil supports, community partnerships, and expanded learning opportunities will help address the trauma and loss of learning that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Statewide investment in community schools, supported by local networks designed to coordinate services and resources, is critical to realize whole-child education.

(b) For the 2021–22 fiscal year, the sum of two billion eight hundred thirty-six million six hundred sixty thousand dollars ($2,836,660,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department to administer the California Community Schools Partnership Program, established by Section 117 of Chapter 24 of the Statutes of 2020, as amended by Section 63 of Chapter 110 of the Statutes of 2020, in the manner and for the purposes set forth in this section. These funds shall be used in accordance with the California Community Schools Framework, as adopted by the state board. These funds shall not be used for punitive disciplinary practices or the engagement of campus law enforcement. These funds shall be available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2032. The funds shall be distributed as follows:

(1) At least two billion six hundred ninety-four million eight hundred twenty-seven thousand dollars ($2,694,827,000) shall be allocated to establish new, and expand existing, community schools supported by local educational agencies or consortiums that help coordinate services and manage learning networks for these schools.

(2) Up to one hundred forty-one million eight hundred thirty-three thousand dollars ($141,833,000) shall be allocated to contract with local educational agencies to create a network of at least five regional technical assistance centers, pursuant to subdivision (l), to provide support and assistance to local educational agencies, or consortiums, and community schools through the 2029–30 school year or at the time when the new community schools technical assistance structure developed pursuant to Section 8903 is adopted by the state board. The department shall designate one of the regional technical assistance centers to be the state transformational assistance center for purposes of this chapter. Beginning in the 2026–27 school year, the regional technical assistance center serving as the state transformational assistance center may continue serving in that capacity through the 2029–30 school year or until the new community schools technical assistance structure developed pursuant to Section 8903 is adopted by the state board. Regional technical assistance center responsibilities shall include all of the following, as determined by the state transformational assistance center:

(A) Outreach and technical assistance to potential applicants as needed before or after awarding a grant under the program under this section and to community schools participating in the California Community Schools Partnership Program established pursuant to Section 8903.

(B) Development of community school resources, sharing of best practices, and data collection and use, consistent with the Community Schools framework.

(C) (i) The state transformational assistance center shall be responsible for the development of optional centralized planning templates to support interagency planning and the leveraging of funding for the community school initiative, including, but not limited to, funding from the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, the California state preschool program, Universal Transitional Kindergarten, universal meal programs, health and mental health supports for pupils and staff, career technical education and college readiness initiatives, the local control funding formula, and any other available local, state, or federal funds that may facilitate and sustain the community school initiative.

(ii) The department shall require the centralized planning templates to be available to local educational agencies on or before January 1, 2028, and to be updated annually for new or amended funding sources.

(D) Facilitation of peer support networks for qualifying entities and county offices of education to support community engagement and the provision of supports within a multi-tiered system of support leading to positive and equitable pupil academic and well-being outcomes, as well as positive school climate outcomes, for both state and local measures identified in the local educational agency’s local control and accountability plan.

(E) Support local educational agencies in blending initiatives and funding consistent with the Community Schools framework, including, but not limited to, Promise Neighborhoods, Dream Resource Centers, Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, and Career and College readiness initiatives.

(3) (A) (i) Up to one hundred forty million dollars ($140,000,000) shall be allocated to county offices of education serving at least two qualifying entities receiving grant funding pursuant to subdivision (g) or (h) to coordinate county-level governmental, nonprofit community-based organizations, and other external partnerships to support community school implementation at grant recipients under this section and Section 8903 in their county. This shall include designating a county-level community schools liaison to coordinate with the department and technical assistance centers in capacity building, resource connection, and continuous improvement activities consistent with supporting grant recipients in their county in implementation of community schools, as specified in subdivisions (g) and (h).

(ii) County office of education grant awards under this paragraph shall also be used to de-silo programs and services that can uplift and support the whole child, with the overall goal of moving towards fully integrating county-level community schools implementation supports and services into the larger statewide system of support by embedding these supports and services within the county’s universal and targeted assistance approach once one-time coordination grants conclude. A county office of education may also use its existing coordination grant funding to implement Section 8903.

(iii) County office of education grant award amounts under this paragraph shall be determined based on the number of community schools funded pursuant to this section, and the number of pupils served in those schools, using an allocation formula determined by the department, and provide at least two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) and up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) annually through the 2029–30 fiscal year for each qualifying county office of education. These funds are separate from any funds county offices of education receive pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (h) for serving as qualifying entities to a network of community schools.

(B) County offices of education receiving funds pursuant to this paragraph shall support centralized grant recipient communications with county-level governmental partners and funding sources, which may include, but not be limited to, pupil support and health care service billing and billing practices technical assistance, leading a County Children’s Cabinet, and coordination with Promise Neighborhoods lead organizations and agencies.

(C) County offices of education receiving funds pursuant to this paragraph shall support local educational agency planning and use of pupil and campus data, consistent with the guidance of the System of Support Equity Leads, and the state transformational assistance center, for integrating community school, expanded learning, early childhood education, county behavioral health, educator professional development, and other state-funded initiatives integral to the pillars of a community school approach as described in subdivision (b) of Section 8901, which may be part of the qualifying entity’s local control and accountability plan process pursuant to Section 47606.5, 52060, or 52066, as applicable.

(c) On or before November 15, 2021, the department, with the approval of the state board, shall update as necessary the application process and administration plan for the selection of grant recipients under the program, which may include prioritization for awards. After November 15, 2021, the department shall update the state board on an annual basis regarding the administration of this section and present to the state board any proposed changes to the application process and administration plan.

(d) The department shall award, subject to the approval of the state board, grants on a competitive basis to qualifying entities for planning grants for new community schools, implementation grants for new community schools or for the expansion or continuation of existing community schools, as provided, to representative qualifying entities in northern, central, and southern California, and in urban, suburban, and rural areas.

(e) A qualifying entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the department at a time and in a manner, and with any appropriate information, as the department may reasonably require. Each grant application submitted shall include all of the following:

(1) A description and documentation of how the participating community and cooperating agencies have been and will be engaged in the community school model.

(2) A description of all of the programs and services to be provided at the schoolsite, at a site near or adjacent to the school, or virtually.

(3) A description of all direct and indirect resources to be used for the community school program, and the agencies responsible for the implementation of the program.

(4) Provisions for data collection and recordkeeping, including records of the population served, the components of the service, the outcomes of the service, and costs, including all of the following:

(A) Direct costs.

(B) Indirect costs.

(D) Cost savings.

(f) The department shall prioritize grant funding to qualifying entities who meet all of the following:

(1) Serve pupils in schools or a partner school or schools in which at least 80 percent of the pupil population are unduplicated pupils.

(2) Demonstrate a need for expanded access to integrated services, including those disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

(3) Involve pupils, parents, certificated and classified school staff, and cooperating agency personnel in the process of identifying the needs of pupils and families, and in the planning of support services to be offered.

(4) Commit to providing trauma-informed health, mental health, and social services for pupils within a multi-tiered system of support at the schoolsite, or an adjacent location, and partner with other schools, school districts, county agencies, or nongovernmental organizations.

(5) For qualifying entities that serve elementary school pupils, or for schools where there is a demonstrated need for childcare, including, but not limited to, programs for pregnant and parenting teens, commit to providing early care and education services for children from birth to five years of age, inclusive, through one or more local educational agencies or community-based organizations.

(6) Identify a cooperating agency collaboration process, including cosignatories, a mechanism for sharing governance, which may include a plan to use existing or create shared decisionmaking teams that include pupils, families, educators, and community-based organizations, and for integrating or redirecting existing resources and other school support services.

(7) Plan to support a network of site-based community schools at schoolsites that have the capacity to ensure that services, professional development, and engagement can occur on schoolsite, or at an adjacent location, with the support of community-based organizations and other relevant providers, for all relevant stakeholders.

(8) Identify a plan to sustain community school services after grant expiration, including by maximizing reimbursement for services from available sources, including, but not limited to, the Local Educational Agency Medi-Cal Billing Option Program, School-Based Medi-Cal Administrative Activities program, and reimbursable mental health specialty care services provided under the federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396d(a)(4)(B)).

(g) (1) Of the amount identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), including all other funds appropriated for this program in the Budget Act of 2021, at least 10 percent shall be available for planning grants of up to two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) per qualifying entity, and shall be allocated in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 fiscal years, for up to a two-year planning grant period, for local educational agencies with no existing community schools. The planning grant may be used for any of the following purposes:

(A) Staffing costs for a community school coordinator.

(B) Conducting a comprehensive school and community needs and asset assessment, including, but not limited to, pupil and community demographics, school climate, integrated support services, expanded learning time, educator, family, pupil, and community engagement, new or existing partnerships with governmental entities or community-based organizations, and available funding sources.

(C) Grant application support, service billing development, and other administrative costs necessary to launch a community school model at scale.

(D) Partnership development and coordination support between the grantee and cooperating agencies.

(E) Providing training and support to local educational agency and cooperating agency personnel to develop best practices for integrating instruction and pupil supports.

(F) Preparing a community school implementation plan for submission to the governing board or body of the local educational agency and to the department.

(2) Any remaining planning grant funding available at the conclusion of the planning grant period shall be made available for implementation grants.

(h) (1) Of the amount identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), including all other funds appropriated for this program in the Budget Act of 2021, up to 72 percent shall be available for implementation grants to qualified entities. Implementation grants shall be at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) and up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) annually per schoolsite for new community schools or for the expansion or continuation of existing community schools that agree to align with the provisions of this section. New and existing community schools shall be funded for five years, upon submission to the department of a community school plan and evidence of ongoing progress as part of the annual formative evaluations specified in subdivision (n). The implementation grant may be used for any of the following purposes:

(A) Staffing, including, but not limited to, a community school coordinator, and contractor capacity.

(B) Coordinating and providing support services to pupils and families at or near community schools, including through childcare, expanded learning time before and after school, and during school intersessions.

(C) Providing training and support to local educational agency personnel and partner agency personnel on integrating school-based pupil supports, social-emotional well-being, trauma-informed practices, and establishing sustainable community school funding sources.

(D) Designing and executing educator, family, pupil, and community engagement strategies.

(E) Ongoing data collection and program evaluations, including at least one measure of growth in individual pupil well-being as measured through pupil surveys or the compilation of screening tool results.

(F) Implementing the sustainability plan described in paragraph (8) of subdivision (f) and updating the plan as necessary.

(G) Securing various long-term funding streams and commitments from partners that will continue to provide financial assistance or other means of support.

(H) Building capacity around sustainability and other efforts to support ongoing community school programming.

(I) Conducting a comprehensive school and community needs and asset assessment to support a continuous improvement process.

(2) The department shall prioritize new community schools for implementation grants under paragraph (1) and those moneys shall supplement, not supplant, existing services and funds. For purposes of this section, continuing a position or services with these funds shall not be considered supplanting if the position or services were funded by a source that has legally expired.

(3) A local educational agency grantee may retain up to the lesser of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or 10 percent of the total funds awarded pursuant to this subdivision for its sites each year. These funds shall be used to administer implementation grants locally, manage professional learning and networking, and coordinate services and funding streams for community schools under the local educational agency grantee. Funds retained by the local educational agency grantee to provide direct services to pupils may be retained separately from this administrative set-aside.

(4) The funding under paragraph (3) shall supplement, and not supplant, existing services and funds, and shall be used for ongoing coordination of services, management of the community school, and ongoing data collection and program evaluations.

(5) Implementation grant funds may carry over from year to year and are restricted to permitted uses of the funds.

(6) Qualifying entities that receive implementation grants shall annually report and publicly present their community school plans, including data and outcomes from the prior year, at the schoolsite and at a meeting of the governing board of the school district, county board of education, or the governing body of the charter school. Implementation grant recipients shall publicly post their community school grant application and community schools plan on the local educational agency’s internet website.

(7) The department may allocate any funds returned pursuant to this subdivision for the purposes provided in subdivision (k).

(i) It is the intent of the Legislature that qualifying entities that serve high school pupils with significant populations of undocumented pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, implement a Dream Resource Center as part of their community school model.

(j) (1) All planning and implementation grants awarded under subdivisions (g) and (h) shall be matched by the qualifying entity or its cooperating agencies with a local match equal to one-third of the grant amount. The local match shall be contributed in cash or as services or resources of comparable value, as determined by the department.

(2) The department shall reserve adequate funding pursuant to this section to preserve capacity for qualifying entities receiving planning grants pursuant to subdivision (g) to receive implementation grants pursuant to subdivision (h) at the end of their planning grant period, if all planning grant requirements are met and planning grantee applicants meet implementation grant eligibility requirements pursuant to this section.

(3) Beginning July 1, 2024, the department shall prioritize awarding implementation grants to planning grantees. Notwithstanding paragraph (2), to the extent that sufficient funding is not available to fund implementation grants for all planning grantee applicants, the department shall use the priorities described in subdivision (f) to determine which planning grantee schools receive implementation grants.

(k) Of the amount identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), at least eighty-four million dollars ($84,000,000) shall be available for reappropriation in the 2026–27 fiscal year and to support all of the following:

(1) Up to twenty-eight million dollars ($28,000,000), subject to the approval of the state board, for the state transformational assistance center to support the long-term planning of the California Community Schools Apportionments Program, including the development of the reporting, accountability, and certification requirements and processes. Funds shall be used for all of the following purposes:

(A) Up to three million dollars ($3,000,000), available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2028, to conduct or commission a set of analyses to inform the long-term technical assistance, reporting, accountability, and certification process for community schools. The state transformational assistance center may conduct these analyses or select one or more institutions of higher education to conduct the analyses no later than January 1, 2028. If an institution or institutions of higher education is selected to conduct these analyses, the institution or institutions may work with a research-based nonprofit organization. Indirect costs applied to contracts with entities conducting the analyses shall not exceed 10 percent of the contract amount. The analyses shall do all of the following:

(i) Summarize research on the features associated with community schools’ progress and success, including community schools that have been previously established.

(ii) Identify key components of community schools to be tracked yearly in the annual progress report and through the certification process and explore mechanisms by which these components may be assessed at scale.

(iii) Engage with a wide range of education interestholders to solicit their input on central features of community schools’ progress and success that should inform technical assistance, reporting, and accountability consistent with the Community Schools framework.

(iv) Identify options to streamline and focus reporting requirements, given other reporting required of schools and local educational agencies. The analyses and recommendations may include changes to other educational planning and reporting mechanisms, including, but not limited to, the local control and accountability plan, the School Plan for Student Achievement, and reporting requirements of the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, if they can be used to support community schools reporting.

(v) Recommend long-term plan and guidance for the technical assistance structure for community schools in the ongoing funding context, including what an effective, long-term technical assistance structure that is embedded within the larger statewide system of support would look like, and identify potential costs.

(vi) On or before June 30, 2028, produce recommendations for state board consideration and adoption of the analyses.

(B) (i) Up to ten million dollars ($10,000,000), available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2031, to develop and implement the schoolsite certification process pursuant to the state board of education-adopted recommendations for accountability.

(ii) The state transformational assistance center, subject to the approval of the state board, may select an entity with demonstrated expertise on the community school model and school accountability, to assist with the development and implementation of the certification process.

(iii) The certification process shall be piloted no later than the 2028–29 school year and implemented no later than October 1, 2031.

(iv) The state transformational assistance center shall engage with education interestholders to solicit their input on a certification process.

(C) (i) Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000), available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2031, added to the amount specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) to increase the existing amount for the state transformational assistance center and for regional transformational assistance centers. Funds shall be used to support the statewide expansion of community school sites, evaluate the technical assistance structure, and integrate the community schools model and supports into the statewide system of support by the time certification begins. The department shall determine how much funding shall be allocated to the state transformational assistance center and regional transformational centers.

(ii) The Legislature and Governor intend to work together to augment the appropriation specified in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 8903, as needed, to support future costs for the state technical assistance structure after June 30, 2031. Any additional funding to support the technical assistance structure shall be subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.

(2) (A) Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2029, for allocation to the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence to provide grants to develop, identify, and implement models of secondary school redesign pursuant to the Secondary School Redesign Pilot Program established by Section 84 of Chapter 8 of the Statutes of 2025.

(B) Grants provided pursuant to this paragraph shall ensure that models of secondary school redesign include before school, after school, summer, or intersession learning opportunities outside of the instructional day for pupils to the extent feasible and are consistent with the Community Schools framework.

(C) Priority for funding shall be given to grantees serving secondary community schools, as defined in Section 8901, that are committed to the Community Schools framework, and that demonstrate strong relationships between pupils, families, staff and community, that center pupil well-being.

(D) The California Collaborative for Educational Excellence may retain up to three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) of the funds described in subparagraph (A) for costs associated with the administration of the model and evaluation of the pilot program. Up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) of the amount appropriated under subparagraph (A) shall be made available to reimburse the Marin County Office of Education, the administrative agent of the collaborative, for costs associated with the administration of the pilot program.

(E) The collaborative, on or before January 1, 2029, shall provide recommendations to the state board for improvements to the framework, developed pursuant to Section 8901.5, consistent with high performing secondary community school models funded and supported under this paragraph.

(3) For the 2026–27 fiscal year of the amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 8903, six million dollars ($6,000,000), is available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2029, for the department to contract with the San Bernardino County Office of Education, in partnership with the Sacramento County Office of Education, under the leadership of the state transformational assistance center, to support the continued implementation of Transforming Together, an initiative supported by the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and California Community Schools Partnership Program that aims to strengthen collaboration between county offices of education and community partners to better meet the behavioral health needs of pupils and families.

(l) Of the amount identified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), the department shall contract, subject to the approval of the state board, on a competitive basis with at least five local educational agencies to serve as regional technical assistance centers to provide technical assistance to local educational agencies seeking to establish, expand, or improve community schools. Preference shall be given to local educational agencies that commit to partnering with institutions of higher education or nonprofit community-based organizations. Technical assistance shall, to the extent practicable, be provided in consultation and collaboration with the statewide system of support established pursuant to Section 52059.5, and be made available to share best practices and assist both prospective applicants and grant recipients with tasks, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Conducting a comprehensive school and community needs and asset assessment.

(2) Improving authentic family and community engagement in the languages spoken in the community.

(3) Creating community partnerships, including, but not limited to, Promise Neighborhoods Initiatives.

(4) Developing sustainable funding sources.

(5) Coordinating services across child-serving agencies and schools.

(6) Accessing and combining funding for services from multiple revenue sources.

(m) Grant recipients and technical assistance centers shall commit to providing program and expenditure data to the department, as specified by the department, and participating in overall program evaluation.

(n) (1) The impact of the grant program in achieving the goals described in this section, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the opportunities provided, shall be included as part of an annual formative evaluation of the program.

(2) The department shall use a competitive grant process to contract with an entity to develop and administer annual formative evaluations. The evaluations shall include all of the following:

(A) Outcome data, as specified by the department and the state board, including measures of pupil well-being and engagement, including, but not limited to, pupil attendance and school climate.

(B) An analysis of the nature and kind of services provided and changes made within the schools, areas of progress, and challenges to be addressed to meet the goals of the California Community Schools Partnership Program, including, but not limited to, effective integration of instructional and pupil support services, and support for authentic pupil, educator, and family engagement.

(C) Evidence of best practices and successful strategies for integrating multiple funding sources to meet a local educational agency’s school improvement goals identified in their local control and accountability plan.

(3) (A) The department shall provide a formative evaluation to the Governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature by December 31, 2023, and annually thereafter, ending with a final comprehensive report on or before December 31, 2031.

(B) The annual formative evaluations shall be made publicly available on the department’s internet website.

(C) The annual formative evaluations shall be separate from the comprehensive report that is required to be submitted on December 31, 2025, to the Governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, pursuant to Section 117 of Chapter 110 of the Statutes of 2020.

(D) The final comprehensive report shall be provided to the Governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature and the state board on the impact of the grant program in achieving the goals described in this section, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the opportunities provided. The state board shall consider recommendations in this evaluation for revisions to the Community Schools framework, as applicable.

(o) In addition to the amount specified in subdivision (b), the sum of one billion one hundred thirty-two million five hundred fifty-four thousand dollars ($1,132,554,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund in the 2022–23 fiscal year to the department for allocation beginning in the 2023–24 fiscal year for implementation grants consistent with the purposes and requirements of subdivision (b) and the activities specified in subdivision (k).

(p) (1) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (b) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2020–21 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2020–21 fiscal year.

(2) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (o) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2022–23 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2022–23 fiscal year.

SEC. 6.

Section 8903 of the Education Code is amended to read:

8903.

(a) (1) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(A) The California Community Schools Partnership Act, established as part of the Budget Act of 2021, is a key initiative of California’s historic whole-child transformation of public schools built on the state board-adopted California Community Schools Framework. This model of education incorporates state investments in universal free school meals, universal transitional kindergarten, before and after school learning, career and college readiness, and investments in teacher training, coaching, recruitment, and retention, resulting in a cohesive program of instructional quality and removing barriers to learning, and collaborative leadership.

(B) Implementation of the community schools model results in better home-school connections, academic supports, nutrition, after school and summer school enrichment and care, trauma-informed behavioral and physical health services, and access to social services.

(C) The California Community Schools Framework specifies the pillars of a successful community schools model that results in transformational outcomes: integrated pupil supports, family and community engagement, collaborative leadership and practices for educators and administrators, and extended learning time and opportunities. Successful community school models in California implement this framework with fidelity. It is the intent of the Legislature that the California Community Schools Framework be periodically revised to incorporate updated research and identified needs for statewide school and system improvement.

(D) Research indicates that schools that received grants pursuant to the California Community Schools Partnership Act show significant reductions in chronic absenteeism and suspensions, and improvements in test scores and academic achievement, with the largest gains for historically underserved pupils.

(E) Expansion of the community schools model will increase these positive outcomes, especially for schools that have large concentrations of pupils from low-income families, English language learners, and youth in foster care.

(b) (1) (A) For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the Legislature shall initially appropriate the sum of one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) from the General Fund to the department to administer the California Community Schools Partnership Program in the manner and for the purposes set forth in this chapter.

(B) This amount may be adjusted each year through Item 6100-115-0001 of the annual Budget Act to provide sufficient funding, pursuant to the formula described in subdivision (c), to all eligible schoolsites that participate in the program.

(2) Funds received pursuant to this section shall be used in accordance with the California Community Schools Framework, as adopted by the state board. These funds shall be used to implement community schools supported by local networks and to implement shared decisionmaking practices with education interestholders and shall not be used for punitive disciplinary practices or the engagement of campus law enforcement.

