BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  ACR 80
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   September 11, 2013

                             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
                              Richard S. Gordon, Chair
                 ACR 80 (Dickinson) - As Introduced:  August 27, 2013
           
          SUBJECT  :   Keeping Kids in School and Out of Court Day.

           SUMMARY  :   Designates December 4, 2013, as Keeping Kids in  
          School and Out of Court Day.  Specifically,  this resolution   
          makes the following legislative findings:

          1)More than 700,000 suspensions involving over 365,000 students  
            occur in California's public schools each year; and, more than  
            1.8 million students are truant in California's public schools  
            each year.

          2)Suspension rates have been increasing since the 1970s, with  
            racial disparities in suspension rates increasing at very high  
            rates; and, suspension and chronic absenteeism are linked to  
            academic failure, higher school dropout rates, and involvement  
            in the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

          3)Almost one-half of all suspensions in California are for  
            disruption and defiance, rather than for acts of violence or  
            acts involving weapons or drugs.

          4)Implementation of evidence-based and promising practices to  
            respond to disruptive student behavior and improve school  
            climate, such as Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions  
            and Supports and Restorative Justice, have allowed schools to  
            reduce their rates of suspension and improve school climate.

          5)Court-based interventions, such as truancy courts, have shown  
            promise in reducing chronic absenteeism and improving academic  
            performance; and the juvenile courts are actively engaged in  
            monitoring the educational needs of children under their  
            jurisdiction. Juvenile court judges are encouraged to take an  
            active role in their communities to encourage adequate support  
            and services for at-risk youth as well as to develop a close  
            liason with school authorities.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   None

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   








                                                                  ACR 80
                                                                  Page  2


           Support 
           
          Judicial Council of California

           Opposition 
           
          None on file
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800