School choice: G.I. Jr. Grant Program.

(1) Existing law establishes the system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and provides for the establishment of the local educational agencies, including school districts and county offices of education, that establish and operate the schools and provide instruction to pupils throughout the state. Numerous private elementary and secondary schools also provide instruction to pupils throughout the state. This bill would establish the G.I. Jr. Grant Program, under which, beginning with the 2012–13 school year, a parent or legal guardian of a qualifying pupil, who completes an application for a grant under this bill, would receive a grant that is redeemable to pay tuition and fees at a qualifying grant school. The bill would define a qualifying pupil as a California resident who is under 22 years of age and has not graduated from high school or obtained a general equivalency diploma, has enrolled as a full-time pupil at a grant school, as defined, and is the natural or adopted child of a person who is or was a member of the United States Armed Forces, including a member of the California National Guard or a member of the reserves of any branch of the United States Armed Forces, and who is currently on active duty, or who was on federal active duty, at any time after January 1, 1995. The bill would define a grant school as a nonsectarian, nondenominational private school that chooses to participate in the G.I. Jr. Grant Program, and that files a notice of intent to participate with the State Department of Education. The bill would establish the G.I. Jr. Grant Fund, to be administered by the State Department of Education. The department would pay, from the fund, the grants, in an annual amount of $5,000 per pupil, as annually adjusted as prescribed, or the total amount of tuition and fees charged by the grant school, whichever is less. The bill would specify unauthorized behavior with respect to the use of grant certificates or grant moneys that would constitute a misdemeanor. Because this bill would create new crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. These provisions would become inoperative on July 1, 2017, and would be repealed on January 1, 2018. (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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.