CA AB 2137

Title: Homeless and foster youth.
Author: Sharon Quirk-Silva

Summary
AB 2137, as amended, Quirk-Silva. Homeless and foster youth. (1) Existing law establishes the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, under the administration of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to provide supplemental funding to county offices of education, or a consortium of county offices of education, to coordinate and ensure that local educational agencies within its jurisdiction are providing services to foster youth pupils pursuant to a foster youth services coordinating plan with the purpose of ensuring positive educational outcomes. The program authorizes a county office of education, or a consortium of county offices of education, to apply to the Superintendent for grant funding to operate an education-based foster youth services coordinating program. If sufficient funds are available, existing law requires each foster youth services coordinating program to identify at least one person as the foster youth educational services coordinator, who is responsible for facilitating educational support, as specified, to any pupil in foster care residing or attending school in the county or consortium of counties. As a condition of receiving funds, existing law requires a foster youth services coordinating program to develop and implement a foster youth services plan that includes, among other things, authorization of a school district, when specified conditions apply, to enter into a temporary agreement with the foster youth services coordinating program to provide tutoring, mentoring, and counseling services to pupils, as provided.This bill instead would authorize a foster youth services coordinating program to provide tutoring, mentoring, and counseling services to a foster youth pupil, if a foster youth educational services coordinator determines, as specified, that the foster youth services coordinator is unable to secure those services provided by the foster youth pupil’s school district and if those services are established as needed and identified by the foster youth educational services coordinator.(2) Existing law requires the governing body of a school district, county office of education, or charter school to confirm that a grade 12 pupil who has not opted out, as specified, completes and submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or, if the pupil is exempt from paying nonresident tuition under existing law, completes and submits a specified form for purposes of the California Dream Act, as provided. If a school district, county office of education, or charter school determines that pupil is unable to complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a form for purposes of the California Dream Act, or an opt-out form, existing law requires the local educational agency to exempt the pupil from these requirements and requires the local educational agency to complete and submit an opt-out form on the pupil’s behalf.This bill would require a school district, county office of education, or charter school to submit to the foster youth services coordinating program completed opt-out forms, no later than 14 calendar days following completion, whether received from the parent, guardian, or pupil or prepared on behalf of the pupil by the local educational agency, for pupils who are foster youth, as defined. To the extent that these provisions would impose additional duties on school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(3) Existing law requires the governing board of each school district and each county board of education to adopt a local control and accountability plan, as provided. Existing law requires that certain things occur before a governing board of a school district or county board of education considers the adoption of a local control and accountability plan or an annual update to the plan, including that the superintendent of the school district or county superintendent of schools present the local cont

Status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

Bill Documents
CA AB 2137 - 04/11/24 - Amended Assembly
04/11/24 - CA AB 2137 (04/11/24 - Amended Assembly)