(3) Funds distributed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) shall supplement, not supplant, funding used for services and supports at eligible schoolsites through the local control funding formula pursuant to Section 2574, 2575, or 42238.02, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program pursuant to Section 46120, or the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program established pursuant to Sections 53008.5, 53008.7, 53009, and 53009.1.

(1) (A) (i) To local educational agencies to support a network of their eligible schoolsites to implement new, and provide ongoing support for existing, community schools consistent with subparagraphs (B) and (C).

(ii) The allocation calculated pursuant to subparagraph (B) shall be used as to support either a planning period of up to two years pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) or the implementation phase described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e). Schoolsites that are ready to implement shall submit to the department a community school plan and evidence of ongoing progress as part of the annual formative evaluation requirements specified by the department pursuant to subdivision (m) of Section 8902.

(B) (i) Commencing with the 2026–27 fiscal year, for each local educational agency with an eligible schoolsite, the department shall make one of the following computations for each eligible schoolsite based on the following as adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (C):

Pupils Enrolled at the Eligible Schoolsite	Amount to be Computed per Eligible Schoolsite
10–24	$75,000
25–150	$115,000
151–400	$190,000
401–1,000	$230,000
1,001–2,000	$305,000
2,000+	$400,000

(ii) Commencing with the 2027–28 fiscal year, the amounts to be computed per eligible schoolsite identified in clause (i) shall be adjusted each fiscal year by the percentage change applied pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 42238.02 for that fiscal year.

(iii) A local educational agency with eligible schoolsites that notifies the department of the intent to receive an allocation, pursuant to subparagraph (E), under this section shall receive annual payments in accordance with this subparagraph, as adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (C), notwithstanding subsequent changes in pupil data submitted through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System. The annual payments shall remain the same amount and may be adjusted when eligibility is redetermined during the certification process.

(iv) Notwithstanding clause (iii), the department may establish procedures to determine mid-year adjustments to eligibility in cases of an eligible schoolsite restructuring.

(C) An eligible schoolsite that receives an implementation grant pursuant to Section 8902 shall, for the term of its implementation grant, have the allocation listed in subparagraph (B) reduced consistent with the following:

(i) If the total amount of a schoolsite’s implementation grant, divided by five, is greater than or equal to the amount listed in subparagraph (B) for the number of pupils enrolled, the schoolsite shall instead receive no funding under this paragraph for that fiscal year.

(ii) If the total amount of a schoolsite’s implementation grant, divided by five, is less than the amount listed in subparagraph (B) for the number of pupils enrolled, the schoolsite shall instead receive the difference between the total implementation grant amount, divided by five, and the amount specified in subparagraph (B) for the number of pupils enrolled for that fiscal year.

(D) (i) Funds received under this paragraph shall be used for activities consistent with the purposes identified in subdivisions (g) and (h) of Section 8902.

(ii) A schoolsite that, at the time of the receipt of funds, has not conducted the planning needed to develop the schoolsite implementation plan required pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e), shall use the initial funding to develop an implementation plan that demonstrates alignment with the California Community Schools Framework.

(E) (i) On or before November 1, 2026, a local educational agency with an eligible schoolsite shall notify the department of its intent to receive for each eligible schoolsite an allocation under this paragraph as part of the 2026–27 fiscal year cohort, in a manner to be determined by the department. The notification shall include an initial attestation to the department of the local educational agency’s commitment to implementing the community schools model in accordance with the Community School framework and state law. The notification shall also include assurances declaring the local educational agency collected signed commitment letters from education interestholders, including, but not limited to, the superintendent of the school district, schoolsite principals, and representatives of teachers, noncertificated staff, pupils, and parents.

(ii) A local educational agency with an eligible schoolsite that is not currently receiving funding pursuant to Section 8902 may submit the required notification of its intent to receive an allocation during an annual June 1 opt-in period. Local educational agencies with an eligible schoolsite that opt-in by November 1, 2026, or by June 1 of each year shall be eligible to receive apportionment funding as part of a new cohort beginning in the next fiscal year. A local educational agency shall notify the department about its intent for planning phase or implementation phase status as part of the opt-in process.

(iii) As part of the opt-in process, the department shall notify all local educational agencies of the minimum annual reporting requirements for an annual apportionment, and may encourage a local educational agency to pursue a planning period pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), as needed, to ensure readiness to implement a new community school.

(2) (A) Up to ten million dollars ($10,000,000) to the department to select, subject to the approval of the executive director of the state board, at least one local educational agency to implement the technical assistance structure and network described in Section 8902 and, beginning in the 2031–32 fiscal year, support costs related to the ongoing certification process. Funds shall also be used to provide support and assistance to local educational agencies on an ongoing basis so they can implement the community schools model in accordance with the Community Schools framework and ultimately help their schoolsites maintain their certification. Preference shall be given to county offices of education that commit to partnering with institutions of higher education, nonprofit community-based organizations, and school districts and schoolsites that demonstrate strong implementation of the community schools approach as outlined in the Community Schools framework, as determined by the department with input from education interestholders. The responsibilities of transformational assistance centers shall be aligned with those identified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8902.

(B) The department shall determine the terms, including duration, for each transformational assistance center, subject to the approval of the executive director of the state board. The department shall have the authority to renew the selection of the existing transformational assistance centers or reopen the selection process, at the conclusion of each grant term. To determine funding for the transformational assistance structure, the department shall take into consideration the number of community school sites supported by the technical assistance structure.

(C) Technical assistance shall be provided in consultation and collaboration with the statewide system of support established pursuant to Section 52059.5.

(D) Of the amount provided in subparagraph (A), at least two million dollars ($2,000,000), subject to the approval of the executive director of the state board, shall be allocated to the local educational agency serving as the state transformational assistance center. The responsibilities of the state transformational assistance center shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(i) Serve as a lead entity within the statewide system of support and work collaboratively with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, the department, lead agencies in the system, and state agencies that support the implementation of community schools.

(ii) Serve as a centralized hub for the transformational assistance structure to facilitate a coordinated and aligned approach for the ongoing implementation of the community schools initiative.

(iii) Collaborate with the department and relevant education interestholders to develop the annual attestation process and certification process required pursuant to subdivision (d).

(iv) On or before October 31, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, outlining the certification process informed by the study.

(E) A local educational agency receiving funding under this paragraph shall commit to providing program and expenditure data to the department, as specified by the department, and participating in program evaluation and improvement efforts.

(d) (1) The department shall allocate funding appropriated in Item 6100-115-0001 of the annual Budget Act to county offices of education to coordinate county-level governmental, nonprofit community-based organizations, and other external partnerships to support community school implementation at grant recipients in their county. This shall include designating a county-level community schools liaison to coordinate with the department and technical assistance centers in capacity building, resource connection, and continuous improvement activities consistent with supporting grant recipients in their county in implementation of community schools, consistent with the Community Schools framework, as specified in subdivision (e). County office of education grant award amounts under this paragraph shall be determined based on the number of community schools funded pursuant to this section, and the number of pupils served in those schools, using an allocation formula determined by the department, and provide at least two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) and up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) annually, for each qualifying county office of education. These funds are separate from any funds county offices of education receive pursuant to subdivision (f) for serving as qualifying entities to a network of community schools.

(2) A county office of education that receives funds pursuant to this subdivision shall support centralized grant recipient communications with county-level governmental partners and funding sources, which may include, but not be limited to, pupil support and health care service billing and billing practices technical assistance, leading a County Children’s Cabinet, and coordination with Promise Neighborhoods lead organizations and agencies.

(3) A county office of education that receives funds pursuant to this subdivision shall do all of the following:

(A) Support local educational agency planning and use of pupil and campus data consistent with the guidance of the System of Support Equity Leads, and the state transformational assistance center, for integrating community school, expanded learning, early childhood education, county behavioral health, educator professional development, and other state-funded initiatives integral to the pillars of a community school approach as described in subdivision (b) of Section 8901 and the California Community Schools Partnership Framework described in Section 8901.5, which may be part of the qualifying entity’s local control and accountability plan process pursuant to Section 47606.5, 52060, or 52066, as applicable.

(B) Facilitate professional development and continuous improvement practices, consistent with the Transformational Assistance network, including, but not limited to, communities of practice.

(C) Provide fiscal and programmatic reports to the department as requested, regarding the implementation status and needs of local educational agencies in the county.

(D) Coordinate internally with other county offices of education and other county programs and services that can uplift and support the whole child, with the overall goal of moving towards fully integrating county-level community schools implementation supports and services into the larger statewide system of support by embedding these supports and services within the county’s universal and targeted assistance approach once one-time coordination grants conclude.

(4) As a condition of receiving funding pursuant to this subdivision, a county office of education shall adhere to the County Coordination key practices consistent with the Community Schools framework, and provide the annual reporting required by the department and the state transformational assistance center.

(e) As a condition of receiving funding pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), a local educational agency shall maintain its community schools pursuant to the Community Schools framework and criteria developed by the transformational assistance structure in partnership with education interestholders, consistent with all of the following:

(1) (A) A local educational agency with schoolsites that are new to the community schools model may use up to two years of its initial apportionment funds to conduct the planning needed to develop a community schools implementation plan pursuant to subparagraph (C) paragraph (2). Upon the conclusion of this 24-month planning period, the local educational agency shall be required to provide the implementation plan to department and move into the implementation phase.

(B) Funds for planning shall be used to support any of the following:

(i) Staffing costs for a community school coordinator.

(ii) Conducting a comprehensive school and community needs and asset assessment, including, but not limited to, pupil and community demographics, school climate, integrated support services, expanded learning time, educator, family, pupil, and community engagement, new or existing partnerships with governmental entities or community-based organizations, and available funding sources.

(iii) Grant application support, service billing development, and other administrative costs necessary to launch a community school model at scale.

(iv) Partnership development and coordination support between the grantee and cooperating agencies, including, but not limited to, a Promise Neighborhood lead agency.

(v) Providing training and support to local educational agency and cooperating agency personnel to develop best practices for integrating instruction and pupil supports.

(vi) Preparing a community school implementation plan for submission to the governing board or body of the local educational agency and to the department. The technical assistance structure and the department may determine the requirements for schoolsite implementation plans.

(vii) Up to 10 percent of the annual allocation may be used by the local education agency for agency-wide planning and support needs, consistent with the Community Schools framework, and as a network lead for multiple eligible schoolsites located in a Promise Neighborhood.

(viii) Providing professional development and strengthening instruction through project-based and experiential learning.

(ix) Implementing social-emotional learning and restorative practices.

(x) Strengthening behavioral health care supports, including, but not limited to, implementation of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Fee Schedule pursuant to Section 5961.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(xi) Leveraging partnerships to facilitate the whole-child inventory and integrated supports for pupils and schoolsite staff.

(xii) Supporting secondary community school redesign.

(xiii) Convening a schoolsite’s shared decisionmaking team or council that includes pupils, families, community partners, and educators who collaborate with their schoolsite to prepare its community school implementation plan.

(C) (i) A local educational agency that has not provided the department with a satisfactory implementation plan for an eligible schoolsite, as required pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2), within 24 months of initial apportionment, shall have the apportionment for that eligible schoolsite subtracted by the department in the subsequent fiscal year.

(ii) The department shall work with the technical assistance structure to evaluate whether a local educational agency’s implementation plan is satisfactory.

(2) A local educational agency that has completed planning and is in the implementation phase shall be required to meet the following requirements annually commencing with its first year of implementation:

(A) Ensure that each funded schoolsite has convened a shared decisionmaking team or council that includes pupils, families, community partners, and educators.

(B) Support each schoolsite’s shared decisionmaking team or council in developing a schoolsite community school implementation plan that the shared decisionmaking team or council annually presents to its schoolsite.

(C) Provide the department with an implementation plan that was submitted to the governing board or body of the local educational agency. The implementation plan shall include all of the following details:

(i) The prior year’s program and expenditure data and pupil outcomes if applicable.

(ii) A description of how the local educational agency’s approach to community schools aligns with the Community School framework.

(iii) A description of how the local educational agency’s approach engages in collaborative leadership with pupils, families, educators, and community partners.

(iv) A description of how the local educational agency’s approach expands services to pupils and leverages and braids funds from existing state initiatives, including, but not limited to, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Fee Schedule program, universal school meals program, California State Preschool Program, and universal transitional kindergarten.

(v) A description of how the local educational agency’s approach assesses technical assistance needs and identifies a plan to address those needs, which may include a local community of practice and connecting to state-led technical assistance opportunities and resources; and a plan for the school year.

(vi) Each eligible schoolsite’s community schools implementation plan.

(D) Annually report and publicly present its community schools implementation plan at a meeting of the governing board or body of the local educational agency. The local educational agency shall publicly post its community schools implementation plan on the local educational agency’s and the schoolsites’ internet websites.

(E) A local educational agency with an Expanded Learning Opportunities Program allocation or an After School Education and Safety Program grant may submit those programs’ respective implementation plans as part of its community school implementation plan.

(F) (i) Submit an annual progress report that includes an attestation that their community schoolsites are providing wraparound supports to pupils and is implementing community schools in accordance with the California Community Schools Framework as adopted by the state board. The technical assistance structure shall utilize the annual progress report to provide support to local educational agencies and schoolsites on implementation and continuous improvement of their community schools models.

(ii) The annual progress report requirements, including the attestation of the community school’s commitment to the framework, shall be developed by the state transformational assistance center in collaboration with the department and education interestholders. The annual progress report shall be aligned and consistent with the Community Schools framework and the annual progress report required for recipients of the one-time implementation grants pursuant to Section 8902 to the extent feasible. A local educational agency that received one-time implementation grants may submit the existing annual progress report to fulfill the requirement for the duration of its grant period pursuant to Section 8902.

(3) As a condition of receiving funding pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), a local educational agency shall commit to providing program and expenditure data to the department, as specified by the department, and participating in program evaluation and improvement efforts.

(4) (A) It is the intent of the Legislature that, beginning in the 2031–32 fiscal year, a local educational agency’s schoolsites will be required to participate in a seven-year certification process conducted by an external certification entity and managed through the state transformational assistance center to ensure quality community school models are implemented with fidelity. Only schoolsites that are certified through this process shall be eligible to receive ongoing community schools funding under paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).

(B) A local educational agency’s apportionment generated for a schoolsite that loses its certification may be deemed ineligible to continue receiving an apportionment for that schoolsite, subject to the determination of the department. If a schoolsite loses its certification, the local educational agency may continue receiving a community schools apportionment for that schoolsite until the schoolsite’s current certification period expires. A local educational agency shall not receive renewed funding for an uncertified schoolsite until the schoolsite meets certification standards again.

(C) A local educational agency that is interested in establishing a new community school at, or renewing funding for, an eligible schoolsite may submit the required notification of its intent to receive an allocation pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c). The details for the requests shall be determined by the department in collaboration with the transformational assistance centers and education interestholders.

(f) A local educational agency may retain up to 10 percent of the total funds awarded pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) for its eligible schoolsites each fiscal year. These funds shall be used to administer community schools established at eligible schoolsites, manage professional learning and networking, and coordinate services and funding streams for community schools under the local educational agency with eligible schoolsites. Funds retained by the local educational agency to provide direct services to pupils may be retained separately from this administrative set-aside.

(g) A local educational agency receiving funding under paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) shall commit to communicating and collaborating with the transformational assistance centers, as often as the transformational assistance centers may reasonably require, to discuss the implementation of community schoolsites, potential challenges facing the local educational agency during implementation, and best practices that can be shared with peer community schoolsites.

(h) A local educational agency that receives funds under paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) for an eligible schoolsite that has closed, as reported pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 60900, shall return any unspent funds received for that closed schoolsite to the department. The local educational agency shall report the total amount of unspent funds in accordance with instructions and forms prescribed and furnished by the department. Any returned funds that are not reallocated shall revert to the General Fund.

(i) If funds appropriated for the purpose of this section remain after all apportionments pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) have been made, the balance that exceeds that amount shall revert to the General Fund by June 30 of each year.

(j) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriations made by subdivision (b) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made.

SEC. 7.

Section 11800 of the Education Code is amended to read:

11800.

(a) (1) The K–12 High-Speed Network (K–12 HSN) is hereby established for purposes of enriching pupil educational experiences and improving pupil academic performance by providing high-speed, high-bandwidth internet connectivity to the public school system, as defined by Section 6 of Article IX of the California Constitution.

(2) The California Education Network is hereby established, consisting of the California Research and Education Network (CalREN) and the K–12 HSN.

(b) The Superintendent shall collect the information necessary to measure the success of the K–12 HSN and ensure that the benefits of the K–12 HSN are maximized to the extent possible. The K–12 HSN shall provide critical services and functions for public primary and secondary local educational agencies, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Reliable and cost-effective internet service that, among other things, is sufficient to support bandwidth-intensive applications, digital learning, and related independent study capabilities.

(2) Reliable and secure interconnectivity among public school entities offering kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in California, connection to higher education institutions of California, and connection to state and local agencies to facilitate efficient interaction, including transmission of data.

(3) Statewide coordination of network uses to benefit teaching and learning.

(c) The Superintendent shall use a competitive grant process to select a local educational agency to serve as the lead education agency to administer the K–12 HSN on behalf of the Superintendent.

(d) The Superintendent shall establish a K–12 HSN advisory board to be composed of all of the following members:

(1) The Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee.

(2) The county superintendent of schools of the lead education agency or their designee.

(3) A county superintendent of schools of a county with an average daily attendance of more than 60,000 pupils, appointed by the Superintendent. The member appointed pursuant to this paragraph shall serve a renewable two-year term.

(4) Three school district superintendents, appointed by the Superintendent. Members appointed pursuant to this paragraph shall represent school districts that are diverse as to geography and size, and that serve socioeconomically and culturally diverse pupil populations. Members appointed pursuant to this paragraph shall serve renewable two-year terms.

(5) Two county superintendents of schools appointed by the majority of the votes of all of the county superintendents of schools. Members appointed pursuant to this paragraph shall serve renewable two-year terms.

(6) Three schoolsite representatives, who shall include not less than two classroom teachers or instructional specialists. Members appointed pursuant to this paragraph shall serve renewable two-year terms.

(7) The president of the state board or the president’s designee.

(e) The advisory board shall meet quarterly and shall recommend policy direction and broad operational guidance to the Superintendent and the lead education agency. The advisory board, in consultation with the lead education agency, shall develop recommendations for measuring the success of the network, improving network oversight and monitoring, strengthening accountability, and optimizing the use of the K–12 HSN and its ability to improve education. The advisory board shall submit, on or before March 1 of each year, an annual report with program highlights to the department and the Department of Finance.

(f) The duties of the lead education agency shall include all of the following:

(1) (A) Before expending any funds for planned network upgrade projects that exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in cost, development of a methodology to determine and prioritize planned network upgrade projects, including the size and scope of any planned network upgrade project, which takes into consideration at least all of the following:

(i) Peak network usage to circuit capacity ratios.

(ii) Five years of trends in network traffic.

(iii) Eligibility for subsidies provided through the federal E-Rate program.

(iv) Competitive bidding results within a level of capacity upgrade and across all feasible levels of capacity upgrades.

(v) Actual expected usage projections and other input, as determined through formal communication with network site administrators.

(vi) Specific network performance measures, including the frequency, cause, location, and duration of network outages or interruptions.

(vii) Useful life of proposed equipment upgrades.

(B) The lead education agency shall use its methodology for all planned network upgrade projects that exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in cost.

(2) Entering into appropriate contracts for the provision of high-speed, high-bandwidth internet connectivity, provided the contracts secure the necessary terms and conditions to adequately protect the interests of the state. Terms and conditions shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(A) Development of comprehensive service level agreements.

(B) Protection of any ownership rights of intellectual property of the state that result due to participation of the state in the K–12 HSN.

(D) Assurance that appropriate fee structures are in place.

(E) Assurance that any interest earned on funds of the state for this purpose are used solely to the benefit of the project.

(3) Development of an annual budget request for the K–12 HSN for submission to the department and the Department of Finance to be considered for the annual Budget Act.

(4) Development, in consultation with the advisory board established pursuant to subdivision (d), of specific goals and objectives for the program with appropriate reporting of success measures developed by the Superintendent pursuant to subdivision (b).

(5) Ongoing fiscal oversight of the program, including mechanisms to control statewide costs and exposure. To accomplish this objective, the lead education agency shall contract for an annual independent audit of the program. The independent auditor shall report the audit findings to the Superintendent, the Legislature, and the Department of Finance by December 15 of each year.

(6) Ongoing technical oversight of the program, including external evaluation and independent validation, where appropriate.

(7) (A) Administering grant programs to promote the most cost-effective manner for the completion of connectivity for all public schools of the state and cost-effective applications that meet instructional needs to the extent that funds are provided for these purposes in the annual Budget Act.

(B) Before the appropriation of any state funds for purposes of this paragraph, the lead education agency shall submit information justifying the need for additional grant funds, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(i) The number of schools and school districts that are already connected.

(ii) The means by which the costs associated with connectivity were covered for schools and school districts that are already connected.

(iii) Obstacles to connection for those schools and school districts that are not yet connected.

(iv) Other local options and funding sources for purposes of connectivity and applications.

(g) The Superintendent shall apportion funds appropriated for the program in a given fiscal year in compliance with both of the following:

(1) Three-fourths of the total amount appropriated shall be apportioned by August 31.

(2) Up to one-fourth of the total amount appropriated shall be apportioned by January 31.

(h) The Superintendent may request data and other programmatic information from the lead education agency as needed to oversee the program.

SEC. 8.

Section 12000 of the Education Code is amended to read:

12000.

(a) If, by any act of Congress, funds are provided as federal aid to education to the several states and the disposition of the funds is not otherwise provided for by or under the act of Congress or by or under any law of this state, the apportionment and distribution of those funds to school districts shall, insofar as consistent with the requirements prescribed by the federal law and implementing rules and regulations, be governed by the standards set forth in this article.

(b) (1) If a federal law designates a state educational agency or other agency or officer primarily responsible for state supervision of public schools, that designation shall be deemed to refer to the state board. The state board shall make timely application for any federal funds made available, and shall, pursuant to the federal law and this article, direct the allocation and apportionment of the federal funds to school districts.

(2) If federal law designates a chief state school officer, that designation shall be deemed to refer to the Education Commissioner.

(c) The department and any other state agency that administers a grant or allocation of federal funds to a school district, shall allow an indirect cost rate, as that term is defined in Section 33338, that is not less than the indirect cost rate established by the department for each school district, unless federal law requires a lower indirect cost rate for school districts that receive federal funds.

