BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1143
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1143 (Liu)
As Amended August 4, 2014
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :37-0
EDUCATION 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Buchanan, Olsen, Ch�vez, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Gonzalez, Nazarian, | |Bradford, |
| |Weber, Williams | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Eggman, Gomez, Holden, |
| | | |Pan, Quirk, |
| | | |Ridley-Thomas, Weber |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | |Nays:|Bigelow, Donnelly, Jones, |
| | | |Linder, Wagner |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Specifies that if more than 10% of the total average
daily attendance (ADA) for local education agencies (LEAs) is
claimed utilizing the course-based Independent Study (IS)
approach, then any ADA in excess of 10% shall be reduced by the
prior year statewide average rate of absence for either
elementary districts or high school districts, as applicable.
Also specifies that the use of course-based IS shall not be
deemed to prohibit the right to collectively bargain any subject
within the scope of representation.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, unknown, likely minor state savings, to the extent
this bill reduces ADA apportionments for a district, charter
school, or county office of education with greater than 10% of
its students enrolled in course-based independent study.
COMMENTS : Existing law authorizes independent study as an
alternative instructional strategy. Independent study students
work independently, according to a written agreement and under
the general supervision of a credentialed teacher or teachers.
While independent study students follow the district-adopted
curriculum and meet the district graduation requirements,
SB 1143
Page 2
independent study offers flexibility to meet individual student
needs, interests, and styles of learning. Traditionally,
independent study funding is based on students' academic work
products, rather than attendance, since students do not attend
school on a daily basis. For each assignment, the supervising
teacher equates a students' work to an equivalent amount of seat
time. An IS program can claim full per-pupil funding if the
seat-time equivalent of the students' work is the same as the
time the students would have spent in a classroom setting.
The 2014 education budget trailer bill SB 858 (Budget and Fiscal
Review Committee), Chapter 32, makes several changes to the
administration of the independent study program and offers a new
course-based alternative. The course-based approach eliminates
the assignment-by-assignment requirement and instead authorizes
local governing boards to certify an entire IS course as
equivalent to a specific amount of seat time.
Reason for the bill. According to the author' office, the
purpose of this bill is to limit the fiscal exposure to the
state for school districts, charter schools, and county offices
of education that provide a new course-based approach to
independent study. Further the bill clarifies that nothing in
law prohibits this new approach to educational delivery from
being collective bargained.
Analysis Prepared by : Rick Pratt / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN:
0004447