BILL NUMBER: AB 2036 CHAPTERED 09/30/00 CHAPTER 935 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 31, 2000 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 29, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 28, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 6, 2000 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 4, 2000 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Nakano (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bock, Calderon, Ducheny, Kuehl, Mazzoni, Shelley, Washington, and Zettel) (Coauthor: Senator Solis) FEBRUARY 18, 2000 An act to add Article 4 (commencing with Section 44689.1) to Chapter 3.1 of Part 25 of the Education Code, relating to school administrators, and making an appropriation therefor. (Approved by Governor September 29, 2000. Filed with Secretary of State September 30, 2000.) I am signing Assembly Bill No. 2036. However, I am deleting the $1 million General Fund appropriation to the State Department of Education to administer the grant program proposed by this bill. This bill would establish a grant program, to be administered by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, that would provide training to school administrators to assist them in evaluating the performance of certified school employees. The cost of the grant program was not included in the 2000 Budget Act. I will consider an appropriation to fund the grant program among competing priorities during the annual budget process. GRAY DAVIS, Governor LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2036, Nakano. School administrators: evaluation of certificated employees. Under existing law, a person may not be employed as principal of a school of 6 or more certificated employees unless he or she holds a valid school administration credential and a teaching credential or a services credential with a specialization in pupil personnel, health, clinical or rehabilitative, or librarian services. Existing law requires the governing board of each school district to establish and define job responsibilities for certificated noninstructional personnel, including, but not limited to, supervisory and administrative personnel, whose responsibilities cannot be evaluated appropriately under the provisions relating to the evaluation of certificated employees. This bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to administer these provisions. The bill would require the superintendent to award grants in the amount of $400 per administrator to any eligible applicant local educational agency. The bill would appropriate $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the State Department of Education for purposes of awarding grants to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to provide specified administrator training. The funds appropriated by this bill 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. Article 4 (commencing with Section 44689.1) is added to Chapter 3.1 of Part 25 of the Education Code, to read: Article 4. Evaluation of Certificated Employees 44689.1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) Strong schoolsite administrators play a pivotal role in the life of a school and are essential for successful schools. The principal, as leader of the schoolsite educational team, is the most effective agent for bringing about educational improvement. (2) An important component of effective leadership is evaluation of employees. (3) Training in effective evaluation strategies and techniques that supports instructional improvement is essential. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that administrators assigned to evaluate certificated employees possess certain demonstrated competencies in assessment of employees. 44689.2. (a) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall, with the approval of the State Board of Education, award a grant to any eligible applicant school district, county office of education, or charter school, for the purpose of providing necessary administrator training pursuant to this article. The grant shall consist of an amount not to exceed four hundred dollars ($400) per administrator scheduled to receive training as set forth in this article. (b) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall administer this article and shall, where necessary, implement actions of the State Board of Education governing the implementation of this article. (c) (1) Programs funded pursuant to this section shall include all of the following: (A) Techniques and strategies for successful supervision, observation, diagnosis, and conferencing with teachers that support instructional improvement. (B) Documentation and writing techniques necessary for effective written evaluations. (C) A knowledge of evaluation, assessment, and dismissal procedures pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with Section 44660) of Chapter 3 and Article 3 (commencing with Section 44930) of Chapter 4. (2) The programs shall provide sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of the state's diverse school districts. (3) The programs shall set forth the sources for appropriate professional development, including, but not limited to, the Governor' s Principal Leadership Institute pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 92855) of Part 57, onsite training offered by practitioners and consulting experts, and academies offered by professional associations. (d) This article shall not be implemented during any fiscal year for which funds have not been appropriated for these purposes. SEC. 2. The sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Education for purposes of awarding grants to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to provide administrator training pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 44689.1) of Chapter 3.1 of Part 25 of the Education Code.