Pupils: English learners: home language survey: notification letter.

Existing law requires each school district that has one or more pupils who are English learners and, to the extent required by federal law, each county office of education and each charter school to assess the English language development of its pupils in order to determine the level of proficiency of the pupils. Existing law requires the State Department of Education, with the approval of the State Board of Education, to establish procedures for conducting the assessment and for the reclassification of a pupil from English learner to English proficient. This bill would require the department to make available to public schools in the state a sample notification letter, to be provided with the home language survey, that explains to parents or legal guardians of pupils the purpose of the home language survey and the procedures for identification and reclassification of English learner pupils. The bill also would require local educational agencies, when conducting the home language survey, to provide the notification letter to the parents or legal guardians of pupils in that local educational agency. To the extent this bill would require local educational agencies to perform additional duties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.