Asm. Kevin McCarty

This measure would declare the month of September 2022 as California Emergency Preparedness Month.

The After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002, an initiative statute approved by the voters as Proposition 49 at the November 5, 2002, statewide general election, establishes the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program under which participating public schools receive grants to operate before and after school programs serving pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 9, inclusive. Existing federal law establishes the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program to provide pupils with academic enrichment and other activities during nonschool hours or periods when school is not in session, as provided. Existing law establishes the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program to provide funds to school districts and certain charter schools to offer, outside of any instructional time, expanded learning opportunities, as defined, to pupils enrolled in classroom-based instructional programs in kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, under specified funding methodologies and program conditions. This bill would establish the California Universal Afterschool Program Workgroup within the State Department of Education composed of certain members, including members appointed by the department, to evaluate policy and regulatory impediments to ensuring the quality of and increased access to after school programs and any access impediments faced by pupils and their families, develop legislative and regulatory recommendations and specific proposals to reduce those impediments, and develop a roadmap for providing universal access to after school programs to all schoolage children, as provided. The bill would appropriate an unspecified amount from the General Fund to the department to support the workgroup's activities, and would require the workgroup to, among other things, provide a final report to the Legislature and the department on or before October 1, 2024. The bill would require the workgroup to be maintained through December 31, 2024, and would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2025.

Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Under existing law, the commission establishes standards for teacher preparation programs at regionally accredited institutions of higher education, as defined. Existing law authorizes a regionally accredited institution of higher education to offer a 4-year or 5-year integrated program of professional preparation that allows a student to earn a baccalaureate degree and a preliminary multiple or single subject teaching credential, or an education specialist instruction credential authorizing the holder to teach special education, including student teaching requirements, concurrently and within 4 or 5 years of study. Existing law requires an integrated program of professional preparation to provide opportunities for candidates to complete intensive field experiences, including student teaching, in public elementary and secondary schools early in the undergraduate sequence. This bill instead would require an integrated program of professional preparation to provide opportunities for candidates to complete intensive field experiences, including student teaching, in public prekindergarten, kindergarten, or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, programs early in the undergraduate sequence. Existing law requires integrated programs offered by the California State University be designed to concurrently lead to a preliminary multiple subject or single subject teaching credential, or an education specialist instruction credential authorizing the holder to teach special education, and a baccalaureate degree. This bill would additionally authorize the California State University to meet the above-described requirement if the integrated program is designed to concurrently lead to an early childhood education specialist credential and a baccalaureate degree. Existing law, contingent upon appropriation of funds in the annual Budget Act or another statute, requires the commission to develop and implement a program to award grants of up to $250,000 each to regionally accredited institutions of higher education for the development of transition plans to guide the creation of 4-year integrated programs of professional preparation, as provided. This bill would revise and recast that program to instead require the commission to award planning grants of up to $250,000 each to regionally accredited institutions of higher education to develop plans for the creation of integrated programs of professional preparation that lead to more credentialed teachers in identified shortage fields, as provided. The bill would require the commission to award implementation or expansion grants of up to $500,000 each for regionally accredited institutions of higher education to develop new, or expand existing, programs of professional preparation, including programs related to the early childhood education specialist credential, or to establish a new partnership with a California community college, as provided. The bill would require the commission to give preference to proposals that commit to delivering a ratified articulation agreement for teacher preparation coursework between one or more California community colleges and one or more 4-year institutions, as provided. The bill would require a regionally accredited institution of higher education to provide program and outcome data for at least 5 years after receiving the implementation or expansion grant. The bill would require the commission to ensure that applicants for planning grants and implementation or expansion grants provide assurances related to supporting teacher preparation programs, as provided. The bill would authorize applicants that previously received planning grants, or implementation or expansion grants, to apply for new grants, contingent on sharing information on the previous grants and proposing expanded or new programs, as provided. The bill would make these grant programs contingent upon appropriation of funds in the annual Budget Act or another statute.

Existing law establishes the State Department of Education in state government, and vests the department with specified powers and duties relating to the state's public school system. Under existing law, by executive order, CaliforniaVolunteers is established in the office of the Governor and is charged with overseeing programs and initiatives for service and volunteerism. Existing law authorizes CaliforniaVolunteers to form a nonprofit public benefit corporation or other entity exempt from income taxation, as provided, to raise revenues and receive grants or other financial support from private or public sources, for purposes of undertaking or funding any lawful activity authorized to be undertaken by CaliforniaVolunteers. This bill would require the department, in partnership with CaliforniaVolunteers and appropriate stakeholders, to review available evidence on ways to incorporate effective service learning for pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, and develop uniform metrics for the measurement of pupil progress toward academic, civic engagement, and other learning objectives. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2024, to provide recommendations to the Legislature on, and post on the department's internet website information related to, evidence-based strategies to expand access to high-quality service learning programs, as provided. This bill would, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, establish the California Serves Pilot Program under the administration of the department, in collaboration with CaliforniaVolunteers, for purposes of promoting access to effective service learning for pupils in grade 12 who are enrolled at participating local educational agencies. The bill would require the department, in collaboration with CaliforniaVolunteers, to develop grant criteria and an application process and award grants to eligible local educational agencies in an unspecified amount. The bill would limit grant eligibility to those local educational agencies in which at least 12 of enrolled pupils are unduplicated pupils, as specified. The bill would authorize grant funds to be used for paid planning time and professional development for teachers, the purchase of instructional materials, and participation and personnel costs, as provided. Under the pilot program, the bill would require the department, in collaboration with CaliforniaVolunteers, to submit a report on the program to the Legislature, as provided.

