BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 2663


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          Date of Hearing:  April 6, 2016


                           ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION


                              Patrick O'Donnell, Chair


          AB 2663  
          (Cooper) - As Introduced February 19, 2016


          SUBJECT:  After school programs:  grant amounts


          SUMMARY:  Increases the amount provided for the After School  
          Education and Safety program (ASES) by appropriating from the  
          General Fund $73,260,000 for the 2016-17 fiscal year (FY) and  
          requires, beginning in the FY 2017-18 and every fiscal year  
          thereafter, an increase based on the percentage change in the  
          California Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the prior year,  
          provided that the adjustment does not result in a reduction in  
          any fiscal year.  Requires, beginning FY 2017-18 and each fiscal  
          year thereafter, an adjustment in the maximum grant amounts and  
          daily and weekly rates to ASES before and after school programs.  
           Makes findings and declarations regarding the role of after  
          school programs in closing the achievement gap and the impact of  
          the minimum wage increase on rates that have not been adjusted  
          since 2006.  


          EXISTING LAW:  


          1)Establishes the ASES program through the 2002 voter approved  
            initiative, Proposition 49. The ASES program funds the  
            establishment of local before and after school education and  
            enrichment programs, which are created through partnerships  








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            between schools and local community resources to provide  
            literacy, academic enrichment and safe constructive  
            alternatives for students in kindergarten through ninth grade  
            (Education Code (EC) Section 8482).

          2)Establishes a maximum grant of $112,000 for an elementary  
            school program and $150,000 for a middle or junior high school  
            program.  (EC Section 8482.55)

          3)Establishes the total annual after school grant amount for  
            which a site is eligible based on a formula of $7.50 per pupil  
            per day of pupil attendance and a maximum of $37.50 per  
            projected pupil per week.  Provides funds for staff  
            development based on a formula of $7.50 per projected pupil  
            per day, with a maximum of three days.  (EC Section 8483.7)

          4)Establishes a before school program component with a maximum  
            grant of $37,500 for an elementary school and $49,000 for a   
            middle or junior high school based on a formula of $5 per  
            pupil per day and a maximum total grant of $25 per projected  
            pupil per week.  (EC Section 8483.75) 

          FISCAL EFFECT:  Unknown


          COMMENTS:  ASES program.  The ASES program, passed by voters as  
          Proposition 49 in 2002, provides almost $550 million annually  
          for before and after school programs for kindergarten through  
          grade 9 students.  In FY 2015-16, 555 school districts and  
          county offices of education operated ASES programs serving  
          approximately 400,000 students.  Local governments and nonprofit  
          organizations working in partnership with local educational  
          agencies may also apply for funding.  After school programs must  
          commence right after school and at least until 6 p.m. for 15  
          hours per week.  Grants, last adjusted in 2006, are provided in  
          three one-year increments with maximum grants at $112,500 per  
          year for elementary schools, $150,000 per year for middle or  
          junior high schools based on a per pupil amount of $7.50 per day  
          of pupil attendance, and $7.50 per pupil per day for staff  








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          development, with a maximum of three staff development days per  
          year.  Priority for funding goes to schools where at least 50%  
          of the pupils are eligible for free- or reduced-priced lunch.   
          Each program is required to provide a match equal to not less  
          than one-third of the total grant.  Facilities may count towards  
          25% of the local contribution.  


          Participating afterschool programs are required to have an  
          educational and literacy component in which tutoring or homework  
          assistance is provided in one or more of the following areas:   
          language arts, mathematics, history and social science, computer  
          training, or sciences; and an educational enrichment component,  
          which may include, but is not limited to, fine arts, career  
          technical education, career exploration, recreation, physical  
          fitness and prevention activities. 


          The program requires before school programs to operate one and a  
          half hours a day and after school programs to operate after  
          school until 6 p.m. for a minimum of 15 hours per week.  ASES  
          grantees can request summer grants (previously called  
          supplemental grants) in order to operate for more than 180 days  
          or to operate during summer, intersession or vacation.