(d) For purposes of this section and Section 12001, “school districts” include school districts, county offices of education, and other educational agencies or entities deemed eligible pursuant to state and federal law.

SEC. 9.

Section 33110 of the Education Code, as added by Section 24 of Chapter 66 of the Statutes of 2026, is amended to read:

33110.

(a) Any reference to the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in any of the following sections shall instead be deemed to refer to the Education Commissioner:

(1) Section 221.61.

(2) Section 222.

(3) Section 234.5.

(4) Section 243.

(5) Section 244.

(6) Section 252.

(7) Section 253.

(8) Section 262.3.

(9) Section 280.

(10) Section 313.

(11) Section 313.1.

(12) Section 1040.

(13) Section 1201.

(14) Section 1240.

(15) Section 1240.1.

(16) Section 1240.2.

(17) Section 1243.

(18) Section 1245.

(19) Section 1246.

(20) Section 1330.

(21) Section 1604.

(22) Section 1621.

(23) Section 1622.

(24) Section 1623.

(25) Section 1624.

(26) Section 1628.

(27) Section 1630.

(28) Section 1632.

(29) Section 1703.

(30) Section 1920.

(31) Section 1942.

(32) Section 8155.

(33) Section 8202.

(34) Section 8203.

(35) Section 8203.5.

(36) Section 8205.

(37) Section 8206.

(38) Section 8207.

(39) Section 8207.1.

(40) Section 8208.

(41) Section 8210.

(42) Section 8211.

(43) Section 8224.

(44) Section 8226.

(45) Section 8231.

(46) Section 8231.5.

(47) Section 8232.

(48) Section 8233.

(49) Section 8236.

(50) Section 8237.

(51) Section 8238.

(52) Section 8239.

(53) Section 8240.

(54) Section 8241.

(55) Section 8241.5.

(56) Section 8246.

(57) Section 8247.

(58) Section 8248.

(59) Section 8250.

(60) Section 8252.

(61) Section 8265.

(62) Section 8266.

(63) Section 8267.

(64) Section 8298.

(65) Section 8314.

(66) Section 8340.

(67) Section 8535.

(68) Section 8760.

(69) Section 8803.

(70) Section 8805.

(71) Section 10407.

(72) Section 10551.

(73) Section 10555.

(74) Section 11800.

(75) Section 12011.

(76) Section 12114.

(77) Section 12501.

(78) Section 12515.

(79) Section 14050.

(80) Section 14052.

(81) Section 14240.

(82) Section 14504.

(83) Section 14504.2.

(84) Section 14507.

(85) Section 14509.

(86) Section 17150.

(87) Section 17150.1.

(88) Section 17174.

(89) Section 17217.

(90) Section 17313.

(91) Section 17924.

(92) Section 18121.

(93) Section 18202.

(94) Section 22714.

(95) Section 22718.

(96) Section 24214.5.

(97) Section 26812.

(98) Section 32066.

(99) Section 32212.

(100) Section 32262.

(101) Section 32289.5.

(102) Section 32300.

(103) Section 33052.3.

(104) Section 33315.

(105) Section 33315.5.

(106) Section 33321.

(107) Section 33321.5.

(108) Section 33323.

(109) Section 33324.

(110) Section 33326.

(111) Section 33330.

(112) Section 33370.

(113) Section 33382.

(114) Section 33403.

(115) Section 33406.

(116) Section 33407.

(117) Section 33420.

(118) Section 33421.

(119) Section 33426.

(120) Section 33433.

(121) Section 33501.

(122) Section 33530.

(123) Section 33533.

(124) Section 33534.

(125) Section 33535.

(126) Section 33590.

(127) Section 33593.

(128) Section 33803.2.

(129) Section 33803.3.

(130) Section 33803.4.

(131) Section 33803.5.

(132) Section 33803.6.

(133) Section 35186.

(134) Section 35250.

(135) Section 35253.

(136) Section 35330.

(137) Section 35706.5.

(138) Section 35754.

(139) Section 35763.

(140) Section 37610.

(141) Section 37644.

(142) Section 41010.

(143) Section 41013.

(144) Section 41020.

(145) Section 41020.2.

(146) Section 41020.5.

(147) Section 41020.8.

(148) Section 41023.

(149) Section 41203.7.

(150) Section 41300.1.

(151) Section 41344.1.

(152) Section 41450.

(153) Section 41455.

(154) Section 42127.8.

(155) Section 42600.

(156) Section 42637.

(157) Section 42638.

(158) Section 42641.

(159) Section 42646.

(160) Section 42647.

(161) Section 42652.

(162) Section 44225.

(163) Section 44239.

(164) Section 44252.

(165) Section 44252.5.

(166) Section 44253.10.

(167) Section 44253.11.

(168) Section 44257.3.

(169) Section 44259.5.

(170) Section 44276.

(171) Section 44354.

(172) Section 44816.

(173) Section 44817.

(174) Section 44818.

(175) Section 44830.

(176) Section 44843.

(177) Section 44944.

(178) Section 46011.

(179) Section 46304.

(180) Section 47604.3.

(181) Section 47604.32.

(182) Section 47604.5.

(183) Section 47605.6.

(184) Section 47606.

(185) Section 47607.3.

(186) Section 47612.5.

(187) Section 47653.

(188) Section 48004.

(189) Section 48070.6.

(190) Section 48222.

(191) Section 48301.

(192) Section 48313.

(193) Section 48325.

(194) Section 48341.

(195) Section 48401.

(196) Section 48412.

(197) Section 48415.

(198) Section 48645.7.

(199) Section 48850.

(200) Section 48852.5.

(201) Section 48853.

(202) Section 48853.5.

(203) Section 48904.

(204) Section 48916.1.

(205) Section 48926.

(206) Section 48927.

(207) Section 49069.5.

(208) Section 49076.7.

(209) Section 49085.

(210) Section 49110.5.

(211) Section 49117.

(212) Section 49164.

(213) Section 49180.

(214) Section 49411.

(215) Section 49414.

(216) Section 49414.3.

(217) Section 49414.7.

(218) Section 49456.

(219) Section 49468.2.

(220) Section 49533.

(221) Section 49548.

(222) Section 49556.

(223) Section 49560.

(224) Section 49604.

(225) Section 49701.

(226) Section 49703.

(227) Section 51206.

(228) Section 51210.

(229) Section 51210.1.

(230) Section 51222.

(231) Section 51223.

(232) Section 51225.1.

(233) Section 51225.2.

(234) Section 51225.31.

(235) Section 51225.4.

(236) Section 51226.

(237) Section 51226.2.

(238) Section 51228.1.

(239) Section 51228.2.

(240) Section 51228.3.

(241) Section 51282.

(242) Section 51403.

(243) Section 51420.

(244) Section 51421.

(245) Section 51421.5.

(246) Section 51422.

(247) Section 51423.

(248) Section 51424.

(249) Section 51450.

(250) Section 51452.

(251) Section 51453.

(252) Section 51460.

(253) Section 51461.

(254) Section 51462.

(255) Section 51471.

(256) Section 51472.

(257) Section 51745.

(258) Section 51747.

(259) Section 51747.5.

(260) Section 51749.3.

(261) Section 51749.5.

(262) Section 51749.6.

(263) Section 51762.

(264) Section 51762.5.

(265) Section 51769.

(266) Section 51771.

(267) Section 51772.

(268) Section 51775.

(269) Section 51777.

(270) Section 51778.

(271) Section 51796.

(272) Section 51852.

(273) Section 51900.6.

(274) Section 52052.

(275) Section 52064.

(276) Section 52064.1.

(277) Section 52064.5.

(278) Section 52065.

(279) Section 52070.

(280) Section 52070.5.

(281) Section 52071.5.

(282) Section 52072.1.

(283) Section 52072.6.

(284) Section 52075.

(285) Section 52076.

(286) Section 52164.

(287) Section 52164.1.

(288) Section 52240.

(289) Section 52302.

(290) Section 52302.9.

(291) Section 52309.

(292) Section 52315.

(293) Section 52330.

(294) Section 52334.5.

(295) Section 52334.7.

(296) Section 52371.

(297) Section 52372.

(298) Section 52372.1.

(299) Section 52462.

(300) Section 52506.

(301) Section 52511.

(302) Section 52523.

(303) Section 52551.

(304) Section 52572.

(305) Section 52920.

(306) Section 52957.

(307) Section 53071.

(308) Section 53075.

(309) Section 53086.

(310) Section 54407.

(311) Section 54444.

(312) Section 54444.1.

(313) Section 54444.2.

(314) Section 54444.3.

(315) Section 54460.

(316) Section 54693.

(317) Section 54694.

(318) Section 54696.

(319) Section 54697.

(320) Section 56033.

(321) Section 56034.

(322) Section 56035.

(323) Section 56043.

(324) Section 56045.

(325) Section 56061.

(326) Section 56120.

(327) Section 56121.

(328) Section 56122.

(329) Section 56123.

(330) Section 56124.

(331) Section 56125.

(332) Section 56126.

(333) Section 56127.

(334) Section 56128.

(335) Section 56129.

(336) Section 56130.

(337) Section 56132.

(338) Section 56133.

(339) Section 56134.

(340) Section 56135.

(341) Section 56136.

(342) Section 56138.

(343) Section 56140.

(344) Section 56156.

(345) Section 56195.1.

(346) Section 56195.7.

(347) Section 56195.8.

(348) Section 56205.

(349) Section 56244.

(350) Section 56326.5.

(351) Section 56335.

(352) Section 56364.3.

(353) Section 56365.

(354) Section 56366.

(355) Section 56366.1.

(356) Section 56366.2.

(357) Section 56366.4.

(358) Section 56366.6.

(359) Section 56366.10.

(360) Section 56385.

(361) Section 56402.

(362) Section 56408.

(363) Section 56428.

(364) Section 56429.

(365) Section 56431.

(366) Section 56432.

(367) Section 56440.

(368) Section 56441.1.

(369) Section 56441.4.

(370) Section 56441.7.

(371) Section 56441.11.

(372) Section 56441.13.

(373) Section 56442.

(374) Section 56452.

(375) Section 56454.

(376) Section 56461.

(377) Section 56471.

(378) Section 56474.

(379) Section 56475.

(380) Section 56476.

(381) Section 56500.2.

(382) Section 56500.3.

(383) Section 56502.

(384) Section 56504.5.

(385) Section 56505.

(386) Section 56521.

(387) Section 56523.

(388) Section 56524.

(389) Section 56600.6.

(390) Section 56601.

(391) Section 56601.5.

(392) Section 56602.

(393) Section 56604.

(394) Section 56605.

(395) Section 56606.

(396) Section 56841.

(397) Section 56854.

(398) Section 56857.5.

(399) Section 56863.

(400) Section 58509.

(401) Section 58510.

(402) Section 58511.

(403) Section 58802.

(404) Section 58803.

(405) Section 58805.

(406) Section 59002.

(407) Section 59002.5.

(408) Section 59005.

(409) Section 59006.

(410) Section 59020.

(411) Section 59042.

(412) Section 59045.

(413) Section 59102.

(414) Section 59102.5.

(415) Section 59111.

(416) Section 59112.

(417) Section 59143.

(418) Section 59144.

(419) Section 59202.

(420) Section 59203.

(421) Section 59204.5.

(422) Section 59210.

(423) Section 59220.

(424) Section 60048.

(425) Section 60090.

(426) Section 60150.

(427) Section 60151.

(428) Section 60152.

(429) Section 60200.

(430) Section 60202.

(431) Section 60203.

(432) Section 60208.

(433) Section 60313.

(434) Section 60602.5.

(435) Section 60604.

(436) Section 60604.5.

(437) Section 60605.6.

(438) Section 60612.

(439) Section 60613.

(440) Section 60630.

(441) Section 60640.

(442) Section 60642.5.

(443) Section 60643.

(444) Section 60812.

(445) Section 60900.

(446) Section 64001.

(447) Section 66060.

(448) Section 66204.

(449) Section 79121.

(450) Section 79149.6.

(451) Section 79149.7.

(452) Section 84900.

(453) Section 84902.

(454) Section 84903.

(455) Section 84904.

(456) Section 84905.

(457) Section 84917.

(458) Section 88827.

(459) Section 88829.

(460) Section 88830.

(461) Section 88833.

(462) Section 92680.

(463) Section 99221.5.

(464) Section 1752.1 of the Business and Professions Code.

(465) Section 3547.5 of the Government Code.

(466) Section 7561 of the Government Code.

(467) Section 7570 of the Government Code.

(468) Section 7573 of the Government Code.

(469) Section 7578 of the Government Code.

(470) Section 7579.1 of the Government Code.

(471) Section 7585 of the Government Code.

(472) Section 7586 of the Government Code.

(473) Section 7587 of the Government Code.

(474) Section 7906 of the Government Code.

(475) Section 7907 of the Government Code.

(476) Section 7930.200 of the Government Code.

(477) Section 8886 of the Government Code.

(478) Section 11126 of the Government Code.

(479) Section 15490 of the Government Code.

(480) Section 16154 of the Government Code.

(481) Section 19050.8 of the Government Code.

(482) Section 37549 of the Government Code.

(483) Section 53892.1 of the Government Code.

(484) Section 95006 of the Government Code.

(485) Section 95009 of the Government Code.

(486) Section 95028 of the Government Code.

(487) Section 1597.640 of the Health and Safety Code.

(488) Section 11605 of the Health and Safety Code.

(489) Section 11998.1 of the Health and Safety Code.

(490) Section 36120 of the Health and Safety Code.

(491) Section 104365 of the Health and Safety Code.

(492) Section 104455 of the Health and Safety Code.

(493) Section 3071.5 of the Labor Code.

(494) Section 3074 of the Labor Code.

(495) Section 3074.3 of the Labor Code.

(496) Section 3368 of the Labor Code.

(497) Section 511 of the Military and Veterans Code.

(498) Section 512 of the Military and Veterans Code.

(499) Section 518 of the Military and Veterans Code.

(500) Section 490.5 of the Penal Code.

(501) Section 11174.3 of the Penal Code.

(502) Section 1420 of the Probate Code.

(503) Section 26235 of the Public Resources Code.

(504) Section 33204.2 of the Public Resources Code.

(505) Section 71301 of the Public Resources Code.

(506) Section 71303 of the Public Resources Code.

(507) Section 821 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.

(508) Section 826 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.

(509) Section 831 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.

(510) Section 13371 of the Vehicle Code.

(511) Section 893 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(512) Section 1120.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(513) Section 1122 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(514) Section 4512 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(515) Section 4521 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(516) Section 4565 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(517) Section 4777 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(518) Section 5878 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(519) Section 8257 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(520) Section 10209.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(521) Section 10429.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(522) Section 11008.19 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(523) Section 11322.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(524) Section 11329.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(525) Section 18986.20 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(526) Section 18986.23 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(527) Section 18986.24 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(b) For purposes of the sections listed in subdivision (a), the Education Commissioner succeeds to and is vested with all the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction vested in the Superintendent of Public Instruction:

(c) Any actions taken by the Superintendent of Public Instruction before January 1, 2027, pursuant to the sections listed in subdivision (a), shall instead be deemed to have been taken by the Education Commissioner.

SEC. 10.

Section 33110.5 of the Education Code, as added by Section 27 of Chapter 66 of the Statutes of 2026, is amended to read:

33110.5.

(1) Section 224.5.

(2) Section 233.8.

(3) Section 446.

(4) Section 1244.

(5) Section 1631.

(6) Section 1904.

(7) Section 1909.

(8) Section 2300.

(9) Section 2555.

(10) Section 2558.

(11) Section 2571.

(12) Section 2574.

(13) Section 2575.

(14) Section 2575.1.

(15) Section 2575.2.

(16) Section 2575.3.

(17) Section 2575.4.

(18) Section 2575.5.

(19) Section 2576.

(20) Section 2578.

(21) Section 8154.

(22) Section 8203.1.

(23) Section 8221.

(24) Section 8255.

(25) Section 8257.

(26) Section 8258.

(27) Section 8261.

(28) Section 8262.

(29) Section 8263.

(30) Section 8272.5.

(31) Section. 8281.5.

(32) Section 8320.

(33) Section 8337.

(34) Section 8483.7.

(35) Section 8483.75.

(36) Section 8734.

(37) Section 8774.

(38) Section 8804.

(39) Section 8807.

(40) Section 8902.

(41) Section 10506.

(42) Section 10507.

(43) Section 12302.

(44) Section 14002.

(45) Section 14002.1.

(46) Section 14003.

(47) Section 14004.

(48) Section 14004.5.

(49) Section 14005.

(50) Section 14007.

(51) Section 14041.

(52) Section 14041.6.

(53) Section 14041.7.

(54) Section 14042.

(55) Section 14043.

(56) Section 14044.

(57) Section 14054.

(58) Section 14055.

(59) Section 14057.

(60) Section 14058.

(61) Section 17922.

(62) Section 32287.

(63) Section 32526.

(64) Section 33132.

(65) Section 33319.6.

(66) Section 35168.

(67) Section 35735.

(68) Section 37641.

(69) Section 37643.

(70) Section 38101.

(71) Section 39807.5.

(72) Section 39835.

(73) Section 39840.

(74) Section 41012.

(75) Section 41202.

(76) Section 41206.01.

(77) Section 41206.02.

(78) Section 41206.04.

(79) Section 41206.1.

(80) Section 41207.

(81) Section 41207.1.

(82) Section 41207.25.

(83) Section 41207.31.

(84) Section 41207.41.

(85) Section 41207.42.

(86) Section 41207.43.

(87) Section 41207.44.

(88) Section 41207.45.

(89) Section 41207.47.

(90) Section 41207.48.

(91) Section 41207.6.

(92) Section 41211.

(93) Section 41303.

(94) Section 41304.

(95) Section 41306.

(96) Section 41307.

(97) Section 41320.

(98) Section 41328.

(99) Section 41329.51.

(100) Section 41329.53.

(101) Section 41330.

(102) Section 41332.

(103) Section 41335.

(104) Section 41336.

(105) Section 41337.

(106) Section 41339.

(107) Section 41339.1.

(108) Section 41339.2.

(109) Section 41340.

(110) Section 41341.

(111) Section 41342.

(112) Section 41343.

(113) Section 41344.

(114) Section 41344.4.

(115) Section 41353.

(116) Section 41360.

(117) Section 41376.

(118) Section 41376.1.

(119) Section 41378.

(120) Section 41403.

(121) Section 41404.

(122) Section 41404.5.

(123) Section 41409.

(124) Section 41409.3.

(125) Section 41420.

(126) Section 41422.

(127) Section 41423

(128) Section 41472.

(129) Section 41480.

(130) Section 41490.

(131) Section 41540.

(132) Section 41544.

(133) Section 41570.

(134) Section 41580.

(135) Section 41585.

(136) Section 41590.

(137) Section 41601.

(138) Section 41602.

(139) Section 41603.

(140) Section 41604.

(141) Section 41604.5.

(142) Section 41760.2.

(143) Section 41790.

(144) Section 41800.

(145) Section 41841.5.

(146) Section 41850.1.

(147) Section 41851.1.

(148) Section 41881.

(149) Section 41886.5.

(150) Section 41900.

(151) Section 41901.

(152) Section 41902.

(153) Section 41903.

(154) Section 41904.

(155) Section 41909.

(156) Section 41911.

(157) Section 41914.

(158) Section 41917.

(159) Section 41931.

(160) Section 41932.

(161) Section 41936.

(162) Section 41950.

(163) Section 41960.

(164) Section 41962.

(165) Section 41964.

(166) Section 41975.

(167) Section 41980.

(168) Section 41983.

(169) Section 42100.

(170) Section 42123.

(171) Section 42126.

(172) Section 42127.

(173) Section 42127.01.

(174) Section 42127.1.

(175) Section 42127.2.

(176) Section 42127.3.

(177) Section 42127.6.

(178) Section 42127.9.

(179) Section 42128.

(180) Section 42129.

(181) Section 42130.

(182) Section 42131.

(183) Section 42133.

(184) Section 42134.

(185) Section 42141.

(186) Section 42161.

(187) Section 42238.

(188) Section 42238.017.

(189) Section 42238.02.

(190) Section 42238.023.

(191) Section 42238.024.

(192) Section 42238.025.

(193) Section 42238.03.

(194) Section 42238.05.

(195) Section 42238.051.

(196) Section 42238.1.

(197) Section 42238.2.

(198) Section 42238.6.

(199) Section 42238.18.

(200) Section 42238.19.

(201) Section 42242.

(202) Section 42252.

(203) Section 42280.

(204) Section 42282.

(205) Section 42283.

(206) Section 42284.

(207) Section 42285.

(208) Section 42287.

(209) Section 42920.5.

(210) Section 42921.

(211) Section 42922.

(212) Section 42923.

(213) Section 42926.

(214) Section 43521.

(215) Section 43523.

(216) Section 45028.

(217) Section 45365.

(218) Section 46013.

(219) Section 46119.

(220) Section 46120.

(221) Section 46200.

(222) Section 46200.5.

(223) Section 46201.

(224) Section 46201.5.

(225) Section 46202.

(226) Section 46205.

(227) Section 46207.

(228) Section 46208.

(229) Section 46305.

(230) Section 46391.

(231) Section 46392.

(232) Section 46393.

(233) Section 46609.

(234) Section 47613.1.

(235) Section 47633.

(236) Section 47635.

(237) Section 47644.

(238) Section 47652.

(239) Section 47663.

(240) Section 48000.

(241) Section 48000.1.

(242) Section 48000.15.

(243) Section 48307.

(244) Section 48317.

(245) Section 48359.5.

(246) Section 48602.

(247) Section 49414.8.

(248) Section 49492.

(249) Section 49558.

(250) Section 49702.

(251) Section 51745.6.

(252) Section 51796.2.

(253) Section 51796.5.

(254) Section 51854.

(255) Section 52073.4.

(256) Section 52168.

(257) Section 52170.

(258) Section 52171.

(259) Section 52177.

(260) Section 52185.

(261) Section 52302.8.

(262) Section 52314.

(263) Section 52321.

(264) Section 52324.6.

(265) Section 52328.

(266) Section 52460.

(267) Section 52461.

(268) Section 52616.4.

(269) Section 52616.18.

(270) Section 53009.

(271) Section 53009.5.

(272) Section 53014.

(273) Section 53015.

(274) Section 53016.

(275) Section 53025.

(276) Section 53070.

(277) Section 53073.

(278) Section 53076.

(279) Section 54001.

(280) Section 54004.1.

(281) Section 54007.