(1) Existing law establishes the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program to provide funds to school districts and certain charter schools to offer, outside of any instructional time, expanded learning opportunities, as defined, to pupils enrolled in classroom-based instructional programs in kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, under specified funding methodologies and program conditions. This bill would rename the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program as the Universal Afterschool and Expanded Learning Opportunities Program and would change references to "expanded learning opportunity programs" to instead refer to "afterschool programs." The bill would express the intent of the Legislature to commit more public funding to provide pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, with a welcoming and enriching space through afterschool programs. (2) The After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002, an initiative statute approved by the voters as Proposition 49 at the November 5, 2002, statewide general election, establishes the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program under which participating public schools receive grants to operate before and after school programs serving pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 9, inclusive. The act requires an amount not to exceed $550,000,000 to be continuously appropriated to the State Department of Education from the General Fund in each fiscal year for purposes of the program, and requires the amount to be allocated to public elementary, middle, and junior high schools according to a specified priority scheme, as provided. The act authorizes the Legislature to amend the provisions containing that priority scheme only by a statute, enacted by a 23 vote of each house and signed by the Governor, that furthers the purposes of the act. If the Legislature appropriates at least $5,000,000,000 for a fiscal year in the annual Budget Act or any other statute for purposes of funding the Universal Afterschool and Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, this bill would require, notwithstanding any other law, at least a certain percentage of the total amount appropriated pursuant to the act or by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute or for purposes of the ASES program to be allocated on a priority basis for programs serving middle school pupils, as provided. The bill would set forth a legislative finding and declaration that the bill furthers the purposes of the act. (3) Existing federal law establishes the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program to provide pupils with academic enrichment and other activities during nonschool hours or periods when school is not in session, as provided. Under the program, of the total amount appropriated for after school grants to community learning centers, at least 50% is required to be allocated on a priority basis to community learning centers serving high school pupils and at least 40% is required to be allocated on a priority basis to community learning centers serving elementary and middle school pupils, as provided. In any fiscal year in which the total appropriation exceeds the 2008–09 fiscal year's total appropriation for the program, the excess amount is required to be allocated on a priority basis as 35% to community learning centers serving high school pupils, 50% to community learning centers serving elementary and middle school pupils, and 15% to community learning centers with summer programs serving elementary and middle school pupils, as provided. If the Legislature appropriates at least $5,000,000,000 for a fiscal year in the annual Budget Act or any other statute for purposes of funding the Universal Afterschool and Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, this bill instead would require, of the total amount appropriated pursuant to the program, regardless of that total amount exceeding the program's total 2008–09 fiscal year appropriation, to be allocated on a priority basis with at least 60% to community learning centers serving high school pupils, at least 20% to community learning centers serving middle school pupils, and at least 15% to those centers serving elementary school pupils. (4) Commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year, the bill would require the department, each fiscal year, to provide an add-on to a grant received under the After School Education and Safety Program of 2002 or the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program to increase the grant by a specified cost-of-living adjustment, as provided. Commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year, the bill would, each fiscal year, appropriate an amount necessary to implement these add-on grant provisions from the General Fund to the department for purposes of these provisions. (5) This bill would also make nonsubstantive and conforming changes. (6) Funds appropriated by this bill would be applied toward the minimum funding requirements for school districts and community college districts imposed by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

