BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Jack Scott, Chair
2005-2006 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 1777
AUTHOR: Alarcon
AMENDED: April 17, 2006
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: April 26, 2006
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Lynn Lorber
SUBJECT : Juvenile Court Schools
SUMMARY
This bill provides supplemental funding to school districts
and county offices of education that provide instructional
services to foster youth.
BACKGROUND
This bill is very similar to funding provisions for the
Foster Youth Services Core District Programs. There are 6
Foster Youth Services programs (operated by school
districts or a consortia) and 53 countywide Foster Youth
Services programs. The goals of these programs is to,
among other things, (1) identify the needs of foster youth;
(2) provide educational and social support services; and,
(3) improve student academic achievement and reduce
juvenile delinquency.
Outcome data for these programs, as reported by the
California Department of Education in February 2006, shows
positive program results as demonstrated by improvement in
academic performance, expulsion rates, and attendance
rates. This report included several recommendations,
including: provide adequate funding for the program,
develop a statewide database to collect and share
information, and expand countywide programs to service all
foster youth, not only those living in Licensed Children's
Institutions (only about 12% of foster youth). This last
recommendation would be partially fulfilled by expanding
the Foster Youth Services programs to serve foster youth in
a juvenile court school or transitioning from a juvenile
court school.
SB 1777
Page 2
ANALYSIS
This bill :
1) Requires, beginning in the 2006-07 fiscal year and
every year thereafter, each county office of education
that provides educational services through a juvenile
court school to foster youth to receive, in addition
to the base revenue limit, funds equal to the amount
spent on foster youth in the 2005-06 fiscal year, with
specified adjustments.
2) Requires, beginning in the 2006-07 fiscal year and
every year thereafter, each school district that
provides educational services to foster youth
transferring to the district from a juvenile detention
hall or probation camp and has received educational
services through a juvenile court school to receive
the same adjustment as described above, for 1 year
after enrollment in the district.
3) Prohibits the 6 school districts/consortia currently
receiving supplemental funding (as described in the
Background) from receiving funds pursuant to this
bill.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Why not expand Foster Youth Services ? This bill does
not expand the Foster Youth Services program to
include juvenile court school youth because the
proponents want to protest the integrity of, and
funding for, that program. While this bill does not
expand the Foster Youth Services program, it does
provide for increased levels of funding similar to
what is provided under the program. The 2005-06
Budget provided approximately $9.5 million and the
2006-07 Budget proposes $10 million for the Foster
Youth Programs.
2) How many county offices of education have juvenile
court schools ? Forty-nine county offices of education
operate court schools. It is conceivable that every
school district serves youth transitioning from a
juvenile court school.
SB 1777
Page 3
SUPPORT
Los Angeles County Education Foundation
Los Angeles County Office of Education (sponsor)
OPPOSITION
None received.