Bill Text: CA AB2617 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Dropout recovery programs: funding report.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-25 - In committee: Set, second hearing. Held under submission. [AB2617 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB2617-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2617	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Blumenfield

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to add Section 48070.7 to the Education Code, relating to
pupil retention.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2617, as introduced, Blumenfield. Pupil retention: dropout
recovery programs: funding report.
   Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, on
or before August 1, 2011, and annually thereafter, to submit to the
Governor, the Legislature, and the State Board of Education a report
called the Annual Report on Dropouts in California. Existing law
requires, among other things, that the report contain specified
information on dropout rates, graduation rates, and pupil promotion
rates. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that the
report be usable by schools, school districts, policymakers,
researchers, parents, and the public, for purposes of identifying and
understanding trends, causal relations, early warning indicators,
and potential points of intervention to address the high rate of
dropouts in California.
   This bill would require, on or before May 31, 2013, the
Superintendent, in cooperation with the state board and the
Legislative Analyst's Office, to publish a report and recommendations
addressing the adequacy of funding for dropout recovery programs in
California, as specified.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The National Governor's Association Center for Best Practices
reviewed California and other state programs and concluded that
"States have largely focused on dropout prevention because it is
easier and cheaper to prevent students from leaving school than to
bring a dropout back to school. Yet, no matter how effective a state'
s dropout prevention efforts, students invariably fall through the
cracks."
   (b) The National Governor's Association study further found that
quality alternatives to traditional comprehensive high schools are
lacking and that there are too few financial incentives for dropout
recovery.
   (c) Research demonstrates that dropout recovery high schools face
added costs and a number of challenges in reengaging pupils,
including:
   (1) Dropouts who reenter high school are significantly below grade
level.
   (2) Reengagement into a high school setting can be difficult and
take a significant amount of time.
   (3) Pupils typically have higher mobility and lower attendance
rates.
   (4) Pupils who have dropped out are significantly more likely to
drop out again.
   (d) Successful dropout recovery high schools utilize multiple
strategies including lower pupil-teacher ratios, state-of-the-art
technology, and career technical education to reach the variety of
learning modalities of the population that they serve.
   (e) Incentives for dropout recovery programs would increase the
number of pupils served and could result in a significant return on
the state's investment as evidenced by data from the Alliance for
Excellent Education.
  SEC. 2.  Section 48070.7 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   48070.7.  On or before May 31, 2013, the Superintendent, in
cooperation with the state board and the Legislative Analyst's
Office, shall examine the adequacy of funding for dropout recovery
programs in California and publish a report with recommendations. In
preparing the report, the Superintendent shall review dropout
recovery programs in other states, including, but not limited to, the
Texas Dropout Recovery Pilot Program, the Texas Optional Flexible
School Day Program, and the Arizona dropout recovery programs
authorized by Section 15-901.06 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.