BILL NUMBER: AB 908	CHAPTERED  09/18/00

	CHAPTER   459
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 18, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 15, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 31, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 30, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 29, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 28, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 29, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JULY 7, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 18, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 5, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alquist
   (Coauthor:  Assembly Members Kuehl and Strom-Martin)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Baca and Speier)

                        FEBRUARY 25, 1999

   An act to add Section 224.5 to the Education Code, relating to
gender equity training, and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 908, Alquist.   Education:  gender equity training.
   Existing law states the policy of the state that elementary and
secondary school classes and courses be conducted without regard to
the sex of the pupil enrolled in these classes and courses.
   This bill would establish the gender equity train-the-trainer
grant program for the award of grants from funds available for that
purpose to the governing boards of school districts and county
offices of education.  The bill would require the Superintendent of
Public Instruction, with the approval of the State Board of
Education, to develop criteria for the grant applications, and the
superintendent would select grant recipients.  The Superintendent of
Public Instruction would implement this program only in fiscal years
in which sufficient funds have been appropriated for this purpose.
To the extent funds are available in multiple years, the
Superintendent of Public Instruction would be required to award
grants in a manner that ensures that training is available in all
parts of the state.
   The bill would limit expenditures of state funds for purposes of
the bill to $130,000 in any fiscal year.
   The bill would appropriate $110,000 from the General Fund to the
Superintendent of Public Instruction for purposes of the gender
equity train-the-trainer grant program and would authorize $10,000 to
be expended on state administration of the grant program.  To the
extent that the funds appropriated by this bill are allocated to a
school district or a community college district, those funds would be
applied toward the minimum funding requirements for school districts
and community college districts imposed by Section 8 of Article XVI
of the California Constitution.
   Appropriation:  yes.


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


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (1) There are disproportionately fewer female students in advanced
classes of mathematics, science, and technology in postsecondary
institutions.
   (2) Research demonstrates that the behaviors and attitudes of
teachers in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, may have a
disproportionate impact on the self-image and aspirations of female
pupils.
   (3) Studies have demonstrated also that teachers who have
experienced gender equity training are more adept at enhancing the
self-image of female pupils, which results in a greater number of
those female pupils being as successful as male pupils in subjects
such as mathematics, science, and technology.
  SEC. 2.  Section 224.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   224.5.  (a) There is hereby established the gender equity
train-the-trainer grant program.  The Superintendent of Public
Instruction shall award grants from funds available for that purpose
to the governing boards of school districts and county offices of
education for the implementation of programs to train trainers in
gender equity.
   (b) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall, with the
approval of the State Board of Education, develop criteria for the
grant applications .  The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall
select as grant recipients applicants that have clearly demonstrated
all of the following:
   (1) Grant moneys will result in the grantee providing ongoing
gender training to all staff members, including certificated and
classified staff, and maintaining a pool of knowledgeable gender
equity trainers.
   (2) The applicant has considered other available federal and state
funding resources for gender equity training and coordinated those
resources, as appropriate with a grant under this section.
   (c) A grant application shall include an evaluation plan for
determining the extent to which the expected benefits of the trainer
program are being realized.  The results of the evaluation shall be
reported to the governing board of the school district or county
board of education, as appropriate.
   (d) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall implement this
section only in fiscal years in which sufficient funds have been
appropriated for this purpose.  To the extent funds are available in
multiple years, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall award
grants in a manner that ensures that training is available in all
parts of the state.
   (e) No more than a total of one hundred thirty thousand dollars
($130,000) of state funds may be expended in any fiscal year for
purposes of this section.
  SEC. 3.  The sum of one hundred ten thousand dollars ($110,000) is
hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent of
Public Instruction for purposes of awarding grants to school
districts and county offices of education pursuant to the gender
equity train-the-trainer grant program established pursuant to
Section 224.5 of the Education Code.  Of the amount appropriated in
this section, ten thousand dollars ($10,000) may be expended on state
administration of the grant program.