Senate Bill No. 1343

CHAPTER 154

An act to amend Section 48980 of, and to add Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 48929) to Chapter 6 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of, the Education Code, relating to pupils.

[Approved by Governor August 19, 2016. Filed with Secretary of State August 19, 2016.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 1343, Wolk. Pupils: intradistrict transfer of pupil convicted of violent felony or misdemeanor.

Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary education in this state. Existing law establishes school districts throughout the state and authorizes these school districts to provide instruction at the elementary and secondary schools they operate and maintain. Existing law provides for the governance of these school districts through elected school district governing boards.

This bill would authorize school district governing boards to transfer to another school in that school district pupils enrolled in that school district who have been convicted of violent felonies, as defined, or designated misdemeanors if the pupil to be transferred and the victim of the crime for which the pupil was convicted are enrolled at the same school, if certain requirements are satisfied, including, but not limited to, that the governing board of the school district adopts a policy and notifies parents or guardians of the policy as part of its annual notification to parents and guardians, as specified.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 48929) is added to Chapter 6 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:

 

Article 1.5.  Transfer of Pupil Convicted of Violent Felony or Misdemeanor

 

48929.  

Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a school district may transfer to another school in that school district a pupil enrolled in that school district who has been convicted of a violent felony, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code, or convicted of a misdemeanor listed in Section 29805 of the Penal Code if the pupil to be transferred and the victim of the crime for which the pupil was convicted are enrolled at the same school, subject to satisfaction of both of the following conditions:

(a) The governing board of the school district has adopted a policy at a regularly scheduled meeting that contains all of the following provisions:

(1) A requirement that the pupil and pupil’s parent or guardian be notified of the right to request a meeting with the school principal or designee of the school or school district.

(2) A requirement that the school first attempt to resolve the conflict before transferring a pupil, including, but not limited to, using restorative justice, counseling, or other services.

(3) Whether the decision to transfer a pupil is subject to periodic review and the procedure for conducting the review.

(4) The process to be used by the governing board of the school district to consider and approve or disapprove of the recommendation of the school principal or other school or school district designee to transfer the pupil.

(b) The governing board of the school district has provided notice of the policy to parents or guardians as part of the annual notification required pursuant to Section 48980.

SEC. 2.  

Section 48980 of the Education Code is amended to read:

48980.  

(a) At the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, the governing board of each school district shall notify the parent or guardian of a minor pupil regarding the right or responsibility of the parent or guardian under Sections 35291, 46014, 48205, 48207, 48208, 49403, 49423, 49451, 49472, and 51938 and Chapter 2.3 (commencing with Section 32255) of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1.

(b) The notification also shall advise the parent or guardian of the availability of individualized instruction as prescribed by Section 48206.3, and of the program prescribed by Article 9 (commencing with Section 49510) of Chapter 9.

(c) The notification also shall advise the parents and guardians of all pupils attending a school within the school district of the schedule of minimum days and pupil-free staff development days, and if minimum or pupil-free staff development days are scheduled thereafter, the governing board of the school district shall notify parents and guardians of the affected pupils as early as possible, but not later than one month before the scheduled minimum or pupil-free day.

(d) The notification also may advise the parent or guardian of the importance of investing for future college or university education for their children and of considering appropriate investment options, including, but not limited to, United States savings bonds.

(e) The notification shall advise the parent or guardian of the pupil that each pupil completing grade 12 is required to successfully pass the high school exit examination administered pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 60850) of Part 33. The notification shall include, at a minimum, the date of the examination and the requirements for passing the examination, and shall inform the parents and guardians regarding the consequences of not passing the examination and shall inform parents and guardians that passing the examination is a condition of graduation.

(f) Each school district that elects to provide a fingerprinting program pursuant to Article 10 (commencing with Section 32390) of Chapter 3 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 shall inform parents or guardians of the program as specified in Section 32390.

(g) The notification also shall include a copy of the written policy of the school district on sexual harassment established pursuant to Section 231.5, as it relates to pupils.

(h) The notification shall advise the parent or guardian of all existing statutory attendance options and local attendance options available in the school district. This notification component shall include all options for meeting residency requirements for school attendance, programmatic options offered within the local attendance areas, and any special programmatic options available on both an interdistrict and intradistrict basis. This notification component also shall include a description of all options, a description of the procedure for application for alternative attendance areas or programs, an application form from the school district for requesting a change of attendance, and a description of the appeals process available, if any, for a parent or guardian denied a change of attendance. The notification component also shall include an explanation of the existing statutory attendance options, including, but not limited to, those available under Section 35160.5, Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 46600) of Part 26, and subdivision (b) of Section 48204. The department shall produce this portion of the notification and shall distribute it to all school districts.

(i) It is the intent of the Legislature that the governing board of each school district annually review the enrollment options available to the pupils within its district and that the school districts strive to make available enrollment options that meet the diverse needs, potential, and interests of the pupils of California.

(j) The notification shall advise the parent or guardian that a pupil shall not have his or her grade reduced or lose academic credit for any absence or absences excused pursuant to Section 48205 if missed assignments and tests that can reasonably be provided are satisfactorily completed within a reasonable period of time, and shall include the full text of Section 48205.

(k) The notification shall advise the parent or guardian of the availability of state funds to cover the costs of advanced placement examination fees pursuant to Section 52242.

(l) The notification to the parent or guardian of a minor pupil enrolled in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, also shall include the information required pursuant to Section 51229.

(m) If a school district elects to allow a career technical education course to satisfy the requirement imposed by subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 51225.3, the school district shall include, in the notification required pursuant to this section, both of the following:

(1) Information about the high school graduation requirements of the school district and how each requirement satisfies or does not satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California.

(2) A complete list of career technical education courses offered by the school district that satisfy the subject matter requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California, and which of the specific college admission requirements these courses satisfy.

(n) A school district that elects to adopt a policy regarding the transfer of pupils pursuant to Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 48929) shall inform parents or guardians of the policy in the notification required pursuant to this section.



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