BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 232
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Date of Hearing: June 17, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Patrick O'Donnell, Chair
SB
232 (Hall) - As Amended March 19, 2015
SENATE VOTE: 35-0
SUBJECT: School accountability: California Collaborative for
Educational Excellence: state administrator
SUMMARY: Authorizes a state-appointed school district
administrator to request the advice and assistance of the
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE).
EXISTING LAW:
1)Establishes the CCEE, to provide advice and assistance to
local education agencies (LEAs) upon request or that have been
identified as needing advice and assistance due to poor pupil
outcomes.
2)Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to
assume all the legal rights, duties, and powers of the
governing board of a school districts that has accepted an
emergency apportionment (loan) in excess of 200% of its
recommended reserve for economic uncertainty and requires the
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SPI to appoint an administrator to act on his or her behalf in
exercising this authority.
3)Authorizes the administrator to do all of the following:
a) Implement substantial changes in the fiscal policies and
practices of the school district;
b) Revise the educational program of the school district to
reflect realistic income projections and pupil performance
relative to state standards;
c) Encourage all members of the school community to accept
a fair share of the burden of the fiscal recovery of the
qualifying school district;
d) Consult with the governing board of the school
district, the exclusive representatives of the employees of
the qualifying school district, parents, and the community;
e) Consult with, and seek recommendations from, the SPI,
the county superintendent of schools, and the County Office
Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team; and
f) With the approval of the SPI, enter into agreements on
behalf of the qualifying school district and, subject to
any contractual obligation of the school district, change
existing school district rules, regulations, policies, or
practices as necessary for the effective implementation of
the district's recovery plans.
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FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS: This bill gives a state-appointed administrator the
authority to request the services of the CCEE. The CCEE is
still in the process of being established and it is not known
when its services will be available. The primary role of a
state-appointed administrator is to return a school district to
fiscal solvency. To that end, the administrator works closely
with the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT),
which assists districts with fiscal issues. By contrast, the
CCEE, once operational, will work with districts that need
assistance in improving academic performance.
Existing authority of state-appointed administrators. Education
Code Section 41326 gives state-appointed administrators all of
the legal rights, duties, and powers of the governing board,
including specifically to "enter into agreements on behalf of
the?school district?" Since governing boards have the authority
to request the services of the CCEE, and the state-appointed
administrator has the same authority as the governing board, it
seems to follow that the administrator has the authority to
request the assistance of the CCEE. According to the author's
office, however, there is sufficient ambiguity in existing law
to warrant clarification.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Los Angeles County Office of Education
SB 232
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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
Several individuals
Opposition
None received
Analysis Prepared by:Rick Pratt / ED. / (916)
319-2087