Education: alternative school performance.

(1) Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with the approval of the State Board of Education, to develop an Academic Performance Index (API) to measure the performance of schools, as specified. The API score is used to rank schools, and set growth and performance targets for schools. Existing law requires the Superintendent, with the approval of the state board, to develop an alternative accountability system for schools under the jurisdiction of a county board of education or a county superintendent of schools, and specified types of schools, including alternative schools. Schools in this system may receive an API score, but are not included in the API ratings. This bill would include independent study programs in the alternative schools for which the Superintendent is required to develop an alternative accountability system, and would require all alternative schools serving high-risk pupils to participate in the alternative accountability system, as specified. This bill would require the alternative accountability system to include specified components, and would require the Superintendent to report to the Legislature by March 1, 2011, and January 1, 2012, on the data collected based on the revised alternative accountability system. By requiring local school districts to provide a higher level of service, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.