BILL NUMBER: SB 578	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 30, 2011
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 25, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 29, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 14, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 31, 2011

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, 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 school district that are in addition to the statewide
coursework requirements if the pupil, while the pupil is in grade 11
or 12, transfers into the school district from another school
district or between high schools within the school 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 coursework satisfactorily completed by a pupil in
foster care while attending another public school, 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 if the pupil satisfactorily completed the entire course in a
public school, a juvenile court school, or a nonpublic, nonsectarian
school or agency. If the pupil did not complete the entire course,
the bill would prohibit the school district or county office of
education from requiring the pupil to retake the portion of the
course the pupil completed unless the school district or county
office of education, in consultation with the holder of educational
rights for the pupil, finds that the pupil is reasonably able to
complete the requirements in time to graduate from high school. The
bill would prohibit a pupil in foster care from being prevented from
retaking or taking a course to meet the eligibility requirements for
admission to the California State University or the University of
California.
   By requiring a school district and a county office of education to
award a pupil in foster care full or partial credit for the
coursework completed while attending another public school, 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.


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 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 law, a school district and county
office of education shall accept coursework satisfactorily completed
by a pupil in foster care while attending another public school, 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 or equivalent course, if applicable, as the
coursework completed in the prior public school, juvenile court
school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency.
   (d) A school district or county office of education shall not
require a pupil in foster care to retake a course if the pupil has
satisfactorily completed the entire course in a public school, a
juvenile court school, or a nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency.
If the pupil did not complete the entire course, the school district
or county office of education shall not require the pupil to retake
the portion of the course the pupil completed unless the school
district or county office of education, in consultation with the
holder of educational rights for the pupil, finds that the pupil is
reasonably able to complete the requirements in time to graduate from
high school. When partial credit is awarded in a particular course,
the pupil in foster care shall be enrolled in the same or equivalent
course, if applicable, so that the pupil may continue and complete
the entire course.
   (e) A pupil in foster care shall not be prevented from retaking or
taking a course to meet the eligibility requirements for admission
to the California State University or the University of California.
  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.