BILL NUMBER: AB 943	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Travis Allen

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act to amend Sections 47607.3 and 52074 of the Education Code,
relating to charter schools.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 943, as introduced, Travis Allen. Charter schools: California
Collaborative for Educational Excellence.
   Existing law establishes the California Collaborative for
Educational Excellence to advise and assist school districts, county
superintendents of schools, and charter schools in achieving their
local control and accountability plan goals, and requires individuals
and entities contracted by the California Collaborative for
Educational Excellence for those purposes to have expertise,
experience, and a record of success in certain areas. Existing law
authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to assign the
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence to provide advice
and assistance to a charter school that, for 3 out of 4 consecutive
school years, fails to improve pupil outcomes for one or more
priorities identified in the school's charter, as specified.
   This bill would require a contractor assigned by the California
Collaborative for Educational Excellence pursuant to those provisions
to have the experience, expertise, and a record of success in
working with charter schools in improving pupil outcomes. The bill
would also identify working with charter schools in improving pupil
outcomes as one of the required areas of experience, expertise, and
record of success for individuals and entities contracted by the
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 47607.3 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
   47607.3.  (a) If a charter school fails to improve outcomes for
three or more pupil subgroups identified pursuant to Section 52052,
or, if the charter school has less than three pupil subgroups, all of
the charter school's pupil subgroups, in regard to one or more state
or school  priority   priorities 
identified in the charter pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph
(5) of subdivision (b) of Section 47605 or subparagraph (A) of
paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 47605.6, in three out of
four consecutive school years, all of the following shall apply:
   (1) Using an evaluation rubric adopted by the state board pursuant
to Section 52064.5, the chartering authority shall provide technical
assistance to the charter school.
   (2) The Superintendent may assign, at the request of the
chartering authority and with the approval of the state board, the
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence to provide advice
and assistance to the charter school pursuant to Section 52074. 
A contractor assigned by the California Collaborative for
Educational Excellence pursuant to this section shall have expertise,
experience, and a record of success in working with charter schools
in improving pupil outcomes. 
   (b) A chartering authority shall consider for revocation any
charter school to which the California Collaborative for Educational
Excellence has provided advice and assistance pursuant to subdivision
(a) and about which it has made either of the following findings,
which shall be submitted to the chartering authority:
   (1) That the charter school has failed, or is unable, to implement
the recommendations of the California Collaborative for Educational
Excellence.
   (2) That the inadequate performance of the charter school, based
upon an evaluation rubric adopted pursuant to Section 52064.5, is
either so persistent or so acute as to require revocation of the
charter.
   (c) The chartering authority shall consider increases in pupil
academic achievement for all pupil subgroups served by the charter
school as the most important factor in determining whether to revoke
the charter.
   (d) A chartering authority shall comply with the hearing process
described in subdivision (e) of Section 47607 in revoking a charter.
A charter school may not appeal a revocation of a charter made
pursuant to this section.
  SEC. 2.  Section 52074 of the Education Code is amended to read:
   52074.  (a) The California Collaborative for Educational
Excellence is hereby established.
   (b) The purpose of the California Collaborative for Educational
Excellence is to advise and assist school districts, county
superintendents of schools, and charter schools in achieving the
goals set forth in a local control and accountability plan adopted
pursuant to this article.
   (c) The Superintendent shall, with the approval of the state
board, contract with a local educational agency, or consortium of
local educational agencies, to serve as the fiscal agent for the
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence. The
Superintendent shall apportion funds appropriated for the California
Collaborative for Educational Excellence to the fiscal agent.
   (d) The California Collaborative for Educational Excellence shall
be governed by a board consisting of the following five members:
   (1) The Superintendent or his or her designee.
   (2) The president of the state board or his or her designee.
   (3) A county superintendent of schools appointed by the Senate
Committee on Rules.
   (4) A teacher appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
   (5) A superintendent of a school district appointed by the
Governor.
   (e) At the direction of the governing board of the California
Collaborative for Educational Excellence, the fiscal agent shall
contract with individuals, local educational agencies, or
organizations with the expertise, experience, and a record of success
to carry out the purposes of this article. The areas of expertise,
experience, and record of success shall include, but are not limited
to, all of the following:
   (1) State priorities as described in subdivision (d) of Section
52060.
   (2) Improving the quality of teaching.
   (3) Improving the quality of school district and schoolsite
leadership.
   (4) Successfully addressing the needs of special pupil
populations, including, but not limited to, English learners, pupils
eligible to receive a free or reduced-price meal, pupils in foster
care, and individuals with exceptional needs. 
   (5) Working with charter schools in improving pupil outcomes.

   (f) The Superintendent may direct the California Collaborative for
Educational Excellence to advise and assist a school district,
county superintendent of schools, or charter school in any of the
following circumstances:
   (1) If the governing board of a school district, county board of
education, or governing body  or   of  a
charter school requests the advice and assistance of the California
Collaborative for Educational Excellence.
   (2) If the county superintendent of schools of the county in which
the school district or charter school is located determines,
following the provision of technical assistance pursuant to Section
52071 or 47607.3 as applicable, that the advice and assistance of the
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence is necessary to
help the school district or charter school accomplish the goals
described in the local control and accountability plan adopted
pursuant to this article.
   (3) If the Superintendent determines that the advice and
assistance of the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence
is necessary to help the school district, county superintendent of
schools, or charter school accomplish the goals set forth in the
local control and accountability plan adopted pursuant to this
article.