BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2013-14 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 547
AUTHOR: Salas
AMENDED: April 11, 2013
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: June 12, 2013
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Lenin Del Castillo
SUBJECT : 21st Century High School After School Safety and
Enrichment for
Teens Program.
SUMMARY
This bill expands the academic assistance component of the
21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment
for Teens (ASSETs) program to include career exploration and
also authorizes the State Department of Education (SDE) to
consider other criteria that SDE may identify as critical for
a high quality program when awarding grants.
BACKGROUND
Existing law establishes the federally funded 21st Century
High School ASSETs program to provide incentives for
establishing before and after school enrichment programs that
partner with schools and communities to provide academic
support; safe, constructive alternatives for high school
students; and assistance in passing the California High
School Exit Examination (CAHSEE). Each program must consist
of the following elements:
1) Academic assistance that includes, but not limited to,
preparation for the CAHSEE, tutoring, homework
assistance, or college preparation. The assistance must
be aligned with the regular academic programs of the
pupils.
2) Enrichment that may include, but not limited to,
community service, career and technical education, job
readiness, opportunities for mentoring and tutoring
younger pupils, service learning, arts, computer and
technology training, physical fitness, and recreation
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activities. (Education Code § 8421)
Existing law requires the State Department of Education
(SDE), to the extent possible, to select grantees that result
in an equitable distribution of awards to applicants in
northern, southern, and central California, and in urban,
suburban, and rural areas of the state. SDE is required to
consider the following criteria in awarding grants:
a) Strength of the educational element and
alignment with state academic standards,
preparation for the high school exit examination,
and other academic interventions.
b) Strength of the enrichment element.
c) Evidence of community collaboration, including
demonstrated support of the principal and staff
from participating schools.
d) A description of the manner in which programs
will provide a safe physical and emotional
environment and opportunities for relationship
building, and promote active pupil engagement.
e) A description of the manner in which the
program design will be periodically reexamined in
order to maintain strong pupil interest.
f) A description of plans to attract pupils,
particularly pupils considered at risk or in need
of academic support, on a regular basis.
(Education Code § 8423)
ANALYSIS
This bill :
1) Adds career exploration as one of the criteria that
satisfies the academic assistance element under the 21st
Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment
for Teens (ASSETs) program.
2) Defines career exploration as activities that help
students develop the knowledge and skills that are
relevant to their career interests and reinforce
academic content.
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3) Authorizes the State Department of Education to consider
other criteria it identifies as critical to the
provision of high quality after school programs when
awarding grants.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . Career exploration is currently not
listed as a possible activity that may satisfy the
academic assistance element of the 21st Century High
School ASSETs program. According to the author's
office, having a career exploration component will give
low-income students the opportunity to consider a
variety of different careers and learn about what skills
are needed for future success in those fields. This is
particularly important for students who may be unsure of
their future career plans and interests because it could
expose them to a variety of engaged learning strategies
and pathways.
2) After school programs . The 21st Century High School
ASSETs program was established by AB 1984 (Steinberg),
Chapter 1025, Statutes of 2002, and serves pupils in
grades 9 through 12 providing them with academic support
and enrichment. Programs may operate after school
only, or after school and any combination of before
school, weekends, summer, intersession, and vacation.
Any public or private organization is eligible to apply
for a five-year grant of up to $250,000 annually,
including local educational agencies, nonprofit
agencies, and institutions of higher education.
According to the State Department of Education (SDE) for
the 2012-13 fiscal year, the program provides $60.921
million in federal funds for 345 sites and approximately
45,800 students.
The 21st Century ASSETs program is a component the 21st
Century Learning Community Center (21st Century CLCC)
program, which was established by SB 1478 (McPherson),
Chapter 1036, Statutes of 2002. The 21st Century CLCC
program provides federal five-year grants to establish
or expand before and after school programs and is
similar to the state funded After School Education and
Safety program that was established in 2002 through the
voter approved initiative, Proposition 49.
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1) Broad authority for SDE to develop additional program
criteria . This bill authorizes the SDE to consider
other criteria it identifies as critical to the
provision of high quality after school programs when
awarding grants. Without any rationale or specific
parameters on what this new criteria would be based on,
it is unclear why this provision is necessary. This
could potentially lead to additional programmatic
requirements not envisioned by the Legislature and
potentially result in applicants not being selected for
funding. Therefore, staff recommends removing the
"other criteria" provision from the bill.
SUPPORT
Aspiranet
California State PTA
California Teachers Association
Children Now (co-sponsor)
City of Wasco
Community Action Partnership of Kern
Corcoran Unified School District
Delano Joint Union High School District
Partnership for Children and Youth (co-sponsor)
Semitropic School District
Superintendent of Public Instruction (co-sponsor)
Vineland School District
OPPOSITION
None on file.