          In addition to the funds generated by Proposition 49, the state  
          also receives approximately $130 million annually in federal  
          funds for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st  
          CCLC) program, which provides funding for before and after  
          school activities to pupils in kindergarten through grade 12.   
          The state has chosen to implement this program almost identical  
          to the state's ASES program.  


          The problem.  The author states: 


            "After-school programs are essential to closing the  








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            achievement and opportunity gap.  They provide underserved  
            students with meaningful academic and enrichment activities,  
            keep kids safety off the streets during the primate time for  
            crime, and offer essential child care for working parents.   
            They also provide a crucial infrastructure for STEM, summer  
            learning, physical activity, and leveraging hundreds of  
            millions of federal dollars for nutritious snacks and meals.


            "While the costs, demands, and expectations of ASES programs  
            have consistently increased, the funding has remained stagnant  
            for a decade?As costs significantly outpace funding, ASES  
            programs have been stretched to their breaking point and find  
            it increasingly difficult to deliver the same high-quality  
            services.  Without additional funding, program quality will  
            continue to suffer as hours would be reduced and some programs  
            are at risk of being cut all together.  75% of ASES funded  
            program had to reduce number of enrichment activities  
            offered."


          Supporters also note the challenges caused by increases in the  
          minimum wage requirements.  Beginning January 1, 2016, the  
          state's minimum wage is $10 per hour.  Increasing wages is one  
          challenge; the other challenge is in attracting qualified staff  
          when other entry level jobs may be less demanding.  The wage  
          increase also affects the hiring of site coordinators who are  
          paid an annual salary, typically around $33,000.  The minimum  
          wage increase requires an increase in site coordinators' annual  
          salary to about $42,000.  Providers have reclassified these  
          employees to pay hourly wages due to the inability to pay  
          increased wages.


          According to preliminary data from a survey conducted by the  
          Partnership for Children and Youth in February, 35% of ASES  
          funded programs have reduced the number of students served and  
          74% have reduced the number of enrichment activities offered,  
          while 64% have reduced staff hours and professional development.  








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           Of the 700 respondents, 29% reported that they are very likely  
          to close within the next two years without additional funding.  


          What does this bill do?  This bill increases the funding for the  
          ASES program by appropriating $73.3 million from the General  
          Fund in FY 2016-17 and requires ongoing annual cost of living  
          adjustments based on percentage changes from year to year in the  
          California CPI.  According to the author, the increase will  
          adjust the daily rate from $7.50 to $8.50 per pupil per day.   
          The bill directs the California Department of Education (CDE) to  
          adjust the maximum grants and daily rates in accordance with the  
          CPI for before and after school ASES programs beginning in  
          2017-18.  The bill, however, does not specify similar  
          adjustments in 2016-17.  Staff recommends an amendment directing  
          CDE to adjust the maximum grants and daily rates in accordance  
          with the 2016-17 budget augmentation.  


          Last year, an attempt was made to secure increased funding in  
          the FY 2015-16 budget.  The Assembly's budget provided $50  
          million but the budget conference committee reduced the amount  
          to $25 million.  The budget signed by the Governor included no  
          increase.  Subsequently, SB 645 (Hancock), was amended to  
          authorize a program, beginning January 1, 2016 and ending July  
          1, 2017, to suspend its operation for a maximum of five  
          schooldays in each fiscal year in order to provide some  
          financial relief.  The bill was held in the Assembly  
          Appropriations Committee suspense file.  


          Previous related legislation. SB 1221 (Hancock), Chapter 370,  
          Statutes of 2014, modified eligibility, types of grants, amount  
          of grants, and outcome measures of the ASES, the 21st CCLC, and  
          the 21st Century After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens  
          programs.


          SB 429 (DeSaulnier), Chapter 626, Statutes of 2011, authorizes  








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          an ASES program provider to use supplemental grant funds to  
          operate a six-hour program and establishes other parameters for  
          programs operating summer, intersession or vacation programs,  
          including authorizing a program to be conducted at an offsite  
          location or at an alternate schoolsite and authorizing a  
          supplemental grantee to open eligibility to every pupil  
          attending a school in the district with priority for pupils  
          enrolled in the school that receive a grant.  


