Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates $6.5 billion for schools to return to in person learning.

Highlights:

• Appropriates $2,000,000,000 to eligible local educational agencies (Sec. 2.c-1).

• Authorizes a local educational agency to notify the State Department of Education, through a process designated by the department, of its intent to opt-out of receiving an apportionment (Sec. 2-2).

• Requires a local educational agency to provide, at a minimum, supplemental instruction to pupils, support for pupils’ social and emotional well-being, and, to the maximum extent permissible under the guidelines of the United States Department of Agriculture, meals, and snacks to participating pupils. Specifically, funds received will be expended for any of the following purposes (Sec. 2-2.b):

• Extending instructional learning time in addition to what is required;

• Accelerating progress to close learning gaps through the implementation, expansion, or enhancement of learning supports including, but not limited to, any of the following:

• Tutoring or other one-on-one or small group instruction provided by certificated or classified staff.

• Learning recovery programs and materials designed to accelerate pupil academic or English language proficiency or both.

• Educator training in accelerated learning strategies and effectively addressing learning gaps.

• Integrated pupil supports to address other barriers to learning,

• Community learning hubs that provide pupils with access to technology;

• Supports for credit deficient pupils to complete graduation or grade promotion requirements;

• Additional academic services for pupils; and

• Training for school staff on strategies.

• Requires a local educational agency to use at least 85% of its apportionment for expenditures related to providing allowable services in-person (Sec. 2-2.f).

• Requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, to make this guidance available to all local educational agencies. The guidance will include all of the following (Sec. 2-3.j):

• Guidance and professional development resources on evidence-based models for engagingly providing supplemental instruction and support in a positive climate;

• Guidance on the effective practices for the assessment of pupils’ academic and social-emotional needs, the use of effective curricular resources and instructional practices, and the leveraging of community partnerships, to accelerate learning and meet pupils’ social-emotional and basic needs; and

• Best practices for contacting and re-engaging disengaged pupils.

• Requires the local educational agency offers optional in-person instruction, consistent with its COVID-19 school safety plan and in compliance with Guidance Related to Cohorts issued by the State Department of Public Health, to at least all pupils in the following pupil groups (Sec. 2-5.A):

• Individuals with exceptional needs;

• Foster youth;

• Homeless pupils;

• English learners;

• Pupils without access to a computing device, software, and high-speed internet necessary to participate in online instruction, as determined by the local educational agency;

• Disengaged pupils; and

• Pupils at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Full Bill Text