(1) Existing law requires a certificated employee of a school district or a county superintendent of schools with an average daily attendance of 250 pupils or more, who completes 2 consecutive school years and is reelected for the next succeeding school year to a position requiring certification, to become and be classified as a permanent employee of the school district or county superintendent of schools. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district having an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils to classify as a permanent employee of the district any employee who, after having been employed by the school district for 3 complete consecutive school years in a position or positions requiring certification qualifications, is reelected for the next succeeding school year to a position requiring certification qualifications. If that classification is not made, existing law prohibits the employee from attaining permanent status and authorizes the employee to be reelected from year to year thereafter without becoming a permanent employee until a change in classification is made. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2023, require a certificated employee of a school district or a county superintendent of schools, regardless of the average daily attendance of the school district or county superintendent of schools, who completes 2 consecutive school years and is so reelected to become and be classified as a permanent employee, as provided. (2) Existing law requires a probationary employee who, in any one school year, has served for at least 75% of the number of days the regular schools of the school district in which the employee is employed are maintained to be deemed to have served a complete school year. Existing law also requires a probationary employee of an evening school who, in any one school year, has served for at least 75% of the number of days the evening schools of the school district in which the employee is employed are in session to be deemed to have served a complete school year. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2023, require a probationary employee employed in an assignment that is less than full time but at least 60% of the number of hours of a full-time assignment, and who, in any one school year, has served for at least 75% of the number of days required of the assignment in which the employee is employed to be deemed to have served a complete school year. The bill also would require a probationary employee of an adult education program to be deemed to have served a complete school year if the employee serves for at least 75% of the hours constituting a full-time equivalent position for adult education programs in the school district. The bill would specify that, to the extent the provisions of the bill conflict with any provision of a collective bargaining agreement entered into before July 1, 2023, by a public school employer and an exclusive bargaining representative, the provisions of the bill would not apply to the school district until the expiration or renewal of that collective bargaining agreement. (3) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to employ certificated employees in programs and projects to perform services conducted under contract with public or private agencies, or categorically funded projects that are not required by federal or state law. Existing law prohibits service pursuant to that authorization from being included in computing the service required as a prerequisite to attainment of, or eligibility to, classification as a permanent employee unless the person served at least 75% of the number of days the regular schools of the school district are maintained, and the person is subsequently employed as a probationary employee in a position requiring certification qualifications. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2023, specify that these provisions do not apply to a teacher of classes for adults. (4) Existing law authorizes the establishment of regional occupational centers or programs to provide career technical education and technical training to pupils. Existing law requires instruction in those centers or programs to only be given by a qualified teacher holding a certificate, as provided, but prohibits service by a person as an instructor in classes conducted at regional occupational centers or programs from being included in computing the service required as a prerequisite to attainment of, or eligibility to, classification as a permanent employee of a school district. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2023, repeal that prohibition on the service by a person as an instructor in classes conducted at regional occupational centers or programs from being included in computing the service required as a prerequisite to attainment of, or eligibility to, classification as a permanent employee of a school district. (5) Existing law authorizes the dismissal of first- and 2nd-year probationary employees of a school district during the school year for unsatisfactory performance or for cause, pursuant to specified procedures. Existing law specifies that those provisions do not apply to probationary employees in a school district having an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils. Existing law prohibits the governing board of a school district with an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils from dismissing probationary employees during the school year, except for cause, pursuant to separate procedures. However, existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district having an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils to elect to dismiss probationary employees pursuant to the procedures applicable to probationary employees of a school district having an average daily attendance of 250 or more pupils. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2023, delete the procedures specific to probationary employees of a school district with an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils, thereby subjecting all probationary employees, regardless of the average daily attendance of the school district, to the same dismissal procedures. The bill would also delete obsolete references, update references, and make conforming and nonsubstantive changes.

Existing law establishes the California College Promise, under the administration of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to provide funding, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each community college meeting prescribed requirements. Existing law authorizes a community college to use that funding to waive some or all of the fees for 2 academic years for certain first-time students at the college who are enrolled in 12 or more semester units or the equivalent, or less for students certified as "full time," as specified, and who complete and submit either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application, except for students who have previously earned a degree or certificate from a postsecondary educational institution. This bill would make returning students, as defined, also eligible for the fee waiver.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The state board is required to approve a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020 and to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030. The act requires the state board to prepare and approve a scoping plan for achieving the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and to update the scoping plan at least once every 5 years. The act requires the scoping plan to identify and make recommendations on direct emissions reduction measures, alternative compliance mechanisms, market-based compliance mechanisms, and potential monetary and nonmonetary incentives for sources and categories of sources that the state board finds are necessary or desirable to facilitate the achievement of the maximum feasible and cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, as provided. This bill would require, on or before March 1, 2023, and on or before March 1 of each year thereafter, each state agency, board, or department to post on its internet website a report regarding its compliance with and efforts to implement any goal or recommendation related to that state agency, board, or department, as defined, that is identified by the state board in the scoping plan, including any scoping plan updates. The bill would require a state agency, board, or department to include specified information in its report, including, but not limited to, identification of all scoping plan goals or recommendations that the state agency, board, or department is charged with or responsible, in whole or in part, for implementing, a description of the state agency's, board's, or department's, efforts to implement each scoping plan goal or recommendation, and whether the state agency, board, or department has fully implemented each scoping plan goal or recommendation. The bill would require, for each scoping plan goal or recommendation that is not fully implemented, a state agency, board, or department to describe in detail why the scoping plan goal or recommendation has not been fully implemented and the steps necessary for the state agency, board, or department to fully implement the goal or recommendation.