BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 2353


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          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS


          AB  
          2353 (McCarty)


          As Amended  August 16, 2016


          Majority vote


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          |ASSEMBLY:  |78-0  |(May 31, 2016) |SENATE: |36-0  |(August 19,      |
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          Original Committee Reference:  ED.


          SUMMARY:  Requires the California Department of Education (CDE)  
          to identify professional development programs in culturally  
          responsive instruction and provide links to those programs on  
          its website.


          The Senate amendments strike language permitting local education  
          agencies to include the extent to which teachers have received  
          or are receiving professional development related to culturally  
          responsive instruction as a measure of school climate for  
          purposes of the Local Control and Accountability Plan; and  
          strike language permitting local education agencies and the  
          state special schools to use specified professional development  
          funds for professional development in culturally responsive  
          instruction.  


          EXISTING LAW:  








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          1)Provides for a Crosscultural, Language, and Academic  
            Development (CLAD) Certificate, which requires preparation in  
            culture and cultural diversity.


          2)Requires coursework in culturally responsive education to be  
            included in teacher and school administrator preparation  
            programs.

          3)Requires beginning teachers to complete an induction program  
            prior to receiving a clear credential, and requires induction  
            programs to include culturally responsive instruction.

          FISCAL EFFECT:  According to the Senate Appropriations  
          Committee, CDE estimates about $150,000 one-time General Fund  
          for experts to review and identify programs to post online and  
          for CDE staff to support the project.  These costs include the  
          substitute reimbursements and travel costs for 20 volunteer  
          teachers to serve as reviewers for three days and for four  
          content experts.  To the extent that the intent of this bill  
          could also be met with consultation of a select few experts and  
          a comparable reduction in administrative oversight, costs to the  
          state would be less.

          COMMENTS:  


          Need for the bill.  According to the author's office, the  
          current structure for ensuring that teachers receive appropriate  
          training in cultural competency "does not include strategies for  
          those who seek employment in a school district where racial and  
          cultural makeup of the student body vastly differ from the  
          school district where they were trained in their core  
          competencies.  This lack of training is also apparent when  
          teachers pursue teaching opportunities in California who are  
          from other states or other countries.  Further, there is a need  
          to address the training needs of teachers and administrators who  
          have been working in the educational system for some time and  
          may not have received the level of cultural competency training  
          appropriate to meet their local district needs."








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          Analysis Prepared by:                                             
          Rick Pratt / ED. / (916) 319-2087  FN: 0004264