(282) Section 54484.

(283) Section 54521.

(284) Section 54691.

(285) Section 54750.

(286) Section 54760.

(287) Section 56048.

(288) Section 56131.

(289) Section 56453.

(290) Section 56836.02.

(291) Section 56836.04.

(292) Section 56836.045.

(293) Section 56836.05.

(294) Section 56836.07.

(295) Section 56836.08.

(296) Section 56836.10.

(297) Section 56836.11.

(298) Section 56836.13.

(299) Section 56836.14.

(300) Section 56836.144.

(301) Section 56836.146.

(302) Section 56836.148.

(303) Section 56836.15.

(304) Section 56836.168.

(305) Section 56836.18.

(306) Section 56836.22.

(307) Section 56836.24.

(308) Section 56836.31.

(309) Section 56836.40.

(310) Section 56837.

(311) Section 56838.

(312) Section 56839.

(313) Section 56845.

(314) Section 58801.

(315) Section 58801.6.

(316) Section 58804.

(317) Section 58806.

(318) Section 59030.5.

(319) Section 59124.5.

(320) Section 60115.

(321) Section 60810.

(322) Section 62005.

(323) Section 62005.5.

(324) Section 66032.2.

(325) Section 79149.5.

(326) Section 84909.

(327) Section 84910.

(328) Section 84911.

(329) Section 84912.

(330) Section 84914.

(331) Section 7902.2 of the Government Code.

(332) Section 8685 of the Government Code.

(333) Section 15814.24 of the Government Code.

(334) Section 17581.6 of the Government Code.

(335) Section 54903.1 of the Government Code.

(336) Section 104420 of the Health and Safety Code.

(337) Section 124100 of the Health and Safety Code.

(338) Section 515 of the Military and Veterans Code.

(339) Section 20111 of the Public Contract Code.

(340) Section 26240 of the Public Resources Code.

(341) Section 75.70 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(342) Section 1095 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.

(343) Section 903.7 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(344) Section 4380 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(345) Section 10311 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(b) For purposes of the sections listed in subdivision (a), the State Department of Education succeeds to and is vested with all the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction vested in the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

SEC. 11.

Section 38100 of the Education Code is amended to read:

38100.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law and subject to prior approval by the department, local educational agencies may make infrastructure upgrades for the operation and improvement of school meal service with state funded meal reimbursement provided for meals pursuant to Section 49501.5, as appropriated in the annual Budget Act. These costs may include, but are not limited to, cafeterias, kitchen facilities, food service and eating areas, and food storage facilities. The use of funds for infrastructure purposes pursuant to this section shall not be to the detriment of a local educational agency’s existing meal program.

(b) The cost of the lease or purchase of cafeteria equipment and of vending machines and their installation and housing shall be a charge against cafeteria funds, in accordance with Section 38091. However, when the governing board of a school district deems it necessary, the governing board of a school district may make the cost of the lease or purchase of cafeteria equipment for a kitchen or central food processing plant, and vending machines and their installation and housing, a charge against the funds of the school district. If school district funds are expended for the lease or purchase of kitchen equipment or for the lease, purchase, installation, or housing of vending machines, the governing board of the school district may at any time during the same fiscal year after the expenditure reimburse school district funds from cafeteria funds. The governing board of a school district shall only approve reimbursement for vending machines if one, or both, of the following apply:

(1) The vending machines are owned and operated by the school food services department, sell meals that qualify for federal meal program reimbursement, and are equipped with appropriate point of service meal counting software.

(2) The vending machines sell only food, or only beverages, or both that comply with state and federal competitive food laws and regulations.

(c) The governing board of a school district may by resolution make the cost of maintenance of the kitchen facilities, the cost of replacement or maintenance of kitchen equipment, and costs of telephone charges, water, drinking water in the cafeteria, electricity, gas, coal, wood, fuel, oil, and garbage disposal related to food service and delivery a charge against cafeteria funds, provided that the school district complies with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

(d) For purposes of this section, “cafeteria fund” means the nonprofit school food service account, as defined in Section 210.2 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

SEC. 12.

Section 41341 of the Education Code is amended to read:

41341.

(a) (1) If, during any fiscal year, the amount apportioned to a school district, county office of education, charter school, or to any fund from Section A of the State School Fund differs either positively or negatively from the amount to which the school district, county office of education, charter school, or fund was entitled by an amount equal to the local control funding formula allocation pursuant to Section 2574 or 42238.02, as implemented pursuant to Section 42238.03, for one unit of average daily attendance, the Superintendent, in accordance with regulations that the Superintendent is hereby authorized to adopt, not later than the first succeeding fiscal year from the fiscal year in which the computational error was made, shall withhold from, or add to, the apportionment made during that fiscal year, the amount of the excess or deficiency, as the case may be. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, excesses withheld or deficiencies added by the Superintendent pursuant this subdivision shall be added to or allowed from any portion of the State School Fund.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), excesses may be withheld or deficiencies added to apportionments on account of audit exceptions reported in an audit or review, as described in subdivision (e) of Section 41344, or audit or review conducted by a certified public accountant or public accounting firm designated by a governmental agency that provided the local educational agency the opportunity to provide a written response.

(3) If, during any fiscal year, a school district, county office of education, or charter school determines that the amount apportioned to the school district, county office of education, charter school, or to any fund from Section A of the State School Fund differs either positively or negatively from the amount to which the school district, county office of education, charter school, or fund was entitled by an amount equal to the local control funding formula allocation pursuant to Section 2574 or 42238.02, as implemented pursuant to Section 42238.03, for one or more units of average daily attendance, the school district, county office of education, or charter school shall report the corrected amount to the Superintendent.

(b) If, during any fiscal year, the amount apportioned to a community college district or to any fund from Section B of the State School Fund differs either positively or negatively from the amount to which the community college district or fund was entitled, by an amount equal to the funding of one full-time equivalent student, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, in accordance with regulations that the chancellor is hereby authorized to adopt, not later than the first succeeding fiscal year from the fiscal year in which the computational error was made, shall withhold from, or add to, the apportionment made during that fiscal year, the amount of the excess or deficiency, as the case may be. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, excesses withheld or deficiencies added by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges under this subdivision shall be added to or allowed from any portion of the State School Fund.

SEC. 13.

Section 41490 of the Education Code is amended to read:

41490.

(a) For the 2021–22 fiscal year, the sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent to apportion to the Orange County Department of Education in the manner, and for the purposes, set forth in this section. The Orange County Department of Education shall encumber or expend the funds apportioned pursuant to this subdivision on or before June 30, 2026, except as provided in subdivision (h).

(b) The Orange County Department of Education, in consultation with the Superintendent and the executive director of the state board, shall award no less than thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) of the amount appropriated in subdivision (a) as grants to local educational agencies for the purpose of funding schoolwide and districtwide implementation of services or practices aligned to the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support framework developed under the “Scale Up MTSS Statewide” (SUMS) project. The grants shall be awarded to local educational agencies on or before December 15, 2021. Any funds not awarded on or before December 15, 2021, shall be available for the Orange County Department of Education, in consultation with the Superintendent and the executive director of the state board, to award as grants to local educational agencies on or before December 15, 2022.

(1) Grant funds awarded to local educational agencies shall be used to support the implementation of high quality integrated academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning practices in an integrated multitiered system of support at the schoolwide level, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(A) Educator and leader training on the foundations of the California Multi-Tiered System of Support framework and practices, as developed by the SUMS project.

(B) Ongoing training and coaching support to schoolsite educators and leaders in deepening the implementation of high leverage practices for integrated academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning across tiers throughout the school community.

(C) Ongoing training and support to school and local educational agency leaders in aligning practices, policies, and structures to create and sustain a schoolwide and agencywide integrated multitiered system of support.

(D) Establishing school- and local educational agency-level multitiered system of support teams to support implementation efforts.

(2) Grants shall be awarded with priority to local educational agencies serving a high number of unduplicated pupils, as defined in Section 42238.02, that have participated in local educational agency-level training to implement an integrated multitiered system of support.

(3) Local educational agencies receiving funds shall measure and report on implementation fidelity at least annually using the tools and resources developed by the SUMS project. Data shall be reported to the Orange County Department of Education in a form available to the public.

(4) (A) On or before September 30 of each fiscal year until the Orange County Department of Education has fully expended the funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision, the Orange County Department of Education shall submit an annual report to the Superintendent summarizing how it used the funds in the prior fiscal year. The Superintendent shall provide copies of these reports to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, the Department of Finance, the state board, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

(B) A report to be submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(c) (1) The Superintendent shall establish a process, in consultation with and subject to the approval of the executive director of the state board, to select a local educational agency, a local educational agency in partnership with an institution of higher education or nonprofit educational service provider, or a consortia, to partner with the Orange County Department of Education and the Butte County Office of Education to expand the state’s capacity to support local educational agencies’ implementation of social-emotional learning, trauma screening, trauma-informed practices, and culturally relevant, affirming, and sustaining practices. The selected entity, known as a partner entity, shall be selected on or before February 15, 2022. No more than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) of the amount appropriated in subdivision (a) is available for purposes of this subdivision.

(2) The partner entity shall have demonstrated expertise in developing and delivering high quality professional learning to educators in social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, and culturally relevant, affirming, and sustaining practices in a manner that aligns with local multitiered systems of support. The partner entity shall support the Orange County Department of Education and the Butte County Office of Education in offering high quality professional learning to educators and school leaders by performing all of the following functions:

(A) Creating, collecting, and curating resources for educators on social-emotional learning, trauma screening, trauma-informed practices, and culturally relevant, affirming, and sustaining practices.

(B) Providing ongoing training and support in the use of trauma screening tools and mental health service referrals, school climate surveys, and the use of tool and survey data.

(i) Convening professional learning communities of educators and school leaders.

(ii) Providing ongoing training and coaching to educators and school leaders.

(3) In performing the work described in this subdivision, the partner entity, in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education and the Butte County Office of Education, shall, to the extent practicable, leverage current research and work related to how educators and school leaders can best address the social-emotional needs of pupils, and consult with experts in the field on matters related to trauma screening and trauma-informed practices.

(4) For purposes of this subdivision, “high quality professional learning” shall include, but not be limited to, professional learning that is content-focused, incorporates active learning using adult learning theory, supports collaboration in job-embedded contexts, uses models and modeling of effective practices, provides coaching and expert support, and offers opportunities for feedback.

(d) A local educational agency that receives a grant pursuant to subdivision (b), or high quality professional learning pursuant to subdivision (c), shall, as a condition of receiving the grant or high quality professional learning, provide to the Orange County Department of Education, the Butte County Office of Education, and the department any available outcome data resulting from the practices implemented, and participate in overall program evaluation.

(e) The Orange County Department of Education may expend up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) of the amount appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a) to support the administration of grants and provide support to the grantees pursuant to Department of Finance approval of an expenditure plan. The Orange County Department of Education shall not expend moneys pursuant to this subdivision sooner than 30 days after the Department of Finance provides written notification of the approval of the expenditure plan to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

(f) (1) Any funds set aside pursuant to subdivision (b) that are not awarded on or before December 15, 2022, shall be available for the Orange County Department of Education to provide support to local educational agencies impacted by the fire-related state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor in January 2025 in providing high-quality integrated academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning practices to pupils and educators. This may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(A) Training, coaching, and supporting educators on trauma-informed practices, tools, and resources to meet the unique needs of each schoolsite.

(B) Grants to schools to support the educational and mental health needs of affected pupils and staff.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), the Orange County Department of Education may expend up to 15 percent of the amount identified pursuant to this subdivision for administrative costs associated with supporting impacted local educational agencies.

(g) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(h) (1) Funds awarded pursuant to subdivision (b) that have been encumbered by a subgrantee but not yet expended may, upon review and approval by the Orange County Department of Education, be expended until June 30, 2027.

(2) Funds awarded pursuant to subdivision (b) that have not been encumbered may be utilized by the Orange County Department of Education for purposes of subdivision (f) until June 30, 2027.

(i) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2020–21 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2020–21 fiscal year.

SEC. 14.

Section 41585 of the Education Code is amended to read:

41585.

(a) Contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute, the department, in consultation with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, shall, beginning on or before January 1, 2023, administer a competitive grant program to do all of the following:

(1) Enable more local educational agencies to establish either middle college or early college high schools or programs that provide pupils with access to obtain college credits while enrolled in high school.

(2) Provide incentives for local educational agencies to establish dual enrollment course opportunities that are consistent with the requirements of Section 76004.

(3) Enable local educational agencies with existing middle college or early college high schools or programs or College and Career Access Pathways partnerships established pursuant to Section 76004 to couple robust pupil advising and success supports with dual enrollment opportunities and establish outreach campaigns to promote dual enrollment for new or existing middle college or early college high schools or programs or College and Career Access Pathways partnerships established pursuant to Section 76004. For local educational agencies with College and Career Access Pathways partnerships, outreach shall be focused toward families and pupils who may not be college bound or who are underrepresented in higher education.

(b) (1) Of the funds appropriated in support of this grant program, the department shall provide approved applicants with any of the following, as applicable:

(A) A one-time grant of up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) to support the costs to plan for and start up a, or a one-time grant of up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to expand an existing, middle college or early college high school or program that is located on the campus of a local educational agency, a partnering community college, or other location determined by the local partnership, and that is consistent with the specifications of Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 11300) of Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1.

(B) A one-time grant of up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to establish a College and Career Access Pathways dual enrollment partnership agreement that is consistent with the requirements of Section 76004 and to enable pupils at the participating high school to access dual enrollment opportunities pursuant to the College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement.

(C) For an applicant who has previously received a grant to establish or expand College and Career Access Pathways partnerships or middle college or early college high school programs pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B), a renewal grant upon the completion of the requirements pertaining to that specific grant type, provided they are not currently in an active grant period for that grant type.

(2) Nothing shall preclude a local educational agency from using any unexpended funds received for the purposes of paragraph (1) to collaborate with their partner community college to access pupil advising and success support services offered by the partner community college district.

(3) Nothing shall preclude a local educational agency from using any unexpended funds received for the purposes of subparagraph of paragraph (1) to support the professional development of educators to meet minimum standards to teach dual enrollment courses.

(4) A local educational agency may request grants from any of the opportunities specified in paragraph (1).

(5) As a condition of funding pursuant to this section, a local educational agency receiving a grant shall develop a plan for continued financial and administrative support of dual enrollment opportunities at schoolsites with coursework supported by the grant for a period of no less than three years after the end of the grant period, and provide to the department a written commitment to do so.

(c) (1) A local educational agency seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the department at a time, in a manner, and with any appropriate information, as the department may reasonably require, including, but not limited to, evidence of an existing or planned partnership with an institution of higher education for the creation of the dual enrollment program.

(2) The department shall give priority to available grant funds to support applications from local educational agencies that display any of the following characteristics:

(A) The local educational agency has a higher than state average rate of unduplicated pupils, as defined in Section 42238.02.

(B) The local educational agency has a higher than state average dropout rate.

(C) The local educational agency has a higher than state average rate of suspension and a higher than state average rate of expulsion.

(D) The local educational agency has higher than state average rates of child homelessness, foster youth, or justice-involved youth.

(E) The local educational agency has a lower than state average rate of pupils completing all of the A–G courses required to be eligible for admission to the University of California or the California State University.

(F) The local educational agency does not have a College and Career Access Pathways dual enrollment partnership agreement that is consistent with the requirements of Section 76004.

(G) The local educational agency has not received previous dual enrollment funding pursuant to this section.

(3) The department shall allocate an additional grant of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to a local educational agency that uses grant funds received for purposes of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) to expand dual enrollment opportunities directly to justice-involved youth in county-operated facilities.

(4) To ensure funds appropriated for the 2022–23 fiscal year are disbursed in a timely manner, the department shall begin disbursing funds for approved applicants on or before December 1, 2023.

(5) To ensure funds appropriated for the 2026–27 fiscal year are disbursed in a timely manner, the department shall begin disbursing funds for approved applicants on or before January 1, 2027.

(d) (1) Courses offered to high school pupils in dual enrollment programs pursuant to this section shall be part of structured, well-sequenced pathways and count toward postsecondary certificate or degree requirements, and are counted toward high school graduation requirements in equivalent subject areas.

(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that courses offered to high school pupils pursuant to a College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement established by Section 76004 are part of structured, well-sequenced pathways and consist of transfer-level courses, unless one of the following occurs:

(A) The pupil elects to participate in a degree or certificate pathway that is not met with transfer-level courses.

(B) The pupil, in mathematics, English, or both, in grade 10 or 11, would warrant access to innovative remediation coursework, as determined by the partnering local educational agency. The pupil may be placed into an innovative remediation course during their first year of participating in the College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement as an intervention taken to ensure the pupil is on track to satisfactorily complete state and any local graduation requirements, as determined by the local educational agency, and is prepared for transfer-level coursework at a community college upon graduation.

(e) On or before June 30, 2024, on or before June 30, 2027, and on or before June 30, 2030, the department shall prepare a summary of how the funds in this section were disbursed and used to further the goals listed in subdivision (a), and shall submit the summary to the Department of Finance, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Education, the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, and the Assembly Committee on Education. The summary shall include all of the following information:

(1) The number of grants awarded, disaggregated by local educational agency.

(2) A qualitative description of how the funding was used by local educational agencies to accomplish the goals listed in subdivision (a).

(3) The total number of high school pupils by schoolsite enrolled in dual enrollment programs disaggregated by participation in middle college high schools or programs, early college high schools or programs, College and Career Access Pathways, and other dual enrollment programs.

(4) The total number of community college courses by course category taken by pupils participating in middle college high schools or programs, early college high schools or programs, College and Career Access Pathways, and other dual enrollment programs.

(5) The total number of successful course completions by course category disaggregated by participation in middle college high schools or programs, early college high schools or programs, College and Career Access Pathways, and other dual enrollment programs.

(6) Course and program outcomes for pupils who were enrolled in dual enrollment programs, disaggregated by grade level, gender, socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, and other disproportionately impacted groups.

(f) It is the intent of the Legislature that, upon the implementation of the California Cradle-to-Career Data System established in Section 10860, future data and outcome reporting on dual enrollment programs shall be linked through, and conducted in accordance with, the privacy requirements of the California Cradle-to-Career Data System.

(g) For purposes of this article, “local educational agency” means a school district, charter school, county office of education, or regional occupational center or program.

SEC. 15.

Section 42238.022 of the Education Code is amended to read:

42238.022.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, for the 2021–22 fiscal year, the adjustments required pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 2574, subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 2574, subdivision (b) of Section 2575.1, paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 42238.02, and subdivision (b) of Section 42287 shall be 2.7 percent and shall be calculated by first assuming the adjustment referenced in Section 42238.021 is 2.31 percent instead of zero.

(b) (1) For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the department shall increase the rates provided in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 2574, base grant rates provided in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 2574, and base grant rates provided in subdivision (d) of Section 42238.02 by 1.44 percent. These adjustments shall be calculated by multiplying the corresponding rates for the 2025–26 fiscal year, as determined by paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 2574, subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 2574, and paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 42238.02, as applicable, by 1.44 percent.

(2) For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the rate change provided pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2575.4 shall include the adjustments made pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3) Notwithstanding any other law, for purposes of calculating subsequent fiscal year funding rates, the adjustments made pursuant to this subdivision shall be included in their respective prior year funding rates commencing with the 2027–28 fiscal year.

(4) Local educational agencies incurring costs related to providing employees with up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave pursuant to Sections 44965 and 45193 shall use the funds calculated pursuant to this subdivision to reimburse those costs.

SEC. 16.

Section 44259.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:

44259.4.

(a) (1) There is hereby established the Pathways to Bilingual Teaching Program, to be administered by the commission, for the purpose of increasing the number of California teachers qualified to teach in bilingual settings.

(2) The sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the commission for allocation pursuant to this section for grant awards to be used through the 2031–32 fiscal year.

(3) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school, or a regional occupational center or program operated by a joint powers authority or county office of education.

(b) (1) Commencing January 1, 2027, the commission shall develop and implement a program to award, on a competitive basis, grants of up to six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000), which may be expended over six years, to local educational agencies, applying individually or as a consortium, to form, pursuant to subdivision (c), consortia with four-year institutions of higher education or consortia with four-year institutions of higher education and community colleges, for the purpose of establishing or expanding existing pathways to bilingual teaching to enable bilingual candidates to earn a multiple subject, single subject, PK-3 early childhood education specialist, or education specialist credential, with a bilingual authorization.

(2) The commission shall give priority for grants to consortia of local educational agencies whose applications demonstrate a high need for teachers with a bilingual authorization by meeting one or both of the following:

(A) The consortium includes one or more local educational agencies with a high concentration of pupils who are English language learners.

(B) The consortium includes one or more local educational agencies located in a rural area or a geographic region experiencing an acute systemic shortage of teachers with a bilingual authorization, characterized by a significant gap between available commission-approved bilingual teacher preparation programs and the needs of local pupils who are English language learners.

(3) For purposes of this section, “pathway to bilingual teaching” means an articulated, guided sequence of secondary education, postsecondary education, and teacher preparation, including preparation to earn a bilingual authorization, leading to employment as a bilingual teacher.

(c) (1) Grant recipients shall develop and implement a broader consortium through a partnership with one or more four-year institutions of higher education, or one or more four-year institutions of higher education and one or more community colleges.

(2) Broader consortia formed pursuant to this subdivision shall do all of the following:

(A) Recruit bilingual candidates from local educational agencies for the pathway to bilingual teaching based on candidates’ interest in teaching, including, but not limited to, current paraprofessionals and classified employees.

(B) To the extent feasible, develop pathways to bilingual teaching for high school pupils with experience working in after school programs, participating in a career technical education pathway in education, or participating in future teacher clubs, and for candidates who are making progress towards meeting the eligibility criteria to receive the State Seal of Biliteracy.

(i) A community college or four-year institution of higher education to use dual enrollment, including early and middle college programs, to enable these candidates to earn part or all of their associate’s degrees before graduation.

(ii) A four-year institution of higher education into which these candidates transfer and in which they earn their baccalaureate degrees and a multiple subject, single subject, PK-3 early childhood education specialist, or education specialist teaching credential, with a bilingual authorization.

(3) Broader consortia may enter into an agreement with one or more local educational agencies, including, but not limited to, local educational agencies enrolling candidates in the pathway, to hire qualified graduates of the pathway in bilingual teaching positions.

