BILL NUMBER: SB 578	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Negrete McLeod

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2011

   An act to add Section 51225.2 to the Education Code, relating to
schools.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 578, as introduced, Negrete McLeod. Schools: pupils in foster
care: course credit.
   (1) Existing law requires a local educational agency to designate
a staff person as the educational liaison for foster children and
requires the liaison to assist foster children when transferring from
one school to another or from one school district to another in
ensuring proper transfer of credits, records, and grades.
   Existing law requires a school district to exempt a pupil in
foster care from graduation requirements adopted by the governing
board of the district that are in addition to the statewide
coursework requirements while the pupil is in grade 11 or 12,
transfers into the district from another school district or between
high schools within the district, unless the school district makes a
finding that the pupil is reasonably able to complete the additional
requirements in time to graduate from high school while he or she
remains eligible for foster care benefits pursuant to state law.
   Existing law requires a school district and county office of
education to accept for credit full or partial coursework
satisfactorily completed by a pupil while attending a public school,
juvenile court school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency.
If a pupil completes the graduation requirements of his or her school
district of residence while being detained, the school district of
residence is required to issue to the pupil a diploma from the school
the pupil last attended before detention, or in the alternative, the
county superintendent of schools is authorized to issue the diploma.

   This bill would require a school district and county office of
education to accept the coursework satisfactorily completed by a
pupil in foster care while attending another school district, a
juvenile court school, or a nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency
even if the pupil did not complete the entire course and to award
that pupil full or partial credit for the coursework completed. The
bill would prohibit a pupil in foster care from being required to
retake a course or portions of a course for which the school district
has provided full or partial credit.
   The bill would encourage school districts and county offices of
education to develop, implement, or utilize credit recovery programs
that will permit a pupil in foster care to recoup the necessary
credit in the particular subject matter in order to meet graduation
requirements.
   By requiring a school district to award a pupil in foster care
full or partial credit for the coursework completed while attending
another school district, a juvenile court school, or a nonpublic,
nonsectarian school or agency even if the pupil did not complete the
entire course, the bill would impose 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 these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 51225.2 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
   51225.2.  (a) For the purposes of this section, "pupil in foster
care" means any child who has been removed from his or her home
pursuant to Section 309 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, is the
subject of a petition filed under Section 300 or 602 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code, or has been removed from his or her home and
is the subject of a petition filed under Section 300 or 602 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code.
   (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a school district
and county office of education shall accept the coursework
satisfactorily completed by a pupil in foster care while attending
another school district, a juvenile court school, or a nonpublic,
nonsectarian school or agency even if the pupil did not complete the
entire course and shall issue that pupil full or partial credit for
the coursework completed.
   (c) The credits accepted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be
applied to the same subject matter as the coursework completed in the
prior school district, juvenile court school, or nonpublic,
nonsectarian school or agency. A school district shall not require a
pupil in foster care to retake a course or portions of a course for
which the school district has provided full or partial credit
pursuant to this section.
   (d) School districts and county offices of education are
encouraged to develop, implement, or utilize credit recovery programs
that will permit a pupil in foster care to recoup the necessary
credit in the particular subject matter in order to meet graduation
requirements.
   (e) For purposes of this section, a credit recovery program
includes, but is not limited to, the following programs:
   (1) Online courses.
   (2) Electronic learning laboratories.
   (3) Computerized modules.
   (4) Independent study.
   (5) Direct instruction.
  SEC. 2.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.