          SB 798 (DeSaulnier), Chapter 479, Statutes of 2010, requires any  
          federal 21st CCLC program funds that exceed the total state  
          appropriation for fiscal year 2008-09 to be allocated in  
          accordance with a specified formula that includes 15% for summer  
          programs serving elementary and middle school pupils.


          SB 638 (Torlakson), Chapter 380, Statutes of 2006, among others,  
          increased the maximum grant amounts for after school programs  
          from $75,000 to $112,500 for elementary schools and $100,000 to  
          $150,000 for middle schools; and increased the per pupil daily  
          rate from $5.00 to $7.50 per hour.  The bill also increased the  
          maximum grant amount for before school programs from $25,000 to  
          $37,500 for elementary schools and $33,000 to $49,000 for middle  
          schools; and increased the per pupil daily rate from $3.33 to  
          $5.  
                


          REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:




          Support


          California After School Coalition (sponsor)









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          A World Fit For Kids!


          ABC Unified School District


          After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles


          After School All-Stars, San Diego


          After-School Education and Safety Program at David Reese  
          Elementary School, Elk Grove


          Alice Birney Elementary


          Anaheim Family YMCA


          Azusa Unified School District


          Bassett Unified School District


          Bay Area Community Resources


          Berry Creek Afterschool Program


          Beyond the Bell Branch


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Antelope Valley








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          Boys & Girls Clubs of Carson


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Cypress


          Boys & Girls Clubs of El Dorado County Western Slope


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Fontana


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County


          Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County


          Boys & Girls Clubs of North County


          Boys & Girls Clubs of North Valley


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside


          Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula








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          Boys & Girls Clubs of San Leandro


          Boys & Girls Clubs of San Marcos


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Maria Valley


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Stanislaus County


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Tracy


          Boys & Girls Clubs of the West Valley


          Boys & Girls Clubs of Westminster


          Butte County Office of Education


          California Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs


          California Association for Health, Physical Education,  
          Recreation and Dance


          California Educational Centers


          California Federation of Teachers










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          California School-Age Consortium


          California State Alliance of YMCAs


          California State PTA


          California Teaching Fellows Foundation


          Camp Fire


          CEC California Educational Centers


          Central Coast YMCA


          Champions for America's Future


          Channel Islands YMCA


          Children Now


          Children's Defense Fund - California 


          Children's Initiative


          Chino Valley Unified School District










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          Citizen Schools


          City of Downey ASPIRE after school program


          Compton Unified School District Afterschool Program


          DPS Group, North America


          Duarte Unified School District


          EduCare Foundation


          Extended Child Care Coalition of Sonoma County


          Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California


          Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano 


          Four Winds of Indian Education, Inc.


          Fortuna Elementary School District


          Fullerton School District


          Garvey School District










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          Gilroy Unified School District


          Institute for Student Success, Inc.


          LA's BEST After School Enrichment Program


          Lassen County Office of Education


          Lassen County Board of Education


          Lawndale Elementary School District Expanded Day Learning  
          Program


          Little Lake City School District


          Long Beach Unified School District WRAP Expanded Learning  
          Program


          Los Angeles County Office of Education


          Mission: Readiness-Military Leaders for Kids


          Mountain View School District


          Nicholas Elementary ASES Program


          P.F. Bresee Foundation








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          Partnership for Children & Youth


          Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center


          San Francisco Unified School District


          Santa Barbara Unified School District


          Santa Maria Valley YMCA


          Sonoma County Family YMCA


          STAR Education


          Student Success Institute, Inc.


          Team Prime Time


          Temescal Associates and the Learning in Afterschool & Summer  
          Project


          THINK Together


          Warner Bros. Records










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          Woodcraft Rangers


          YMCA of the Central Bay Area


          YMCA of the East Bay


          YMCA of the East Valley


          YMCA of Greater Long Beach


          YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles


          YMCA of Orange County


          YMCA of San Diego County


          YMCA of Silicon Valley


          YMCA of Superior California


          Numerous individuals







          Opposition








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          None on file




          Analysis Prepared by:Sophia Kwong Kim / ED. / (916) 319-2087