(d) Grants pursuant to subdivision (b) shall fund proposals to establish new or expand existing pathways to bilingual teaching, with the first year of the grant for planning purposes and the subsequent five years of the grant for implementation purposes. These funds may be expended for any proper purpose in support of this section, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(1) To provide broader consortia teachers, administrators, and faculty release time or stipends to design the pathway and obtain any necessary agreements to implement the pathway.

(2) To create or redesign courses for candidates in a pathway to bilingual teaching.

(3) To design appropriate recruitment, guidance, and support strategies for candidates participating in the pathway.

(e) As a condition of a grant, a broader consortium described in subdivision (c) shall provide to the commission program and outcome information annually for at least six years after receiving the grant. The information shall include program design and features, the number of candidates enrolled in the program, the number of candidates who have completed the program, the number and type of credentials and bilingual authorizations earned, the time taken to earn a degree and credential, commitments made by local educational agencies with the intent to offer employment of bilingual teaching positions, any other information the commission may require for purposes of documenting the effect of the grant and identifying effective practices in program design and implementation, and, if applicable, home languages spoken by graduates, racial and ethnic backgrounds of graduates, and graduates who are or have ever been English language learners.

(f) The commission shall require applicants for grants under this section to provide assurances of all of the following:

(1) A commitment to implement a planned pathway to bilingual teaching.

(2) A plan for recruitment and retention of candidates for the pathway to bilingual teaching for open positions.

(3) Coordination with existing sources of candidate support, such as the Educator Recruitment and Retention Initiative established pursuant to Article 13.5 (commencing with Section 44400) and the Golden State Teacher Grant Program established pursuant to Article 5.1 (commencing with Section 69617) of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of Division 5 of Title 3, and other forms of financial aid.

(4) Demonstrated commitment to develop or expand enrollment in, and access to, the pathway to bilingual teaching.

(5) A plan to sustain the pathway to bilingual teaching after funding provided under this section expires.

(g) The commission shall, until December 31, 2032, annually report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature on the progress grant recipients have made in developing and implementing pathways to bilingual teaching, including, when appropriate, the number of teachers who are enrolled in the pathways and the number of teachers who have completed the pathways and are employed in bilingual settings as reported by local educational agencies.

(h) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

SEC. 17.

Section 44475 of the Education Code is amended to read:

44475.

(a) For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the sum of four billion four hundred million one hundred sixty-three thousand dollars ($4,400,163,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department for the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant, established pursuant to Chapter 8 of the Statutes of 2025, for allocation to county offices of education, school districts, charter schools, and the state special schools for discretionary purposes, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Providing standards-aligned professional development for teachers on the English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework and the Literacy Roadmap, including strategies to support literacy for English learners, and effective language acquisition programs for English learners, which may include integrated language development within and across content areas, and building and strengthening capacity to increase bilingual and biliterate proficiency.

(2) Providing standards-aligned professional development for teachers on the Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools.

(3) Providing professional development for certificated and classified educators of transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 3, inclusive, and elementary schoolsite administrators on the principles and guidelines of developmentally appropriate instruction, including developmentally appropriate behaviors and behavior interventions, and developmentally appropriate transitional kindergarten pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 48000 of the Education Code, to improve the implementation of transitional kindergarten.

(4) Developing and expanding teacher recruitment and retention strategies, including, but not limited to, coaching and mentoring of staff serving in an instructional setting, and beginning teacher or administrator induction.

(5) Expanding career pathways and dual enrollment efforts, consistent with the Master Plan for Career Education.

(6) Community school and promising neighborhood partnerships pursuant to the California Community Schools Partnership Act (Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 8900) of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1).

(7) Deferred maintenance of school facilities.

(8) Addressing rising costs.

(b) The department shall allocate funds proportionally to county offices of education, school districts, charter schools, and the state special schools on the basis of an equal amount per unit of average daily attendance for transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, as those numbers were reported as of the second principal apportionment for the 2025–26 fiscal year. The average daily attendance for each state special school shall be deemed to be 97 percent of the enrollment as reported in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System as of the 2025–26 Fall 1 Submission.

(c) (1) Funding appropriated pursuant to this section shall be available for expenditure through June 30, 2032. County offices of education, school districts, charter schools, and the state special schools are encouraged, but not required, to use funds received pursuant to this section for the purposes described in paragraphs (1) to (8), inclusive, of subdivision (a). On or before September 30, 2032, each county office of education, school district, charter school, and state special school receiving an allocation pursuant to this section shall report final expenditures to the department, which shall initiate collection of any unexpended funds on or before January 31, 2033.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if a charter school ceases to operate before June 30, 2032, a final expenditure report shall be due to the department within 60 days of the effective date of closure and the department shall collect any unexpended funds allocated to the charter school.

(d) As a condition of receiving funds apportioned pursuant to this section, a school district, county office of education, charter school, or state special school shall do all of the following, as applicable:

(1) A school district or charter school with declining enrollment or projected declining enrollment in the next five years shall hold a public hearing, in conjunction with a public hearing on the local control and accountability plan required by Section 47606.5 or 52062, as applicable, on their plans to address the declining enrollment’s impacts on the local educational agency, including, but not limited to, attracting and retaining pupils, strengthening course offerings, new program opportunities, class size reduction, facilities management, including potential schoolsite consolidations and closures, and local revenue options.

(2) Ensure that none of their employees are charged a fee for professional services, including, but not limited to, beginning teacher induction program costs and professional development costs, during the grant period pursuant to this section.

(e) Allocations made pursuant to subdivision (b) shall first satisfy any outstanding claims pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for reimbursement of state-mandated local program costs for any fiscal year. Notwithstanding Section 12419.5 of the Government Code and any amounts that are paid in satisfaction of outstanding claims for reimbursement of state-mandated local program costs, the Controller may audit any claim as allowed by law, and may recover any amount owed by school districts pursuant to an audit only by reducing amounts owed by the state to school districts for any other mandate claims. Under no circumstances shall a school district be required to remit funding back to the state to pay for disallowed costs identified by a Controller audit of claimed reimbursable state-mandated local program costs. The Controller shall not recover any amount owed by a school district pursuant to an audit of claimed reimbursable state-mandated local program costs by reducing any amount owed a school district for any purpose other than amounts owed for any other mandate claims. The Controller shall apply amounts received by each school district against any balances of unpaid claims for reimbursement of state-mandated local program costs and interest in chronological order beginning with the earliest claim. The Controller shall report to each school district the amounts of any claims and interest that are offset from funds provided pursuant to this section, and shall report a summary of the amounts offset for each mandate for each fiscal year to the Department of Finance and the fiscal committees of the Legislature.

(f) (1) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, of the amount appropriated from the General Fund in subdivision (a), three hundred eighty-three million eight hundred twenty thousand dollars ($383,820,000) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2024–25 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2024–25 fiscal year.

(2) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, of the amount appropriated from the General Fund in subdivision (a), two billion four hundred thirty million eight hundred forty-eight thousand dollars ($2,430,848,000) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

(3) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, of the amount appropriated from the General Fund in subdivision (a), one billion five hundred eighty-five million four hundred ninety-five thousand dollars ($1,585,495,000) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2026–27 fiscal year.

SEC. 18.

Section 46146.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:

46146.5.

(a) A day of attendance is 180 minutes for a pupil enrolled in grade 11 or 12 in an early college high school, a middle college high school, or dual enrollment courses offered by a local educational agency with a College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement consistent with the requirements of Section 76004 if the pupil is also enrolled part time in courses of the California State University or the University of California for which academic credit will be provided upon satisfactory completion of enrolled courses.

(b) A day of attendance is 180 minutes for a pupil enrolled in an early college high school, a middle college high school, or dual enrollment courses offered by a local educational agency with a College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement who is also a special part-time student enrolled in a community college under Article 1 (commencing with Section 48800) of Chapter 5 of Part 27, and who will receive academic credit upon satisfactory completion of enrolled courses.

(c) A day of attendance is 240 minutes for a pupil enrolled in an early college high school, a middle college high school, or dual enrollment courses offered by a local educational agency with a College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement who does not satisfy subdivision (a) or (b).

(d) For a charter school that is an early college high school or middle college high school, for purposes of calculating classroom-based average daily attendance for classroom-based instruction apportionments, at least 80 percent of the instructional time offered by the charter school shall be at the schoolsite, and the charter school shall require the attendance of a pupil enrolled in grade 11 or 12 for a minimum of 50 percent of the minimum instructional time required to be offered pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 47612.5 if the pupil is also enrolled part time in courses of the California State University or the University of California for which academic credit will be provided upon satisfactory completion of enrolled courses.

(e) For a charter school that is an early college high school or middle college high school, for purposes of calculating classroom-based average daily attendance for classroom-based instruction apportionments, at least 80 percent of the instructional time offered by the charter school shall be at the schoolsite, and the charter school shall require the attendance of a pupil for a minimum of 50 percent of the minimum instructional time required to be offered pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 47612.5 if the pupil is also a special part-time student enrolled in a community college under Article 1 (commencing with Section 48800) of Chapter 5 of Part 27, and who will receive academic credit upon satisfactory completion of enrolled courses.

(f) For a pupil enrolled in a charter school that is an early college high school or middle college high school and who does not satisfy the attendance and enrollment requirements of subdivision (d) or (e), for purposes of calculating classroom-based average daily attendance for classroom-based instruction apportionments, at least 80 percent of the instructional time offered by the charter school shall be at the schoolsite, and the charter school shall require the attendance of the pupil for a minimum of 67 percent of the minimum instructional time required to be offered pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 47612.5.

(g) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement” has the same meaning as described in Section 76004.

(2) “Early college high school” has the same meaning as described in Section 11302.

(3) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(4) “Middle college high school” has the same meaning as described in Section 11300.

(h) The requirements of this section shall be subject to annual audits, which shall be conducted pursuant to Section 41020.

SEC. 19.

Section 46160 of the Education Code is amended to read:

46160.

(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a school district that maintains a junior high school or high school may schedule classes in these schools so that each pupil attends classes for at least 1,200 minutes during any five-schoolday period or 2,400 minutes during any 10-schoolday period.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a school district that maintains an early college high school or middle college high school, or dual enrollment program with a College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement consistent with the requirements of Section 76004, may schedule classes in these schools so that each pupil who satisfies subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 46146.5 attends classes for at least 900 minutes during any 5-schoolday period or 1,800 minutes during any 10-schoolday period.

(b) Under a schedule pursuant to subdivision (a), any pupil may be authorized to attend school for less than the total number of days in which the school is in session as long as the pupil attends the required number of minutes per 5-schoolday period or per 10-schoolday period to accommodate career technical education and regional occupational center and program courses and block or other alternative school class schedules.

(c) Computations authorized by this section shall not result in an increase in state apportionments to a school district.

SEC. 20.

Section 49507 of the Education Code is amended to read:

49507.

(a) In addition to the funds allocated pursuant to Item 6100-488 of Section 2.0 of the Budget Act of 2026, the sum of four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) is hereby appropriated, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, from the General Fund to the department for grants to local educational agencies to support kitchen equipment, infrastructure, training, and the continued implementation of universal school meals. Funds allocated to eligible local educational agencies shall be encumbered on or before June 30, 2030, and shall be used for any of the following:

(1) Kitchen infrastructure upgrades that will increase capacity for freshly prepared onsite meals using minimally processed, locally grown, and sustainable food, increase a school’s capacity to prepare meals that surpass the current nutritional quality of food served through a federal school meal program, or reduce waste, including any of the following:

(A) (i) Cooking equipment, including, but not limited to, electrical support and facility upgrade requirements, combination ovens, dishwashers, steamers, and tilting skillets.

(ii) When acquiring new cooking equipment pursuant to this paragraph, local educational agencies receiving funds are encouraged, to the extent practicable, to acquire energy-saving electric and induction equipment rather than equipment that uses fossil fuels.

(B) Service equipment, including, but not limited to, service lines, point-of-sale systems, and mobile carts.

(C) Refrigeration and storage, including, but not limited to, walk-in refrigerators, freezers, blast chillers, and system upgrades.

(D) Transportation of ingredients, meals, and equipment between sites, including, but not limited to, vehicles and equipment to prevent spoilage of food in transit.

(E) The support of infrastructure system needs for items described in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive.

(F) Nutrition planning equipment, including, but not limited to, equipment needed to determine nutritional content of menus and remove ultraprocessed foods of concern and restricted school foods from school meals.

(G) Resources to implement innovative strategies that increase access and participation of the universal school meals program and food assistance for pupils who are or may be experiencing food insecurity, and increased coordination with community services providing food assistance.

(2) Staffing and training costs related to implementing universal school meals, including any of the following:

(A) Staffing strategies, including recruitment, retention, training, and professional development for food service staff to increase capacity for freshly prepared onsite meals, which may include training on minimally processed, freshly prepared onsite meals, removal of ultraprocessed foods of concern and restricted school foods from menus, sourcing locally and sustainably grown foods, food preparation, healthy food marketing, reducing food waste, and changing the school lunchroom environment.

(B) Additional compensation for additional work relating to serving universal school meals that may include minimally processed, locally and sustainably grown foods, a plant-based or restricted diet food option, or a plant-based milk option.

(3) Procurement of California-grown, whole or minimally processed, sustainably grown food from California producers, plant-based food and milk options, or restricted diet food options for inclusion in reimbursable meals served through the federal National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program, as determined by the State Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Food and Agriculture.

(4) Establishment or expansion of food pantries on schoolsites, which may serve pupils and their family members.

(5) Hands-on food education opportunities that engage pupils and connect the classroom with the cafeteria, including, but not limited to, activities in school gardens, on farms, in culinary classes, in settings that celebrate traditional foodways and cultivate food sovereignty, and through other experiential learning pathways.

(b) The department shall award grant funds as allocations to local educational agencies, using criteria established by the department, consistent with this section. The department shall give priority, to the greatest extent possible, in this given order:

(1) (A) Base Allocation Funding: each eligible local educational agency shall receive a base funding amount, to be determined by the department, to be used for any of the purposes specified in subdivision (a).

(B) Priority shall be given to eligible local educational agencies that did not receive funds for kitchen infrastructure or training pursuant to Section 12 of Chapter 744 of the Statutes of 2025.

(2) Free or Reduced-Price Meals Pupil Population Allocation Funding: additional funding, if available, shall be allocated to eligible local educational agencies serving high populations of pupils who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, as defined in Section 42238.01.

(3) Additional funding, if available, shall be provided based on the total number for National School Lunch Program meals served from a given time period, to be determined by the State Department of Education.

(c) (1) As a condition of receiving funding pursuant to this section, a local educational agency shall provide a progress report and final report to the department, to be made available to other state agencies upon request. The final report shall be submitted on or before June 30, 2031, and include both of the following, as applicable:

(A) How the local educational agency used the funding to improve the quality of school meals, including, but not limited to, eliminating food options containing processed foods, ultraprocessed foods of concern, and restricted school foods, lowering the sodium and sugar levels in meal options, and offering more freshly prepared meal options.

(B) How the local educational agency used the funding to increase capacity for freshly prepared onsite meals using minimally processed, locally grown, and sustainable food.

(2) The department may develop forms or designate existing forms that may be used by local educational agencies to comply with paragraph (1).

(3) To the extent practicable, the department shall allow local educational agencies that have previously received funding for kitchen infrastructure and training to consolidate grant reporting pursuant to this subdivision.

(d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Federal school meal program” means the federal National School Lunch Program, the federal School Breakfast Program, or the federal Seamless Summer Option.

(2) “Food service staff” means a person employed on a full-time or part-time basis as a classified school employee by a local educational agency.

(3) “Freshly prepared onsite meal” means food service in which the preparation of meals takes place on a daily basis at the site of consumption or in a central kitchen, using whole ingredients in their most basic, minimally processed form, or cooking with both fresh, raw, and whole ingredients and ready-made products.

(4) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school participating in the federal School Breakfast Program and the federal National School Lunch Program.

(5) “Nutritious” means, at minimum, foods that align with the federal and state standards for meals served through the federal National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program, and as further defined for purposes of Section 49531.

(6) “Restricted school foods” has the same meaning as defined in Section 104662 of the Health and Safety Code.

(7) “Ultraprocessed foods of concern” has the same meaning as defined in Section 104662 of the Health and Safety Code.

(e) (1) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) of the amount appropriated in subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

(2) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) of the amount appropriated in subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2026–27 fiscal year.

SEC. 21.

Section 52064.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:

52064.5.

(a) On or before October 1, 2016, the state board shall adopt evaluation rubrics for all of the following purposes:

(1) To assist a school district, county office of education, or charter school in evaluating its strengths, weaknesses, and areas that require improvement.

(2) To assist a county superintendent of schools, the department, or a chartering authority in identifying school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools in need of technical assistance pursuant to Section 52071, 52071.5, or 47607.3, as applicable, and the specific priorities upon which the technical assistance should be focused.

(3) To assist the Superintendent in identifying school districts and county offices of education for which intervention pursuant to Section 52072 or 52072.5, as applicable, is warranted.

(b) The evaluation rubrics shall reflect a holistic, multidimensional assessment of school district and individual schoolsite performance and shall include all of the state priorities described in subdivision (d) of Section 52060.

(c) As part of the evaluation rubrics, the state board shall adopt state and local indicators to measure school district and individual schoolsite performance in regard to each of the state priorities described in subdivision (d) of Section 52060. No later than January 31, 2021, local indicators shall reflect school-level data to the extent the department collects or otherwise has access to relevant and reliable school-level data for all schools statewide.

(d) The state board may adopt alternate methods for calculating the state and local indicators described in subdivision (c) for alternative schools, as described in subdivision (d) of Section 52052, if appropriate to more fairly evaluate the performance of these schools or of a specific category of these schools. Alternate methods may include an individual pupil growth model.

(e) (1) As part of the evaluation rubrics, the state board shall adopt standards for school district and individual schoolsite performance and expectations for improvement in regard to each of the state priorities described in subdivision (d) of Section 52060. The standards shall be based on the state and local indicators specified in subdivision (c).

(2) (A) No later than January 31, 2020, the standards for local indicators shall, at a minimum, ensure that the governing board of a school district, the county board of education, and the governing body of a charter school review any data to be publicly reported for the local indicators in conjunction with the adoption of a local control and accountability plan pursuant to Section 52062, 52068, or 47606.5, as applicable. No later than January 31, 2021, the standards for local indicators for which the department collects or otherwise has access to relevant and reliable school-level data for all schools statewide shall, to the extent practicable, be based on objective criteria, which may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the extent of any disparities across schoolsites within a school district or county office of education or performance relative to statewide data.

(B) If the governing board of a school district, the county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school is unable to review any data required pursuant to subparagraph (A) due to any of the events described in subdivision (a) of Section 46392, the local indicator data shall be reviewed at the next meeting of the governing board or body and a resolution shall be adopted and submitted to the department with the following information:

(i) A description of the emergency event.

(ii) The date on which the local indicator data was reviewed.

(f) (1) The department, in collaboration with, and subject to the approval of, the executive director of the state board, shall develop and maintain the California School Dashboard, a web-based system for publicly reporting performance data on the state and local indicators included in the evaluation rubrics.

(2) The public reporting of performance data on state and local indicators via the web-based system shall be completed on or before the following dates for the prior school year:

(A) December 15, 2023.

(B) December 1, 2024.

(D) October 15, 2026, and October 15 of each year thereafter.

(3) Timelines associated with the collection of data through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System pursuant to Section 60900 shall be adjusted to support the public reporting dates in paragraph (2).

(g) (1) As part of the evaluation rubrics, the state board shall adopt performance criteria for local educational agency assistance and intervention pursuant to Sections 47607.3, 52071, 52071.5, 52072, and 52072.5. The criteria shall be based on performance by pupil subgroups either across two or more of the state and local indicators specified in subdivision (c) or across two or more of the state priorities described in subdivision (d) of Section 52060 and subdivision (d) of Section 52066. The criteria may also be based on performance by an all pupils subgroup, comprised of at least 30 pupils at a local educational agency, in addition to the criteria based on performance by pupil subgroups.

(2) (A) No later than July 15, 2026, the state board shall update the performance criteria, taking into consideration the findings and recommendations from the state-funded evaluation of the state’s differentiated assistance system and its implementation, pursuant to Section 127 of Chapter 44 of the Statutes of 2021, as amended by Section 37 of Chapter 252 of the Statutes of 2021, and the need to appropriately focus resources and supports where the demonstrated needs are greatest.

(B) No later than May 15, 2029, the state board shall do all of the following:

(i) Provide recommendations to the Legislature regarding possible statutory changes to ensure the performance criteria for alternative schools, as described in subdivision (d), is based on methods of measuring performance that fairly evaluate the performance of local educational agencies serving alternative school pupil populations.

(ii) Provide recommendations to the Legislature regarding possible statutory changes to ensure the performance criteria for assistance and intervention pursuant to Sections 52072 and 52072.5 are based on factors that demonstrate the local educational agency is in need of intensive, extended support, and is not duplicative of performance criteria pursuant to Sections 47607.3, 52071, and 52071.5.

(iii) Update the performance criteria for local educational assistance and intervention pursuant to Sections 52072 and 52072.5, taking into consideration the impact of any updates to the performance criteria pursuant to Sections 47607.3, 52071, and 52071.5, and any relevant research conducted on differentiated assistance, direct technical assistance, and the statewide system of support.

(3) Beginning with the release of the 2026 California School Dashboard pursuant to subdivision (f), and every three years thereafter, the department shall determine local educational agency eligibility for assistance and intervention pursuant to Sections 47607.3, 52071, and 52071.5, according to the performance criteria adopted by the state board pursuant to paragraph (2).

(h) The department shall annually publish information on the following:

(1) All school districts and county offices of education identified for technical assistance pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 52071.1 and subdivision (a) of section 52071.51.

(2) All local educational agencies identified for prioritized support through universal assistance pursuant to Section 2575.35, as determined by using solely the most recent year of performance data on the state indicators and the performance criteria adopted by the state board pursuant to subdivision (g) for local educational agency assistance and intervention under Sections 47607.3, 52071, and 52071.5.

SEC. 22.

Section 52071 of the Education Code is amended to read:

52071.

(a) If the governing board of a school district requests technical assistance, the county superintendent of schools shall provide technical assistance consistent with subdivision (c). If a school district has not been identified for technical assistance pursuant to subdivision (c) or for state intervention pursuant to Section 52072, and if the service requested creates an unreasonable or untenable cost burden for the county superintendent of schools, the county superintendent of schools may assess the school district a fee not to exceed the cost of the service.

(b) If a county superintendent of schools does not approve a local control and accountability plan or annual update to the local control and accountability plan approved by a governing board of a school district, the county superintendent of schools shall provide technical assistance focused on revising the local control and accountability plan or annual update so that it can be approved.

