Public schools: accountability: county superintendents of schools.

(1) Under existing law, county superintendents of schools superintend the schools of that county, maintain responsibility for the fiscal oversight of each school district in that county, and visit and examine each school in the county at reasonable intervals to observe its operation and learn of its problems. This bill would recast and revise the duties of the county superintendent. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction, commencing with the 2021–22 fiscal year, to identify a list of schools pursuant to a specified procedure based on the schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement and additional targeted support and improvement or as low-performing pursuant to specified federal laws, and to additionally include on the list schools where 15% or more of the teachers are holders of a permit, certificate, or any other authorization that is a lesser certification than a preliminary or clear California teaching credential. The bill would require, after the initial list is established in the 2021–22 fiscal year, the Superintendent to identify a list of these schools again in the 2022–23 fiscal year, and then every 3 fiscal years thereafter, during the same fiscal year that the schools are identified for comprehensive support and improvement or additional targeted support and improvement, as specified. The bill would require the county superintendent to annually inspect those schools on the list in the county, and submit a report that describes the state of those schools in that county. To the extent that this bill would create new duties for county superintendents of schools, it would constitute 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 the statutory provisions noted above.