Pupils: Transitioning Youth for Success Program.

Existing law provides for the administration and operation of public schools in juvenile halls, juvenile homes, day centers, juvenile ranches, juvenile camps, regional youth educational facilities, and certain group homes. The public schools or classes offered in these facilities are known as juvenile court schools. Existing law states that the Legislature encourages each county superintendent of schools or governing board of a school district, as specified, and the county chief probation officer to enter into a memorandum of understanding or equivalent mutual agreement to support a collaborative process for meeting the needs of wards of the court who are receiving their education in juvenile court schools with the purpose of developing a collaborative model that will foster an educational and residential environment that nurtures the whole child and consistently supports services that will meet the educational needs of the pupils. This bill would establish the Transitioning Youth for Success Program for the purpose of prioritizing the use of specified federal funds for neglected, delinquent, or at-risk pupils. The bill would require a county office of education or a school district to submit an application to the State Department of Education to receive funding under this program. Participating school districts and county offices of education would provide programs and services that focus on the special needs of youth who are or have been confined to a facility where a juvenile court school or classes are authorized to be offered. The purpose of the programs and services would be to ensure that these youth make a successful transition from the juvenile facility to further schooling or employment and are provided a support system to ensure their continued education. The bill would require a comprehensive transition plan to be developed and implemented for pupils served by the program. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with the Board of Corrections and county offices of education, by December 1, 2013, to develop consistent measures by which to evaluate the success of programs and services funded under this program. The bill would require the State Board of Education to amend California's consolidated state application for the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, as necessary, so that the application adequately reflects the requirements and provisions of the program.