(c) Beginning with the release of the 2026 California School Dashboard pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 52064.5, and upon determination by the department every three years thereafter, for any school district for which one or more pupil subgroups identified pursuant to Section 52052 meets the criteria established pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 52064.5, which may also include an all pupils subgroup as described in Section 52064.5, the county superintendent of schools shall provide technical assistance for a minimum of three years following the identification that shall be focused on building the school district’s capacity to develop and implement actions and services responsive to pupil and community needs, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(1) Assisting the school district to do each of the following:

(A) Identify its strengths and weaknesses in regard to the state priorities described in subdivision (d) of Section 52060. This shall include working collaboratively with the school district to review performance data on the state and local indicators included in the California School Dashboard authorized by subdivision (f) of Section 52064.5, including educator qualifications data and relevant local data to identify effective, evidence-based programs or practices that address any areas of weakness.

(B) Identify pupil subgroups that are low performing or experiencing significant disparities from other pupil subgroups as identified on the California School Dashboard. The county superintendent of schools may consult equity leads pursuant to Section 52073.5 to identify and implement effective programs and practices to improve the outcomes and opportunities for low-performing pupil subgroups or pupil subgroups experiencing significant disparities from other pupil subgroups.

(2) Working collaboratively with the school district to secure assistance from an academic, programmatic, or fiscal expert or team of experts to identify and implement effective programs and practices that are designed to improve performance in any areas of weakness identified by the school district. The county superintendent of schools, in consultation with the school district, may solicit another service provider, which may include, but is not limited to, a school district, county office of education, or charter school, to act as a partner to the school district in need of technical assistance.

(3) Obtaining from the school district timely documentation demonstrating that it has completed the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) or substantially similar activities, or has selected another service provider pursuant to subdivision (f) to work with the school district to complete the activities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), or substantially similar activities, and ongoing communication with the school district to assess the school district’s progress in improving pupil outcomes.

(4) Requesting that the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence provide advice and assistance to the school district, pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 52074.

(5) A review of the school district’s local control and accountability plan to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses in the identified goals, actions, and services, with a particular focus on those areas considered to be contributing toward meeting the increased or improved services requirement and all required goals.

(d) Upon request of a county superintendent of schools or a school district, a geographic lead agency identified pursuant to Section 52073 may provide technical assistance pursuant to subdivision (c). A geographic lead agency identified pursuant to Section 52073 may request that another geographic lead agency, an expert lead agency identified pursuant to Section 52073.1, a special education resource lead identified pursuant to Section 52073.2, or the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence provide the assistance described in this subdivision.

(e) A school district shall accept the technical assistance provided by the county superintendent of schools pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c). For purposes of accepting technical assistance provided by the county superintendent of schools pursuant to subdivision (c), a school district may satisfy this requirement by providing the timely documentation to, and maintaining regular communication with, the county superintendent of schools as specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c).

(f) For the 2025–26 fiscal year, any school district in which one or more pupil subgroups, identified pursuant to Section 52052, meets the criteria pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 52064.5, as that section read on January 1, 2026, for three or more consecutive years, the school district’s geographic lead agency, identified pursuant to Section 52073, shall, in collaboration with the county superintendent of schools, provide technical assistance to the school district pursuant to subdivision (c), as that subdivision read on January 1, 2026, for a minimum of two years. The geographic lead agency shall evaluate whether the assistance of one or more expert lead agencies should be consulted as part of the technical assistance process.

(g) This section shall not preclude a school district from soliciting technical assistance from entities other than its county superintendent of schools at its own cost.

(h) Notwithstanding any other law, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, for any school district in which one or more pupil subgroups, identified pursuant to Section 52052, meets the criteria established pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 52064.5, as that section read on January 1, 2026, as reported on the 2025 California School Dashboard pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 52064.5, the county superintendent of schools shall provide technical assistance pursuant to subdivision (c), as that subdivision read on January 1, 2026.

SEC. 23.

Section 52071.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:

52071.5.

(a) If the Superintendent does not approve a local control and accountability plan or annual update to the local control and accountability plan approved by a county board of education, or if the county board of education requests technical assistance, the Superintendent shall provide technical assistance focused on revising the local control and accountability plan or annual update so that it can be approved.

(b) Beginning with the release of the 2026 California School Dashboard pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 52064.5, and upon determination by the department every three years thereafter, for any county office of education for which one or more pupil subgroups identified pursuant to Section 52052 meets the criteria established pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 52064.5, which may also include an all pupils subgroup as described in Section 52064.5, the Superintendent shall provide technical assistance for a minimum of three years following the identification that shall be focused on building the county office of education’s capacity to develop and implement actions and services responsive to pupil and community needs, including, among other things, any of the following:

(1) Assisting the county office of education to do each of the following:

(A) Identify its strengths and weaknesses in regard to the state priorities described in subdivision (d) of Section 52066. This shall include working collaboratively with the county office of education to review performance data on the state and local indicators included in the California School Dashboard authorized by subdivision (f) of Section 52064.5, including educator qualifications data and relevant local data to identify effective, evidence-based programs or practices that address any areas of weakness.

(B) Identify pupil subgroups that are low performing or experiencing significant disparities from other pupil subgroups as identified on the California School Dashboard. The Superintendent may consult equity leads pursuant to Section 52073.5 to identify and implement effective programs and practices to improve the outcomes and opportunities for low-performing pupil subgroups or pupil subgroups experiencing significant disparities from other pupil subgroups.

(2) Working collaboratively with the county office of education to secure assistance from an academic expert or team of academic experts to identify and implement effective programs that are designed to improve performance in any areas of weakness identified by the county office of education. The Superintendent, in consultation with the county office of education, may solicit another service provider, which may include, but is not limited to, a school district, county office of education, or charter school, to act as a partner to the county office of education in need of technical assistance.

(3) Obtaining from the county office of education timely documentation demonstrating that it has completed the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2), or has selected another service provider to work with the county office of education to complete the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2), or substantially similar activities, and ongoing communication with the county office of education to assess the county office of education’s progress in improving pupil outcomes.

(4) Requesting that the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence provide advice and assistance to the county office of education pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 52074.

(5) A review of the county office of education’s local control and accountability plan to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses in the identified goals, actions, and services, with a particular focus on those areas considered to be contributing toward meeting the increased or improved services requirement and all required goals.

(c) Technical assistance provided pursuant to this section at the request of a county board of education shall be paid for by the county board of education receiving assistance.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, for any county office of education in which one or more pupil subgroups, identified pursuant to Section 52052, meets the criteria established pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 52064.5, as that section read on January 1, 2026, as reported on the 2025 California School Dashboard pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 52064.5, the Superintendent shall provide technical assistance pursuant to subdivision (b), as that subdivision read on January 1, 2026.

SEC. 24.

Section 53008.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:

53008.5.

(a) The sum of two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department for the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program, which is hereby established, in the manner and for the purposes set forth in this section. Funds appropriated for this purpose are available for encumbrance through June 30, 2031.

(b) (1) Of the amount appropriated in subdivision (a), two hundred twenty-five million ($225,000,000) shall be allocated by the department to local educational agencies for schools eligible pursuant to paragraph (2), to develop school literacy programs, employ and train literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists, and develop and implement interventions for pupils in need of targeted literacy support. Local educational agencies may opt not to participate in the program described pursuant to this subdivision by informing the department, by September 30, 2022, and via a form provided by the department, of their intent to decline program funds for their eligible schoolsites. Local educational agencies who receive funding pursuant to this section may also be eligible for the Reading and Literacy Supplementary Authorization Incentive Grant Program.

(2) Of the amount identified in paragraph (1), the department shall compute an amount per pupil enrolled in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 3, inclusive, at each eligible schoolsite, such that no local educational agency shall receive less than four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000) per eligible schoolsite. Grant amounts shall be determined using 2021–22 school enrollment data determined as of the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 Certification. Local educational agencies receiving an allocation of funds pursuant to this paragraph are encouraged to use these funds over the full grant period, through June 30, 2031. For purposes of allocations and apportionments under this paragraph, a locally funded charter school shall be included with the chartering authority.

(3) On or before June 30, 2024, and again on or before June 30, 2027, a recipient local educational agency shall submit an interim report to the department, and a final report on or before June 30, 2031, detailing how it used funds awarded pursuant to this subdivision. The department shall create a reporting template for the purposes of this requirement no later than December 31, 2022. Specifically, these reports shall include:

(A) How funds were used to employ literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists for its eligible schools.

(B) How funds were used to develop and implement school literacy programs.

(D) How the local educational agency plans to continue to fund literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists past the award period.

(E) Other metrics as determined by the department.

(4) On or before July 30, 2024, again on or before July 30, 2027, and again on or before July 30, 2031, the department shall provide the interim and final reports submitted by recipient local educational agencies to the grantee selected pursuant to subdivision (c) for an independent evaluation pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 53008.7.

(5) On or before December 31, 2025, again on or before December 31, 2028, and again on or before December 31, 2032, the department shall provide a comprehensive report to the Department of Finance, the state board, and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of both houses of the Legislature summarizing the data collected pursuant to paragraph (3) of this section and paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 53008.7.

(c) (1) Of the funds appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a), twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available for the department, in collaboration with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and subject to the approval of the executive director of the state board, to select a county office of education, through a competitive process, to develop and provide training for educators to become literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists. The department shall prioritize applicants with demonstrated success in improving literacy, especially among underperforming pupil subgroups, as well as for those planning on partnering with institutions of higher education with demonstrated success in providing statewide professional development for expert literacy practice. Applicants who participate in the training established pursuant to this subdivision may also participate in the Reading and Literacy Supplementary Authorization Incentive Grant Program.

(2) The grantee selected pursuant to paragraph (1) shall do all of the following:

(A) Consider the preparation program standards set by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for reading and literacy in developing the standards for educator training developed pursuant to this subdivision.

(B) Offer professional learning to educators at schoolsites funded pursuant to subdivision (b) and, as capacity allows, to other schoolsites.

(C) Provide funding for participating educators to pursue a Reading and Literacy Added Authorization, a Reading and Literacy Leadership Credential, a Bilingual Specialist Authorization, or any combination of those.

(3) Resources and training for literacy developed pursuant to this subdivision shall be coordinated with other state- and federally funded literacy initiatives to reduce duplication of effort and provide coordinated, streamlined access to literacy professional development and resources for educators and school leaders that are aligned with the curriculum framework for English Language Arts/English Language Development adopted by the state board pursuant to Section 60207, the English Learner Roadmap, the Literacy Roadmap, and the use of data to support effective instruction.

(d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Eligible schoolsite” means an elementary schoolsite operated by a local educational agency with an unduplicated pupil percentage of 97 percent or greater for pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive, based on 2021–22 Fall 1 census day pupil data submitted through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System. The unduplicated pupil percentage for a schoolsite shall be calculated by the sum of the number of unduplicated pupils eligible for free and reduced-price meals, English language learners, and youth in foster care, divided by each schoolsite’s total enrollment for kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive.

(2) “Employ” means that a local educational agency, to the extent feasible, will hire a new literacy coach, reading specialist, or both, train existing staff to become a literacy coach, or support existing staff in obtaining a reading specialist credential or authorization. Funds shall not be used to support the salaries of existing literacy coaches and reading specialists.

(3) “Local educational agency” means an elementary or unified school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(4) “School” and “schoolsite” means an elementary school of a local educational agency.

(5) “School literacy program” means a program that includes all of the following:

(A) A school literacy plan that includes goals and actions to improve literacy acquisition for pupils in preschool, if applicable, and kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 3, inclusive. The plan shall identify metrics to measure progress toward the goals and actions.

(B) At least one literacy coach or reading and literacy specialist per school to support educators and pupils in improving literacy instruction and pupil outcomes.

(C) Increased access to evidence-based literacy instruction, through strategies, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(i) Providing bilingual reading specialists to support dual language acquisition and English language development programs.

(ii) Developing and implementing culturally responsive curriculum and instruction.

(iii) Providing professional development for educators and school leaders in literacy instruction and the use of data to identify and support struggling pupils.

(iv) Providing professional development for educators and school leaders regarding implementation of the curriculum framework for English Language Arts/English Language Development adopted by the state board pursuant to Section 60207 and the use of data to support effective instruction.

(v) Establishing an evidence-based family literacy initiative, which may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(I) Family literacy plans that identify literacy and biliteracy goals, benchmarks, and roles for all family members.

(II) Family literacy home visiting programs, including, but not limited to, “promotora” family literacy outreach specialists. Local educational agencies may establish literacy and biliteracy home visits to engage families in how to best support their pupils and every family member in reaching their literacy goals.

(III) Extended-day, summer, or weekend family institutes related to literacy and biliteracy. Local educational agencies are encouraged to work with in-house expanded learning programs to establish literacy and biliteracy support programs and literacy enrichment programs during after school, weekend, and summer hours.

(IV) Public library family literacy partnerships, including, but not limited to, digital tools to support whole family literacy.

(e) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2020–21 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2020–21 fiscal year.

SEC. 25.

Section 53008.7 of the Education Code is amended to read:

53008.7.

(a) The sum of two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department to augment the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program established pursuant to Section 53008.5. Funds appropriated for this purpose are available for encumbrance through June 30, 2031.

(b) (1) Of the amount appropriated in subdivision (a), two hundred forty-eight million dollars ($248,000,000) shall be allocated by the department to local educational agencies for schools eligible pursuant to paragraph (2), to develop school literacy programs, employ and train literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists, and develop and implement interventions for pupils in need of targeted literacy support. Local educational agencies may opt not to participate in the program described pursuant to this subdivision by informing the department, by September 30, 2023, and via a form provided by the department, of their intent to decline program funds for their eligible schoolsites. Local educational agencies who receive funding pursuant to this section may also be eligible for the Reading and Literacy Supplementary Authorization Incentive Grant Program.

(2) Of the amount identified in paragraph (1), the department shall compute an amount per pupil enrolled in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 3, inclusive, at each eligible schoolsite, in a manner that also ensures that no local educational agency shall receive less than four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000) per eligible schoolsite. Grant amounts shall be determined using 2022–23 school enrollment data determined as of the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 Certification. Local educational agencies receiving an allocation of funds pursuant to this paragraph are encouraged to use these funds over the full grant period, through June 30, 2031. For purposes of allocations and apportionments under this paragraph, a locally funded charter school shall be included with the chartering authority.

(3) On or before June 30, 2025, and again on or before June 30, 2028, a recipient local educational agency receiving funds pursuant to this section shall submit an interim report to the department, and a final report on or before June 30, 2031, detailing how it used funds awarded pursuant to this subdivision. The department shall use the existing reporting template described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 53008.5 for the purposes of this requirement. Specifically, these reports shall include all of the following:

(A) How funds were used to employ literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists for its eligible schools.

(B) How funds were used to develop and implement school literacy programs.

(D) How the local educational agency plans to continue to fund literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists beyond the award period.

(E) Other metrics as determined by the department.

(4) On or before July 30, 2025, again on or before July 30, 2028, and again on or before July 30, 2032, the department shall provide the interim and final reports submitted by recipient local educational agencies to the grantee selected pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 53008.5 for the independent evaluation pursuant to subdivision (c) of this section.

(5) On or before December 31, 2025, again on or before December 31, 2028, and again on or before December 31, 2032, the department shall provide a comprehensive report to the Department of Finance, the state board, and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of both houses of the Legislature summarizing the data collected pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subdivision and paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 53008.5.

(c) (1) Of the funds appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a), two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be available to the grantee selected pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 53008.5 to provide additional training for educators to become literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists, consistent with the training developed for the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant program pursuant to Section 53008.5 and to contract for an independent evaluation pursuant to paragraph (4).

(2) The grantee selected pursuant to paragraph (1) shall do all of the following:

(B) Offer professional learning to educators at schoolsites funded pursuant to subdivision (b) and, as capacity allows, to other schoolsites.

(4) The grantee selected pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 53008.5 shall, in consultation with, and subject to the approval of, the executive director of the state board and the department, issue a request for proposals and contract for an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the funding provided pursuant to this section, as well as the funding appropriated pursuant to Section 53008.5. The grantee shall use up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) of the funding appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for the independent evaluation.

(5) The evaluation conducted pursuant to paragraph (4) shall include an examination of the following:

(A) Data collected from recipient local educational agencies pursuant to subdivision (b) of this section and subdivision (b) of Section 53008.5, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(i) How funds were used to employ literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists.

(ii) How funds were used to develop and implement school literacy programs.

(iii) How expenditures impacted pupils’ literacy achievement, including for pupil subgroups.

(iv) How the local educational agencies plan to continue to fund literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists beyond the award period.

(B) How the trainings developed and provided by the grantee selected pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 53008.5 impacted the training of literacy coaches and literacy and reading specialists.

(6) On or before December 31, 2032, the grantee selected pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 53008.5 shall provide the evaluation report to the chairs of the relevant policy committees and budget subcommittees of the Legislature, the executive director of the state board or their designee, the department, and the Director of Finance.

(d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Eligible schoolsite” means an elementary schoolsite operated by a local educational agency with an unduplicated pupil percentage of 95 percent or greater for pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive, based on 2022–23 Fall 1 census day pupil data submitted through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System that did not receive funding pursuant to Section 53008.5. The unduplicated pupil percentage for a schoolsite shall be calculated by the sum of the number of unduplicated pupils eligible for free and reduced-price meals, English language learners, and youth in foster care, divided by each schoolsite’s total enrollment for kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive.

(2) “Local educational agency” means an elementary or unified school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(3) “School” and “schoolsite” means an elementary school of a local educational agency.

(4) “School literacy program” means a program that includes all of the following:

(B) At least one literacy coach or reading and literacy specialist per school to support educators and pupils in improving literacy instruction and pupil outcomes.

(C) Increased access to evidence-based literacy instruction through strategies, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(i) Providing bilingual reading specialists to support dual language acquisition and English language development programs.

(ii) Developing and implementing culturally responsive curriculum and instruction.

(iii) Providing professional development for educators and school leaders in literacy instruction and the use of data to identify and support struggling pupils.

(iv) Providing professional development for educators and school leaders regarding implementation of the curriculum framework for English language arts and English language development adopted by the state board pursuant to Section 60207 and the use of data to support effective instruction.

(v) Establishing an evidence-based family literacy initiative, which may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(I) Family literacy plans that identify literacy and biliteracy goals, benchmarks, and roles for all family members.

(IV) Public library family literacy partnerships, including, but not limited to, digital tools to support whole family literacy.

(e) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2021–22 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2021–22 fiscal year.

SEC. 26.

Section 53009 of the Education Code is amended to read:

53009.

(a) The sum of two hundred fifteen million dollars ($215,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department to augment the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program established in Sections 53008.5 and 53008.7. Funds appropriated for this purpose are available for encumbrance through June 30, 2031.

(b) (1) Of the amount appropriated in subdivision (a), two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be allocated by the department to local educational agencies for eligible schoolsites to develop school literacy programs, including dual language immersion and other programs for multilingual learners, employ and develop literacy coaches and specialists, and develop and implement interventions for pupils in need of targeted literacy support, including English learners. A local educational agency may opt not to participate in the program pursuant to this subdivision by informing the department, by September 30, 2025, using a form provided by the department, of the local educational agency’s intent to decline program funds for their eligible schoolsites and the local educational agency. A local educational agency that receives funding pursuant to this section may also be eligible for the Reading and Literacy Supplementary Authorization Incentive Grant Program.

(2) The department shall allocate funding under paragraph (1) based on an amount per pupil enrolled in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 3, inclusive, at each eligible schoolsite, except that no local educational agency shall receive less than four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000) per eligible schoolsite. Grant amounts shall be determined using 2024–25 school enrollment data determined as of the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 Certification. For purposes of allocations and apportionments under this paragraph, a locally funded charter school shall be included with the chartering authority.

(3) A local educational agency receiving grant funding pursuant to this subdivision is encouraged to use these funds over the full grant period, through June 30, 2031.

(4) On or before June 30, 2027, and June 30, 2031, respectively, a recipient local educational agency shall submit an interim and final report to the department detailing how it used funds awarded pursuant to this subdivision using a reporting template developed by the department for the purposes of this requirement. Specifically for literacy, the report shall include all of the following:

(A) How funds were used to employ literacy coaches and specialists for its eligible schoolsites.

(B) How funds were used to develop, improve, and expand upon school literacy programs, including English Language Development and dual language immersion programs, and other programs for multilingual learners.

(D) How the local educational agency plans to continue to fund literacy coaches and reading and literacy and bilingual specialists past the award period.

(E) Other metrics as determined by the department.

(5) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions apply:

(A) “Eligible schoolsite” means a schoolsite with an unduplicated pupil percentage of 94 percent or greater for pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive, based on 2024–25 Fall 1 census day pupil data submitted through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System that did not receive funding pursuant to Section 53008.5 or 53008.7. The unduplicated pupil percentage for a schoolsite shall be calculated by dividing the sum of the number of unduplicated pupils, as defined in Section 42238.02, by each schoolsite’s total enrollment for kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive.

(B) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(i) A school literacy plan that includes goals and actions to improve literacy acquisition for all pupils, including those needing targeted literacy support, in preschool, if applicable, and kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 3, inclusive. The plan shall identify metrics to measure progress towards the goals and actions.

(ii) At least one literacy coach or specialist per schoolsite to support educators and pupils in improving literacy instruction and pupil outcomes. The literacy coach or specialist may serve educators and pupils schoolwide, beyond grade 3.

(iii) Increased access to evidence-based literacy instruction, through strategies, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(I) Providing professional learning for educators and school leaders regarding implementation of the curriculum framework for English Language Arts/English Language Development adopted by the state board pursuant to Section 60207, the English Learner Roadmap, the Literacy Roadmap, and the use of data to support effective instruction. This may include supporting educators in obtaining Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credentials, Reading and Literacy Added Authorizations, and Bilingual Specialist Authorizations.

(II) Providing English language development and bilingual education specialists to support language development for multilingual learners.

(III) Providing professional development for educators and school leaders in literacy instruction and the use of data to identify and support struggling pupils.

(IV) Establishing an evidence-based family literacy initiative, which may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(ia) Family literacy plans that identify literacy and biliteracy goals, benchmarks, and roles for all family members.

(ib) Family literacy home visiting programs, including, but not limited to, “promotora” family literacy outreach specialists. A local educational agency may establish literacy and biliteracy home visits to engage families in how to best support their pupils and every family member in reaching their literacy goals.

