BILL NUMBER: AB 1539 CHAPTERED 10/09/01 CHAPTER 629 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 9, 2001 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 8, 2001 PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 12, 2001 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 12, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 7, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 30, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 20, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 25, 2001 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Pavley (Coauthors: Assembly Members Cedillo, Goldberg, Robert Pacheco, and Pescetti) FEBRUARY 23, 2001 An act to add Sections 56435, 56449, and 58930 to, to add Article 13.5 (commencing with Section 8282) to Chapter 2 of Part 6 of, and to add Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 8499.10) to Part 6 of, the Education Code, relating to preschool transition. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1539, Pavley. Pupils: transfer of preschool information. Existing law sets forth provisions controlling the maintenance and disclosure of pupil records, and establishes the California School Information Services system in part to build the capacity of local education agencies to implement and maintain effective pupil information systems. This bill would require a state-funded preschool or infant and toddler program to provide a child's records to a public school when the child transfers, would require the superintendent to advise local education agencies regarding related federal Head Start requirements, and would make conforming changes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. This act shall be known and cited as the Preschool Transfer Act of 2001. SEC. 2. Article 13.5 (commencing with Section 8282) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 6 of the Education Code, to read: Article 13.5. Transfer of Information 8282. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that the state makes a substantial, annual investment in preschool, infant and toddler, and schoolage child development programs for eligible families. It is in the best interests of children and their families, and the taxpayers of California, to have information about the development and learning abilities of children developed in these settings, health and other information transferred to, or otherwise available to, the pupil's elementary school. (b) When a child in a state-funded preschool or infant and toddler program will be transferring to a local public school, the preschool or infant and toddler program shall provide the parent or guardian with information from the previous year deemed beneficial to the pupil and the public school teacher, including, but not limited to, development issues, social interaction abilities, health background, and diagnostic assessments, if any. The preschool or infant and toddler program may, with the permission of the parent or guardian, transfer this information to the pupil's elementary school. (c) Any child who has participated in a state subsidized preschool that maintains results-based standards, including the desired results accountability system, may have the performance information transferred to any subsequent or concurrent public school setting. Any transferred information shall be in summary form and only accomplished with the permission of the parent or guardian. SEC. 3. Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 8499.10) is added to Part 6 of the Education Code, to read: CHAPTER 2.5. HEAD START 8499.10. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The Congress has recognized the importance of the transfer from preschool to primary school. Section 642A of Title VI of Subtitle A of Chapter 8 of Subchapter B of the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-35) was enacted to require grantees of federal Head Start funds to take steps to coordinate with and involve the local educational agency serving the community, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (1) Developing and implementing a systematic procedure for transferring, with parental consent, Head Start program records for each participating child to the school in which the child will enroll. (2) Establishing channels of communication between Head Start staff and their counterparts in the schools, including, but not limited to, teachers, social workers, and health staff, to facilitate the coordination of programs. (3) Conducting meetings involving parents, kindergarten or elementary school teachers, and Head Start program teachers to discuss the educational, developmental, and other needs of individual children. (4) Organizing and participating in joint transition-related training of school staff and Head Start staff. (5) Developing and implementing a family outreach and support program in cooperation with entities carrying out parental involvement efforts under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.). (6) Assisting families, administrators, and teachers in enhancing educational and developmental continuity between Head Start services and elementary school classes. (7) Linking the services provided in the Head Start program with the education services provided by the local educational agency. (b) The superintendent shall advise local education agencies of these federal requirements. SEC. 4. Section 56435 is added to the Education Code, to read: 56435. When a child with exceptional needs will be transferring to a local public school, the program may choose, with the permission of the parent or guardian, to transfer information from the previous year deemed beneficial to the pupil and the teacher, including, but not limited to, development issues, social interaction abilities, health background, and diagnostic assessments, if any, to the public school. SEC. 5. Section 56449 is added to the Education Code, to read: 56449. When a child between the ages of three and five years with special education needs will be transferring to a local public school, the program may choose, with the permission of the parent or guardian, to transfer information from the previous year deemed beneficial to the pupil and the teacher, including, but not limited to, development issues, social interaction abilities, health background, and diagnostic assessments, if any, to the public school. SEC. 6. Section 58930 is added to the Education Code, to read: 58930. When a child in a preschool and infant development demonstration program will be transferring to a local public school, the program may choose, with the permission of the parent or guardian, to transfer information from the previous year deemed beneficial to the pupil and the teacher, including, but not limited to, development issues, social interaction abilities, health background, and diagnostic assessments, if any, to the public school.