Pupils: transfers from juvenile court schools.

Existing law affords various protections for the enrollment of pupils in foster care, as defined, in schools, including, among others, expedited enrollment and speedy transfer of academic records when a pupil in foster care is transferring schools. Existing law also provides for the administration and operation of juvenile court schools by county offices of education, and sets forth separate protections specifically applicable to pupils who have had contact with the juvenile justice system, including prohibiting a pupil from being denied enrollment or readmission to a public school because he or she has had contact with the juvenile justice system. This bill would require a pupil who has had contact with the juvenile justice system to be immediately enrolled in a public school, in accordance with specified provisions. The bill would require a county office of education and county probation department to have a joint transition planning policy that includes collaboration with relevant local educational agencies relating to pupils who are being released from juvenile court schools. By imposing additional requirements on local governmental entities with respect to the collaboration between a county office of education, the county probation department, and other relevant local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would strongly encourage local educational agencies to enter into memoranda of understanding and create joint policies, as specified, regarding the immediate transfer of educational records and enrollment of pupils transferring from juvenile court schools. The bill, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with the Board of State and Community Corrections, to convene a statewide group to develop a model and study programs and policies relating to the transfer of educational records and enrollment of pupils who are being transferred from juvenile court schools, and would require the statewide group to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and appropriate policy committees on or before January 1, 2016. The bill would revise legislative findings and declarations regarding the transfer of pupils in foster care who have had contact with the juvenile justice system, and would make other clarifying and conforming changes. 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.