(ic) Extended-day, summer, or weekend family institutes related to literacy and biliteracy. A local educational agency shall be encouraged to work with in-house expanded learning programs to establish literacy and biliteracy support programs and literacy enrichment programs during after school, weekend, and summer hours.

(id) Public library family literacy partnerships, including, but not limited to, digital tools to support whole family literacy.

(D) “Schoolsite” means an elementary school operated by a local educational agency.

(c) (1) Of the amount appropriated in subdivision (a), fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available for the department, subject to the approval of the executive director of the state board, to select a county office of education or a consortium of county offices of education with expertise in both literacy instruction and multilingual education, through a competitive process, to provide training for educators to become literacy coaches and provide credentialing opportunities for educators to become reading and literacy and bilingual specialists, working with professional development providers, including, but not limited to, the California Reading and Literature Project, the California Writing Project, and other experts specializing in multilingual education. The department shall prioritize applicants with demonstrated success in improving literacy instruction and outcomes through dual language immersion and other programs for multilingual learners, through professional development based on the English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework adopted by the state board pursuant to Section 60207, the English Learner Roadmap adopted by the state board, and the Literacy Roadmap, especially for English learners and other high-need pupil groups and for those planning on partnering with institutions of higher education with demonstrated success in providing statewide professional development for expert literacy practice for multilingual learners.

(2) The selected county office of education or a consortium of county offices of education shall do all of the following:

(B) Offer professional learning to educators at schoolsites funded pursuant to subdivision (b) and, as capacity allows, to other schoolsites.

(4) Of the amount made available to the department pursuant to paragraph (1), one million dollars ($1,000,000) shall be available to the selected county office of education or consortium of county offices of education to contract for an independent evaluation of their training and dissemination of literacy coaches and specialists under this chapter.

(5) On or before July 30, 2028, and again on or before July 30, 2031, the department shall provide the interim and final reports submitted by recipient local educational agencies to the grantee selected pursuant to paragraph (1) for an independent evaluation pursuant to paragraph (4).

(6) On or before December 31, 2028, and again on or before December 31, 2032, the department shall provide a comprehensive report to the Department of Finance, the state board, and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of both houses of the Legislature summarizing the data collected pursuant to this section.

(d) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the amount appropriated from the General Fund in subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2024–25 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2024–25 fiscal year.

SEC. 27.

Section 53009.1 of the Education Code is amended to read:

53009.1.

(a) (1) The sum of three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the department to augment the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program established in Sections 53008.5, 53008.7, and 53009. Funds appropriated for this purpose are available for encumbrance through June 30, 2031.

(2) Of the amount appropriated in paragraph (1), one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be allocated by the department to local educational agencies to supplement existing recipient funding pursuant to Section 53008.5 to extend the Literacy Coach and Reading Specialists Grant Program through June 30, 2031. For purposes of this paragraph, the definitions in subdivision (d) of Section 53008.5 shall apply.

(3) Of the amount appropriated in paragraph (1), one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be allocated by the department to local educational agencies to supplement existing recipient funding pursuant to Section 53008.7 to extend the Literacy Coach and Reading Specialists Grant Program through June 30, 2031. For purposes of this paragraph, the definitions in subdivision (d) of Section 53008.7 shall apply.

(4) Of the amount appropriated in paragraph (1), one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be allocated by the department to local educational agencies to supplement existing recipient funding pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 53009, to extend the Literacy Coach and Reading Specialists Grant Program through June 30, 2031. For purposes of this paragraph, the definitions in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 53009 shall apply.

(b) (1) Funds appropriated pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be used to develop and sustain school literacy programs, including English language development and dual language immersion programs, and other programs for multilingual learners.

(2) A local educational agency may opt not to participate in the grant extension pursuant to this section by informing the department, by September 30, 2026, using a form provided by the department, of the local educational agency’s intent to decline additional program funds for their eligible schoolsites and the local educational agency.

(A) A schoolsite that was awarded funding pursuant to Section 53008.5, 53008.7, or 53009 that has ceased operation by July 1, 2026, shall not be awarded additional funding under this section.

(B) A local educational agency that receives funding pursuant to this or other programs for multilingual learners, employs and develops literacy coaches and specialists, and develops and implements interventions for pupils in need of targeted literacy support may also be eligible for the Reading and Literacy Supplementary Authorization Incentive Grant Program.

(3) The department shall allocate funding under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subdivision (a) proportionate to the grant amounts received by local educational agencies for each eligible schoolsite pursuant to Sections 53008.5, 53008.7, and 53009. For purposes of allocations and apportionments under this paragraph, a locally funded charter school shall be included with the chartering authority.

(4) A local educational agency receiving grant funding pursuant to subdivision (a) is encouraged to use these funds over the full grant period, through June 30, 2031.

(5) On or before June 30, 2031, a recipient local educational agency shall submit a report to the department detailing how it used funds awarded pursuant to subdivision (a) using a reporting template developed by the department for the purposes of this requirement. The report shall include all of the following:

(A) How funds were further used to employ literacy coaches and specialists for recipient schoolsites.

(B) How funds were used to develop, improve, and expand upon school literacy programs, including comprehensive English language development and dual language immersion programs, and other programs for multilingual learners.

(C) How expenditures impacted pupils’ literacy and biliteracy achievement, including achievement of high need pupil groups.

(D) How the local educational agency plans to continue to fund literacy coaches and reading and literacy and bilingual specialists past the award period.

(E) Other metrics as determined by the department.

(c) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

SEC. 28.

Section 53025 of the Education Code is amended to read:

53025.

(a) The Superintendent, in consultation with the executive director of the state board, shall award grants on a competitive basis to grant recipients for the following:

(1) Consortium development and planning grants to support collaborative planning between a grant recipient and their program partners in the development of high-quality college and career pathways opportunities that are consistent with the requirements of this chapter. Of the amounts appropriated to support the Golden State Pathways Program, the Superintendent may use up to 10 percent of the funds for consortium development and planning grants.

(2) Implementation grants to support a grant recipient’s ability to offer participating pupils high-quality college and career pathways opportunities consistent with the requirements of this chapter. Of the amounts appropriated to support the Golden State Pathways Program, the Superintendent shall use not less than 85 percent of the funds for implementation grants.

(b) (1) Of the amounts appropriated to support the Golden State Pathways Program, the Superintendent may use up to 5 percent of the appropriation to contract, in consultation with the executive director of the state board, with up to 10 local educational agencies for the provision of technical assistance to local educational agencies, applicants, and grant recipients that is aligned to technical assistance provided for other College and career readiness initiatives, including, but not limited to, those established pursuant to this chapter and the California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant Program pursuant to Chapter 16.5 (commencing with Section 53070). Of these technical assistance grantees, one local educational agency with demonstrated expertise in the design and implementation of college and career pathways will act as the lead technical assistance grantee and work with the department to provide leadership and direction for the other technical assistance grantees, who will provide technical assistance to different regions in the state.

(2) To be eligible for the contract pursuant to paragraph (1), the local educational agency shall commit to all of the following:

(A) Assisting local educational agencies in the continuous improvement of their Golden State Pathways Programs.

(B) Leveraging evidence-based program frameworks, such as linked learning framework and quality standards, to provide assistance to grantees.

(C) Providing prospective applicants and grantees with feedback regarding the development of their planned application, implementation, and continuous improvement of their Golden State Pathways Program and other career technical education programs, courses, and pathways that have been integrated with, or that have been aligned with, a local educational agency’s Golden State Pathways Program.

(D) Creating a community of practice network that enables grantees to share best practices with other grantees and other interested local educational agencies.

(E) Assisting grant recipients with the collection and reporting of required data pursuant to this chapter.

(3) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Superintendent identify and contract with a local educational agency to provide technical assistance consistent with the requirements of paragraph (2) not less than three months prior to grant applications being due to the Superintendent.

(4) The Superintendent, in consultation with the executive director of the state board, shall contract with an independent entity to evaluate the program’s effectiveness in meeting the goals described in Section 53021. This evaluation shall be completed no sooner than June 30, 2027, and no later than June 30, 2030.

(5) Any funds used by the Superintendent for purposes of paragraph (1) shall be available for encumbrance and expenditure until June 30, 2029.

(6) On or before June 30, 2028, the department shall report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the Department of Finance, and the Governor on the process for awarding grants, the name of each grant recipient, the amount awarded to each grant recipient, and the activities provided with grant funds.

(c) In determining the grant amounts for an implementation grant and for a consortium development and planning grant, the Superintendent, in consultation with the executive director of the state board, shall consider all of the following:

(1) The number of pupils enrolled by the applicant.

(2) The number of pathways programs proposed to be established or expanded by the applicant and the number of schoolsites that would participate in the pathways program.

(3) The estimated number of pupils that would be enrolled in the applicant’s pathways programs.

(4) The number of entities collaborating with the applicant to achieve the goal outlined in subdivision (a) of Section 53021.

(d) An applicant seeking a grant under this chapter shall submit an application to the Superintendent at a time, in a manner, and with any appropriate information, as the Superintendent may reasonably require. Each grant application submitted shall include all of the following:

(1) A description and documentation of how the applicant will collaborate with their local or regional interest holders to develop or offer high-quality college and career pathways opportunities consistent with the requirements of this chapter.

(2) A description of all of the educational, career, or support services to be provided at the schoolsite, a partnering college or university site, virtually, or at the locations where eligible work-based learning would occur.

(3) A description regarding how the applicant’s Golden State Pathways Program would support the needs of the applicant’s underrepresented pupils.

(4) A description of all direct and indirect resources, and partner entities that will support the applicant’s development or implementation of high-quality college and career pathways opportunities consistent with the requirements of this chapter.

(5) A description of the applicant’s current and future efforts to sustain the ongoing operation of their Golden State Pathways Program beyond the life of their grant. Additionally, if applicants participate in the California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant Program established pursuant to Section 53070, the K–12 component of the Strong Workforce Program, or any other state college and career programs, they are encouraged to describe how they will create cohesion between those programs and college and career pathways developed or offered under the Golden State Pathways Program.

(6) Provisions for data collection and recordkeeping necessary to comply with the requirements of subdivision (c) of Section 53024 and to verify that the grant funds were expended to develop or implement high-quality college and career pathways opportunities consistent with the requirements of this chapter.

(e) (1) An applicant seeking a grant under this chapter may request both a planning and implementation grant.

(2) An applicant that is seeking both a planning and implementation grant shall submit, and receive approval of, a supplemental report to the Superintendent detailing the implementation plan developed using the resources received from their planning grant, before expending their implementation grant resources.

(f) In awarding grants pursuant to this chapter, the Superintendent shall prioritize applications submitted by a high-priority local educational agency that seeks to establish pathways programs in the following areas:

(1) Education, including early education and child development.

(2) Computer science.

(3) Health care.

(4) Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pathways that also focus on climate resilience.

SEC. 29.

Section 54451 of the Education Code is amended to read:

54451.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the sum of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, for the California’s New Americans in Schools (CalNAS) program, which is hereby established, to provide services for newcomer pupils, English learners, and immigrant families. This funding shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2032.

(b) Funds allocated under this section shall be used to plan, design, and implement academic and social support services for the purpose of improving newcomer pupils’ educational outcomes and well-being. Allowable uses for funds allocated under this section include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Professional development and resources for staff designed to effectively support newcomer pupils and immigrant families.

(2) Academic supports, including, but not limited to, specialized academic and English language development instruction and programming and college and career counseling, including on the exercise of newcomer pupil rights under Sections 51225.1 and 51225.2.

(3) Social support services, including, but not limited to, family engagement, connection to community resources, extracurricular programs, transportation, and pupil leadership.

(4) Contracting with immigration legal services providers to support outreach or immigration-related legal and other support services to pupils and families pursuant to Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 13300) of Part 3 Division 9 of the Welfare Institutions Code.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Department of Education shall award grants on a competitive basis to local educational agencies for purposes of this section. The department, in consultation with the executive director of the state board, may further refine the allocation formula of the grants to ensure the funds are allocated to the intended targeted population. Award amounts shall be prioritized based on the following factors:

(1) The percentage of newcomer pupils in a local educational agency for the previous five years, using data on newcomer pupils currently collected pursuant to federal law.

(2) The percentage of pupils, defined as socioeconomically disadvantaged in Section 42238.024, that the local educational agency serves, with local educational agencies serving the highest percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged pupils being prioritized first.

(d) Of the amount appropriated in subdivision (a), ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available to the State Department of Education to competitively award a grant to a local educational agency, or a consortium of local educational agencies, to serve as a statewide technical assistance center and provide technical assistance for the CalNAS program, including all of the following:

(1) Providing technical assistance to establish newcomer pupil support programs for grantees, including resources for planning and implementation, such as program models, best practices, and resources for implementing academic, social, and legal supports.

(2) Professional development opportunities for school employees in addressing the needs of newcomer pupil and immigrant family populations, including antibias education and training, specialized academic and English language development instruction, social supports, and other supports as needed.

(3) Statewide and regional convenings and resource sharing opportunities for grantees to share successful strategies in serving newcomer pupils and immigrant families.

(e) The statewide technical assistance center, as established in subdivision (d), shall submit a biannual report to the State Department of Education, the Department of Finance, the State Department of Social Services, and the appropriate legislative fiscal and policy committees by no later than January 20, 2033. This report shall include success strategies in serving newcomer pupils and immigrant families, academic outcomes of the pupils that the grantees served, and services provided using the funds.

(f) The statewide technical assistance center, subject to the approval and oversight of the State Department of Education, may subcontract with qualified nonprofit entities to support implementation of the services described in this section. The statewide technical assistance center may use no more than 10 percent of its allocation for this purpose.

(g) The State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Education, and local educational agencies shall ensure that any data collected or reported pursuant to this section, including any data collected by a community based organization, complies with Section 234.7, as well as any other restrictions, prohibitions, or other requirements of state or federal law regarding the confidentiality of pupil and family information.

(h) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Immigrant families” means families with household members and immediate relatives of pupils in which one or more of the members or relatives are not United States citizens.

(2) “Local educational agency” means a county office of education, school district, or charter school.

(3) “Newcomer pupil” has the same definition as “immigrant children and youth,” as defined in Section 7011(5) of Title 20 of the United States Code.

(i) In accordance with Section 1621(d) of Title 8 of the United States Code, this section provides services for undocumented persons.

(j) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriations made by subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

SEC. 30.

Section 54680 of the Education Code is amended to read:

54680.

(a) The Dream Resource Center Grant Program is hereby established with the goal of creating Dream Resource Centers at schoolsites that serve pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive.

(b) The purpose of a Dream Resource Center is to provide pupils, including undocumented pupils, in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, with resources that include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Financial aid support.

(2) Social services support.

(3) State-funded immigration legal services.

(4) Academic opportunities.

(5) Parent and family workshops.

(c) For purposes of this article, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(d) In accordance with Section 1621(d) of Title 8 of the United States Code, this section provides services for undocumented persons.

SEC. 31.

Section 54682 of the Education Code is amended to read:

54682.

(a) The department shall perform all of the following functions in the administration of the Dream Resource Center Grant Program:

(1) Review applications and award grants based off of a tiered point system that prioritizes applications for funding as follows:

(A) Local educational agencies that are applying for funds for multiple schoolsites shall be given additional points.

(B) Local educational agencies in underserved areas, including those in rural areas, shall be given additional points to ensure local educational agencies across the state are given fair opportunities for funding.

(D) Local educational agencies that serve a large percentage of pupils who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, as defined in Section 42238.01, shall be given additional points.

(E) Local educational agencies that serve a large percentage of newcomer pupils, as defined in Section 54450, as determined by the previous five years of newcomer pupil enrollment using data on newcomer pupils currently collected pursuant to federal law, shall be given additional points.

(F) Award no more than 5 percent of the total funding to supplementing the funding of existing Dream Resource Centers.

(2) Identify data to be collected by grant recipients.

(3) Identify how the department will collect data reported by grant recipients.

(b) The department and local educational agencies shall ensure that any data collected or reported pursuant to this program, including any data collected by community-based organizations or institutions of higher education pursuant to Section 54683, complies with Section 234.7, as well as any other restrictions, prohibitions, or other requirements of state or federal law regarding the confidentiality of pupil and family information.

SEC. 32.

Section 54683 of the Education Code is amended to read:

54683.

(a) A grant recipient shall use the grant for either or both of the following purposes:

(1) (A) To create a Dream Resource Center that provides pupils with the resources identified pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 54680.

(B) Schoolsites may choose to have the Dream Resource Center solely supported by the schoolsite or can choose to have the Dream Resource Center be supported through memorandums of understanding between the schoolsite and community-based organizations or institutions of higher education.

(2) To supplement, but not supplant, funding for an existing Dream Resource Center that provides pupils with the resources identified pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 54680.

(b) At the conclusion of the grant term, grant recipients shall provide a final report to the department containing both of the following:

(1) Data collected pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 54682.

(2) Successes, best practices, barriers or constraints, outcomes, and other components specified by the department.

SEC. 33.

Section 69617 of the Education Code is amended to read:

69617.

(a) (1) (A) Subject to moneys appropriated by the Legislature for purposes of this section, the commission shall administer the Golden State Teacher Grant Program. Under the program, the commission shall provide one-time grant funds of up to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) to each student enrolled, or who has applied for enrollment, between January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2024, inclusive, in a professional preparation program leading to a preliminary teaching credential or a pupil personnel services credential, at either a qualifying institution, as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 69432.7, or a professional preparation program approved by the Commission on Teaching Credentialing that has a main campus location or administrative entity that resides in California, including professional preparation programs operated by local educational agencies in California, if the student commits to working at a priority school or a California preschool program for four years within the eight years following the date the student completes the professional preparation program.

(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), for applications received under the program beginning on July 1, 2024, the commission shall provide reduced one-time grant funds of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to each student enrolled, or who has applied for enrollment, on or after July 1, 2024, in a professional preparation program leading to a preliminary teaching credential in a high-need field or a pupil personnel services credential, at either a qualifying institution, as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 69432.7, or a professional preparation program approved by the Commission on Teaching Credentialing that has a main campus location or administrative entity that resides in California, including professional preparation programs operated by local educational agencies in California, except teacher intern credential program participants, if the student commits to working at a priority school or a California preschool program for two years within the four years following the date the student completes the professional preparation program.

(C) (i) Beginning on July 1, 2026, for applications received under the program and funded through local assistance support from federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funds, the commission shall provide one-time grants of up to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) to each student enrolled, or who has applied for enrollment, on or after July 1, 2026, in a professional preparation program leading to a preliminary special education credential, at either a qualifying institution, as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 69432.7, or a professional preparation program approved by the Commission on Teaching Credentialing that has a main campus location or administrative entity that resides in California, including professional preparation programs operated by local educational agencies in California, except teacher intern credential program participants, if the student commits to working at a priority school or a California preschool program for four years within the eight years following the date the student completes the professional preparation program.

(ii) The commission may, upon approval from the Department of Finance, use moneys from the General Fund to provide grants prescribed by clause (i) in the event that federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funds transfers to the commission are delayed. Once federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funds are received, the commission shall reimburse the General Fund moneys used pursuant to this clause on a quarterly basis within the same fiscal year.

(2) (A) Under the program, the commission shall provide one-time grant funds of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to each California resident student enrolled, or who has applied for enrollment, between January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2024, inclusive, in a professional preparation program leading to a preliminary teaching credential in a high-need field or pupil personnel services credential at a qualified institution, as determined by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing pursuant to Section 69617.5, if the student commits to working at a priority school or a California preschool program for four years within the eight years following the date the student completes the professional preparation program.

(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), for applications received beginning on July 1, 2024, under the program, the commission shall provide reduced one-time grant funds of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) to each student eligible for a grant pursuant to subparagraph (A), except teacher intern credential program participants, if the student commits to working at a priority school or a California preschool program for two years within the four years following the date the student completes the professional preparation program.

(C) (i) Beginning on July 1, 2026, for applications received under the program and funded through local assistance support from federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funds, the commission shall provide one-time grants of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to each student enrolled, or who has applied for enrollment, on or after July 1, 2026, in a professional preparation program leading to a preliminary special education credential at a qualified institution, as determined by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing pursuant to Section 69617.5, except teacher intern credential program participants, if the student commits to working at a priority school or a California preschool program for four years within the eight years following the date the student completes the professional preparation program.

(D) Of the funds appropriated in support of the program, no more than 8 percent of the total funding may be allocated for the purpose of awards provided pursuant to this paragraph.

(3) (A) Funds appropriated for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program in the Budget Act of 2020 and the Budget Act of 2021 shall be available for encumbrance or expenditure by the commission until June 30, 2026.

(B) Funds appropriated for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program in the Budget Act of 2025 and the Budget Act of 2026 shall be available for encumbrance or expenditure by the commission until June 30, 2029.

(C) For applications submitted to the commission in the 2023–24 fiscal year, the commission shall issue no more than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) in grants pursuant to this section.

(4) Grant funds shall be used to supplement and not supplant other sources of grant financial aid, and may be disbursed in more than one academic year, provided that the total amount of funds granted to an applicant does not exceed the applicable amount specified in this section.

(b) The one-time grant funds issued pursuant to this section shall not exceed the amount appropriated for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program in the Budget Act of 2020 and the Budget Act of 2021.

(c) Commencing July 1, 2024, the commission shall prioritize awards to eligible applicants with the lowest income and asset levels at the time of application. Income and asset levels shall be calculated using the same methodology set forth for the Student Aid Index.

(d) (1) A grant recipient shall agree to serve at a priority school or a California preschool program for two or four years, as applicable, and shall have four or eight years, as applicable, upon completion of the recipient’s professional preparation program, to meet that obligation. Except as provided in paragraph (4), a grant recipient shall agree to repay the state 50 or 25 percent, as applicable, of the total received grant funds annually, up to full repayment of the received grant funds, for each year the recipient fails to do one or more of the following:

(A) Be enrolled in or have successfully completed a professional preparation program approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

(B) While enrolled in the professional preparation program, maintain good academic standing.

(C) Before or upon completion of the professional preparation program, complete a baccalaureate degree program from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

(D) Complete the required teaching service or clinical practice following completion of the recipient’s professional preparation program.

(E) Complete their teacher preparation program and earn a preliminary credential within six years after the first distribution of grant funds.

(2) Nonperformance of the commitment to serve at a priority school or a California preschool program for the applicable two or four years shall be certified by the commission.

(3) Nonperformance of the commitment to earn a preliminary teaching credential, pupil personnel services credential, or preliminary special education credential shall be certified by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to the Student Aid Commission.

