BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1049
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 4, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

               AB 1049 (Brownley) - As Introduced:  February 18, 2011 

          Policy Committee:                              Education 
          Vote:9-1

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) to 
          convene a workgroup to identify a single formula that defines, 
          to the greatest extent possible, persistently lowest achieving 
          schools that can be used in both state and federal 
          accountability programs.  Specifically, this bill: 

          1)Requires the workgroup to include representatives from all of 
            the following: the LAO, Department of Finance, State 
            Department of Education (SDE), Public School Accountability 
            Act Advisory Committee, State Board of Education (SBE), 
            legislative staff, and education stakeholder groups (i.e., 
            teachers, administrators, etc.).  

          2)Requires the workgroup to report its recommendations to the 
            SBE and education policy committees of the Legislature by July 
            1, 2012.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor, absorbable GF costs to the LAO to complete the 
          requirements of this measure.  

           COMMENTS  

           Rationale  .  Over the years, both the state and federal 
          governments have established educational reform programs with 
          the purpose of improving low performing schools.  For example, 
          there has been the state Intervention/Underperforming Schools 
          Program, the High Priority Schools Program, and the Quality 
          Education Investment Act.  Likewise, the federal No Child Left 
          Behind Act of 2001 established the School Improvement Grant 
          program and recently the federal government revised this program 






                                                                  AB 1049
                                                                  Page  2

          for the purposes of the federal Race To The Top grant.  

          Each state and federal program has established criterion to 
          identify low performing schools.  While these definitions may be 
          similar, distinct differences exist, which causes confusion at 
          both the state and local level.  According to the author, 
          "Conflicting definitions not only result in bureaucratic 
          inefficiencies, but also indicate that some of California's most 
          disadvantaged schools are not receiving the guidance and 
          resources essential to improving educational quality. Due to the 
          complexities and exemptions built into each formula, schools may 
          be deemed low-achieving under one formula, but adequate or even 
          high-achieving under another formula." 

          This bill requires the LAO to convene a workgroup to identify a 
          single formula that defines a "persistently lowest achieving 
          school," as specified.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916) 
          319-2081