(4) Any exceptions to the requirement for repayment shall be defined by the commission, and may include, but shall not be limited to, counting a school year towards the required applicable service requirement at a priority school or a California preschool program if a grant recipient is unable to complete the school year when any of the following occur:

(A) The grant recipient has completed at least one-half of the school year or preschool program year, as applicable.

(B) The employer deems the grant recipient to have fulfilled the grant recipient’s contractual requirements for the school year or preschool program year, as applicable, for purposes of salary increases, probationary or permanent status, and retirement.

(C) The grant recipient was not able to serve due to the financial circumstances of the school district, including a decision to not reelect the employee for the next succeeding school year.

(D) The grant recipient has a condition covered under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 2601 et seq.) or similar state law.

(E) The grant recipient was called or ordered to active duty status for more than 30 days as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(e) The commission shall develop a process by which students interested in a professional preparation program leading to a preliminary teaching credential or a pupil personnel services credential may submit a request for a preenrollment conditional award notice from the commission. The notice shall provide information regarding the Golden State Teacher Grant Program award amount the student may be eligible to receive upon enrollment in the professional preparation program and formal application to the commission to participate in the Golden State Teacher Grant Program.

(f) (1) A “priority school” means a school with 55 percent or more of its pupils being unduplicated pupils, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 42238.02.

(2) A “high-need field” means a field designated as a having the most significant shortages by the commission and may include any of the following:

(A) Credentials issued in conjunction with a bilingual or computer science authorization.

(B) Mathematics, science, or technology credentials.

(3) The commission, in coordination with the State Department of Education, shall publish a list of priority schools by April 15 of each year.

(4) For purposes of satisfying the service requirement, a grant recipient may use service at a school listed on the most recent list of priority schools published by the commission that is available when the grant recipient seeks employment at a priority school. Further service at that school shall continue to satisfy the applicable service requirement, even if the school is no longer included on future priority school lists.

(g) (1) The commission may adopt regulations, including any amendments to regulations, necessary for the implementation of the Golden State Teacher Grant Program. The commission may adopt emergency regulations it deems necessary for the implementation of this program, in accordance with the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). For purposes of the Administrative Procedure Act, including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption of those regulations or amendments to those regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare, notwithstanding subdivision (e) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law and without further compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), any emergency regulations and amendments to the emergency regulations adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall remain in force and effect until June 30, 2030.

(3) No rule, policy, or standard of general application issued by the commission in implementing this section shall be subject to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(h) The commission shall conduct, in partnership with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, an evaluation of the Golden State Teacher Grant Program to determine the effectiveness of the program in recruiting credential candidates and employing credentialholders at priority schools and California preschool programs. The commission is encouraged to use qualitative and quantitative measures to quantify the number of credential candidates the program recruited into professional preparation programs, disaggregated by program and institution type, and the number of credentialholders employed at priority schools and California preschool programs, disaggregated by subject matter placement, and to describe the effects of the program on the decisions of credential candidates to enter and remain in the education field. The commission shall provide, with respect to the evaluation, a report to the Department of Finance and the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature on or before December 31, 2025, and every two years thereafter.

(i) (1) The commission shall accept applications for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program beginning on September 1 for the following academic year and shall establish a process and timeline that allows institutions of higher education to provide applicants with grant eligibility determinations before the deadline for enrolling in their professional preparation program.

(2) Commencing July 1, 2024, the commission shall establish up to three application periods each year, consistent with subdivision (a).

(j) The commission shall permit grant recipients to receive funds in more than one academic year, provided the total amount of funds granted to any applicant does not exceed the applicable amount specified in this section.

(k) As used in this section, “California preschool program” means a state-funded or federally funded preschool program in the state, including California state preschool programs, tribal preschool programs, and Head Start programs.

SEC. 34.

Section 76004 of the Education Code is amended to read:

76004.

Notwithstanding Section 76001 or any other law:

(a) (1) The governing board of a community college district may enter into a College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnership with the governing board of a school district or a county office of education 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 career technical education or preparation for transfer, improving high school graduation rates, or helping high school pupils achieve college and career readiness.

(2) As used in this section, “high school” includes a community school, continuation high school, juvenile court school, or adult education program offering courses for high school diplomas or high school equivalency certificates.

(3) As used in this section, “underrepresented in higher education” may include first-time college students, low-income students, students who are current or former foster youth, homeless students, students with disabilities, and students with dependent children.

(b) A participating community college district may enter into a CCAP partnership with a school district or county office of education partner that is governed by a CCAP partnership agreement approved by the governing boards of both partners. As a condition of adopting a CCAP partnership agreement, the governing board of each partner shall do both of the following:

(1) For career technical education pathways to be provided under the partnership, consult with, and consider the input of, the appropriate local workforce development board to determine the extent to which the pathways are aligned with regional and statewide employment needs. The governing board of each partner shall have final decisionmaking authority regarding the career technical education pathways to be provided under the partnership.

(2) Present, take comments from the public on, and approve or disapprove the dual enrollment partnership agreement at an open public meeting of the governing board of the partner.

(c) (1) The CCAP partnership agreement shall outline the terms of the CCAP partnership, and shall include, but not be limited to, the total number of high school pupils to be served and the total number of full-time equivalent students projected to be claimed by the community college district for those pupils; the scope, nature, time, location, and listing of community college courses to be offered; and criteria to assess the ability of pupils to benefit from those courses. The CCAP partnership agreement shall also establish protocols for information sharing, in compliance with all applicable state and federal privacy laws, joint facilities use, and parental consent for high school pupils to enroll in community college courses. The protocols shall only require a high school pupil participating in a CCAP partnership to submit one parental consent form and principal recommendation for the duration of the pupil’s participation in the CCAP partnership.

(2) The CCAP partnership agreement shall identify a point of contact for the participating community college district and school district or county office of education partner.

(3) A copy of the CCAP partnership agreement shall be filed with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and with the department before the start of the CCAP partnership. The chancellor may void any CCAP partnership agreement it determines has not complied with the intent of the requirements of this section.

(d) A community college district participating in a CCAP partnership shall not provide physical education course opportunities to high school pupils pursuant to this section, or any other course opportunities that do not assist in the attainment of at least one of the goals listed in subdivision (a).

(e) A community college district shall allow an existing CCAP partnership to be amended, or a new CCAP agreement to be established with a school district or county office of education and a community college district outside of the primary community college district’s service area, if the primary community college district has declined a request from the school district or county office of education, or has failed to take action within 60 calendar days of a request by the school district or county office of education, to either amend into the existing CCAP partnership the requested courses, or to approve another community college district to enter into a CCAP partnership to offer those courses.

(f) A high school pupil enrolled in a course offered through a CCAP partnership shall not be assessed any fee by a local educational agency or community college district that is prohibited by Section 49011.

(g) (1) A community college district participating in a CCAP partnership shall assign priority for enrollment and course registration to a pupil seeking to enroll in a community college course that is required for the pupil’s CCAP partnership program that is equivalent to the priority assigned to a pupil attending a middle college high school as described in Section 11300 and consistent with the middle college high school provisions in Section 76001.

(2) Units completed by a pupil pursuant to a CCAP partnership agreement may count towards determining a pupil’s registration priority for enrollment and course registration at a community college.

(h) The CCAP partnership agreement shall certify that any community college instructor teaching a course on a high school campus has not been convicted of any sex offense as defined in Section 87010, or convicted of any controlled substance offense as defined in Section 87011.

(i) The CCAP partnership agreement shall certify that any community college instructor teaching a course at the partnering high school campus has not displaced or resulted in the termination of an existing high school teacher teaching the same course on that high school campus.

(j) The CCAP partnership agreement shall certify that a qualified high school teacher teaching a course offered for college credit at a high school campus has not displaced or resulted in the termination of an existing community college faculty member teaching the same course at the partnering community college campus.

(k) The CCAP partnership agreement shall include a plan by the participating community college district to ensure both of the following:

(1) A community college course offered for college credit at the partnering high school campus does not reduce access to the same course offered at the partnering community college campus.

(2) Participation in a CCAP partnership is consistent with the core mission of the community colleges as described in Section 66010.4, and that pupils participating in a CCAP partnership will not lead to enrollment displacement of otherwise eligible adults in the community college.

(l) The CCAP partnership agreement shall certify that both the school district or county office of education and community college district partners comply with local collective bargaining agreements and all state and federal reporting requirements regarding the qualifications of the teacher or faculty member teaching a CCAP partnership course offered for high school credit.

(m) The CCAP partnership agreement shall specify both of the following:

(1) Which partner will be the employer of record for purposes of assignment monitoring and reporting to the county office of education.

(2) Which partner will assume reporting responsibilities pursuant to applicable federal teacher quality mandates.

(n) The CCAP partnership agreement shall certify that any pretransfer-level course taught by community college faculty at a partnering high school campus shall be offered only to high school pupils who do not meet their grade level standard in mathematics, English, or both on an interim assessment in grade 10 or 11, as determined by the partnering school district or county office of education, and shall involve a collaborative effort between high school and community college faculty to deliver an innovative pretransfer course as an intervention in the pupil’s junior or senior year to ensure that the pupil is prepared for college-level work upon graduation.

(o) (1) A community college district may limit enrollment in a community college course solely to eligible high school pupils if the course is offered at a high school campus, either in person or using an online platform, during the regular schoolday and the community college course is offered pursuant to a CCAP partnership agreement.

(2) For purposes of allowances and apportionments from Section B of the State School Fund, a community college district conducting a closed course on a high school campus pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be credited with those units of full-time equivalent students attributable to the attendance of eligible high school pupils.

(p) A community college district may allow a special part-time student participating in a CCAP partnership agreement established pursuant to this article to enroll in up to a maximum of 15 units per term in courses offered at the community college campus or the participating high school campus, if all of the following circumstances are satisfied:

(1) The units constitute no more than four community college courses per term.

(2) The units are part of an academic program that is part of a CCAP partnership agreement established pursuant to this article.

(3) The units are part of an academic program that is designed to award students both a high school diploma and an associate degree or a certificate or credential.

(q) The governing board of a community college district participating in a CCAP partnership agreement established pursuant to this article shall exempt pupils seeking to enroll in a community college course required for the pupil’s CCAP partnership program from the fee requirements in Sections 76060.5, 76223, 76300, 76350, and 79121.

(r) The governing board of a community college district participating in a CCAP partnership agreement shall enroll high school pupils in any course that is part of a CCAP partnership agreement offered at a community college campus. Courses offered through the CCAP program may be offered at the community college campus or the participating high school campus.

(s) A district or county office of education shall not receive a state allowance or apportionment for an instructional activity for which the partner has been, or shall be, paid an allowance or apportionment.

(t) (1) The attendance of a high school pupil at a community college as a special part-time or full-time student pursuant to this section is authorized attendance for which the community college shall be credited or reimbursed pursuant to Section 48802 or 76002, provided that no school district or county office of education has received reimbursement for the same instructional activity.

(2) For purposes of calculating classroom-based average daily attendance for classroom-based instruction apportionments, at least 80 percent of the instructional time offered by a charter school pursuant to an authorized CCAP partnership agreement shall be at the schoolsite, and the charter school shall require the attendance of a pupil for a minimum of 50 percent of the minimum instructional time required to be offered pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 47612.5, if the pupil is also a special part-time student enrolled in a community college pursuant to this section and the pupil will receive academic credit upon satisfactory completion of enrolled courses.

(u) (1) For each CCAP partnership agreement entered into pursuant to this section, the affected community college district and school district or county office of education shall report annually to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges all of the following information:

(A) The total number of high school pupils by schoolsite enrolled in each CCAP partnership, aggregated by gender and ethnicity, and reported in compliance with all applicable state and federal privacy laws.

(B) The total number of community college courses, by course category and type and by schoolsite, enrolled in by CCAP partnership participants.

(C) The total number and percentage of successful course completions, by course category and type and by schoolsite, of CCAP partnership participants.

(D) The total number of full-time equivalent students generated by CCAP partnership community college district participants.

(E) The total number of full-time equivalent students served online generated by CCAP partnership community college district participants.

(2) On or before May 1 of each year, the chancellor shall aggregate the information annually reported pursuant to paragraph (1) and submit a report of that information to all of the following:

(A) The Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(B) The Director of Finance.

(D) The Education Commissioner.

(3) The chancellor shall ensure that the number of full-time equivalent students generated by CCAP partnerships is reported pursuant to the reporting requirements in Section 76002.

(4) On or before July 31, 2020, the chancellor shall revise the special part-time student application process to allow a pupil to complete one application for the duration of the pupil’s attendance at a community college as a special part-time student participating in a CCAP partnership agreement.

(v) A community college district that violates this article, including, but not limited to, any restriction imposed by the board of governors pursuant to this article, shall be subject to the same penalty as may be imposed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 78032.

(w) This section does not affect a dual enrollment partnership agreement existing on January 1, 2016, under which an early college high school, a middle college high school, or a California Career Pathways Trust existing on January 1, 2016, is operated. An early college high school, middle college high school, or California Career Pathways Trust partnership agreement existing on January 1, 2016, shall not operate as a CCAP partnership unless it complies with this section.

(x) The governing body of a charter school may enter into a CCAP partnership agreement with the governing board of a community college district pursuant to this section. That CCAP partnership agreement shall comply with all applicable requirements of this section.

(y) The governing body of a regional occupational center or program may enter into a CCAP partnership agreement with the governing board of a community college district pursuant to this section. That CCAP partnership agreement shall comply with all applicable requirements of this section.

SEC. 35.

Section 531 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read:

531.

The Adjutant General may enter into a cooperative agreement with the Oakland Military Institute College Preparatory Academy, a California charter school, to provide a structured, disciplined environment emphasizing academic skills, leadership, camaraderie, and a strong sense of community.

SEC. 36.

Section 162 of Chapter 44 of the Statutes of 2021, as amended by Section 137 of Chapter 65 of the Statutes of 2026, is amended to read:

Sec. 162.

(a) (1) The sum of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Education for allocation to the Riverside County Office of Education and the El Dorado County Office of Education in equal amounts in support of the Supporting Inclusive Practices project, for purposes of increasing opportunities for pupils with disabilities to meaningfully participate in the least restrictive environment, as appropriate, and improving local educational agencies’ outcomes on performance indicators as mandated by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) and the outcomes measured by the California School Dashboard pursuant to Section 52064.5 of the Education Code. These funds shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2027.

(2) For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the sum of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Education for allocation to the El Dorado County Office of Education, or for allocation pursuant to other legislation, in support of the Supporting Inclusive Practices project, for purposes of increasing opportunities for pupils with disabilities to meaningfully participate in the least restrictive environment, as appropriate, and improving local educational agencies’ outcomes on performance indicators as mandated by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) and the outcomes measured by the California School Dashboard pursuant to Section 52064.5 of the Education Code. These funds shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2032.

(b) The funds appropriated in subdivision (a) shall be used to provide tiered technical assistance and grants to local educational agencies focused on envisioning, building, implementing, and scaling up evidence-based practices to increase inclusion of children and pupils with disabilities in prekindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in general education settings, with a priority on local educational agencies that are identified by the State Department of Education as requiring intensive support to improve outcomes for pupils with disabilities.

(c) (1) The Riverside County Office of Education and El Dorado County Office of Education shall submit an expenditure plan to the State Department of Education on or before August 1 of each year for which this funding is made available.

(2) On or before June 30 of each year, until funds appropriated for purposes of this section have been fully expended, the Supporting Inclusive Practices project shall submit a report to the State Department of Education that includes all of the following:

(A) Details of the activities conducted and resources developed by the project.

(B) The number of local educational agencies, educators, and pupils served.

(C) A summary of implementation and outcome data, including, but not limited to, performance on state performance plan indicators, indicators used on the California School Dashboard, and the desired results developmental profile.

(D) Recommendations for improving state-level activities or policies.

(3) (A) The State Department of Education shall provide copies of the report received pursuant to paragraph (2) to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature.

(B) A report required to be submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(d) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, and charter school.

(e) (1) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the 2020–21 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the 2020–21 fiscal year.

(2) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

SEC. 37.

Section 149 of Chapter 65 of the Statutes of 2026 is amended to read:

Sec. 149.

(a) In addition to the forty-six million dollars ($46,000,000) provided in Item 6100-488 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2026, the sum of seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Education for allocation to local educational agencies to increase the identification of, and improve educational outcomes for, homeless children and youths. Funds are intended to supplement funding available to the state from the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youths program authorized by the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11432 et seq.) for the same purpose. Both the reappropriation provided in Item 6100-488 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2026 and the funding provided in this section shall be available for encumbrance and expenditure through June 30, 2030.

(b) The department shall award three-year grants to local educational agencies through a competitive grant process that matches, to the extent practicable, the federal Educational for Homeless Children and Youths program grant application process established pursuant to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11432 et seq.) as it existed on January 1, 2024. In developing the grant criteria, the department shall consider the demonstrated need of the local educational agency, including considering prioritizing regions with large concentrations of homeless children and youths and local educational agencies that do not currently receive a federal Education for Homeless Children and Youths program award.

(1) Building infrastructure and implementing strategies that enable a local educational agency to increase the identification and outreach of, and engagement with, homeless children and youths, particularly youth from underserved populations. For purposes of this paragraph, “underserved populations” include foster youth, rural youth, American Indian or tribal youth, youth with disabilities, English learners, LGBTQ+ youth, and pregnant, parenting, or caregiving pupils.

(2) Providing tutoring, supplemental instruction, and enriched educational services that are linked to the achievement of the same challenging state academic standards as the state establishes for other children and youths.

(3) Providing expedited evaluations of the strengths and needs of homeless children and youths, including needs and eligibility for programs and services such as educational programs for gifted and talented pupils, children with disabilities, and English learners, services provided under Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.), or similar state or local programs, programs in career and technical education, and school nutrition programs.

(4) Professional development and other activities for educators and specialized instructional support personnel that are designed to heighten the understanding and sensitivity of those personnel to the needs of homeless children and youths, the rights of those children and youths under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11432 et seq.), and the specific educational needs of runaway and homeless youths.

(5) Providing referral services to homeless children and youths for medical, dental, trauma-informed behavioral health, and other health services.

(6) Providing assistance to defray the excess cost of transportation for pupils not otherwise provided through federal, state, or local funding, where necessary to enable pupils to attend school.

(7) Providing developmentally appropriate early childhood education programs, not otherwise provided through federal, state, or local funding, for preschool age homeless children.

(8) Providing services and assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless children and youths, particularly homeless children and youths who are not enrolled in school, in public school programs, or services provided to nonhomeless children and youths.

(9) Providing homeless children and youths before- and after-school mentoring, and summer programs in which a teacher or other qualified individual provides tutoring, homework assistance, and supervision of educational activities.

(10) If necessary, payment of fees and other costs associated with tracking, obtaining, and transferring records necessary to enroll homeless children and youths in school, including birth certificates, immunization or other required health records, academic records, guardianship records, and evaluations for special programs or services.

(11) Providing education and training to the parents and guardians of homeless children and youths about the rights of, and resources available to, those children and youths, and other activities designed to increase the meaningful involvement of parents and guardians of homeless children or youths in the education of those children and youths.

(12) Developing coordination between schools and agencies providing services to homeless children and youths that is integrated within the local educational agency’s overall community schools strategy.

(13) Providing specialized instructional support services, including violence prevention counseling and referrals for those services.

(14) Activities to address the particular needs of homeless children and youths that may arise from domestic violence and parental mental health or substance abuse problems.

(15) Adapting space and purchase of supplies for any nonschool facilities made available to provide services under this section.

(16) Providing school supplies, including those supplies to be distributed at shelters or temporary housing facilities or other appropriate locations.

(17) Providing other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed to enable homeless children and youths to attend school and participate fully in school activities.

(d) As a condition of receiving funding pursuant to subdivision (b), a local educational agency shall commit to doing all of the following:

(1) Communicate and collaborate with the technical assistance centers designated pursuant to Section 48857 of the Education Code in order to receive technical assistance, implement best practices, and foster partnerships with local and county governmental entities, educational institutions, and community-based organizations.

(2) Annually report on the academic outcomes for pupils served by the grants using the existing data reporting process established by the State Department of Education that is aligned with the process for reporting under the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youths program authorized by the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11432 et seq.)

(3) Submit a final report on or before December 31, 2030, to the State Department of Education that describes how the local educational agency intends to sustain and integrate efforts supporting the needs of homeless children and youths after the one-time grant funds end, particularly integration with other existing state initiatives, including, but not limited to, the California Community Schools Partnership Program, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Fee Schedule program, universal school meal programs, and universal transitional kindergarten.

(e) This section shall not be interpreted to supplant existing federal, state, or local resources for pupils experiencing homelessness.

(f) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Homeless children and youths,” “homeless children,” and “pupils experiencing homelessness” mean pupils without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, consistent with the definition of “homeless children and youths” in Section 11434a(2) of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11301 et seq.).

(2) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(g) For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriation made by subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202 of the Education Code, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

SEC. 38.

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.

SEC. 39.

Sections 1, 8, 9, 10, and 34 of this act shall become operative on January 1, 2027.

SEC. 40.

This act is a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill within the meaning of subdivision (e) of Section 12 of Article IV of the California Constitution, has been identified as related to the budget in the Budget Bill, and shall take effect immediately.

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Bill Text: CA SB133 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Enrolled

California Senate Bill 133

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Digest Key

Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

99.

SEC. 2.

2582.

SEC. 3.

8281.5.

SEC. 4.

8320.

SEC. 5.

8902.

SEC. 6.

8903.

SEC. 7.

11800.

SEC. 8.

12000.

SEC. 9.

33110.

SEC. 10.

33110.5.

SEC. 11.

38100.

SEC. 12.

41341.

SEC. 13.

41490.

SEC. 14.

41585.

SEC. 15.

42238.022.

SEC. 16.

44259.4.

SEC. 17.

44475.

SEC. 18.

46146.5.

SEC. 19.

46160.

SEC. 20.

49507.

SEC. 21.

52064.5.

SEC. 22.

52071.

SEC. 23.

52071.5.

SEC. 24.

53008.5.

SEC. 25.

53008.7.

SEC. 26.

53009.

SEC. 27.

53009.1.

SEC. 28.

53025.

SEC. 29.

54451.

SEC. 30.

54680.

SEC. 31.

54682.

SEC. 32.

54683.

SEC. 33.

69617.

SEC. 34.

76004.

SEC. 35.

531.

SEC. 36.

Sec. 162.

SEC. 37.