budget and legislative update california consortium for independent study (ccis) presented by:...

Budget and Legislative Update

California Consortium for Independent Study (CCIS)

Presented by:Barrett Snider, Capitol Advisors Group

Arlene Matsuura, CDEWendi McCaskill, CDE

Topics Covered

• Legislative Changes in 2014 - Barrett

• Election outcomes: Impacts - Barrett

• Preview: K-12 education issues in 2015 - Barrett

• Independent Study changes:• Part 1: Changes to Independent Study -

Barrett/Arlene/Wendi

• Part 2: New “Course-based” Independent Study option (beginning in 2015-16 school year) - Barrett/Arlene/Wendi

Legislative Changes in 2014

• Expanded Preschool and Child Care for low-income students – increased slots• Pushed by out-going Senate leader Darrell

Steinberg (D-Sacramento)

• Changes to Independent Study

• CalSTRS reform - increases contribution rates for employees, employers, and the state in an attempt to eliminate $75 liability over 32 year period

New CalSTRS Rates

Teacher Dismissal

AB 215 (Buchanan) - makes numerous changes to the teacher dismissal process. Adds “egregious misconduct” as a specific type of immoral conduct that allows for a new separate dismissal process

•One of the most controversial bills of 2014 - in response to LAUSD molestation case

•Backed by CTA and EdVoice in political deal with Governor to avoid education “armageddon” on November 2014 ballot

•Administrators say reforms are cumbersome and more problematic than previous law regarding dismissal for these types of cases

•Watch Vergara v .State of California litigation to potentially create an opportunity for more conversation on this topic


• SB 1174 (Lara) - will ask voters in November 2016 to repeal Prop 227 (1998) mandate on English-only instruction

• AB 1764 (Olsen) - allows schools, if they require more than two-years of mathematics to graduate, to award mathematics credit for any “category C” approved computer science course

• AB 2160 (Ting) - Requires all schools to electronically submit GPAs for all high school seniors to the California Student Aid Commission

• AB 420 (Dickinson) - Modifies the instances in which a student may be suspended or expelled for “willful defiance"


Student Data/Privacy:

•AB 1442 (Gatto) creates rules for LEAs that adopt a program to collect information about students from social media – also affects 3rd party contracts

•AB 1584 (Buchanan) Requires LEAs, when contracting for digital storage of student data to include specific language in those contracts

•SB 1177 (Steinberg) Prohibits K-12 Internet operators from using student information for a variety of uses (marketing, selling, etc.)

Want a full report of

changes in K-12 education law

in 2014?

Available on the members only section of the CCIS website

Election Outcomes: Impacts

• Governor Brown wins easily, very popular• Clearly in charge

• Torlakson won with larger margin than anticipated• Reformers vs. Teachers Unions

• Democrats lose 2/3 supermajorities in Senate and Assembly• Republicans relevant again for taxes, appointments• New legislative leaders, longer term limits

• Prop 2 (Rainy Day Fund) passed – transparency and school district reserve limitations

Preview: K-12 Education Issues in 2015

• Budget and Legislative business start in January

• Governor likely to focus on Special Education reform, Adult Education reform, CTE/ROCP funding issues, and school facilities funding

• Legislature wants to tinker with LCFF and LCAPs to require more services for EL, low income, and foster youth

• Proceed with caution: changes to school district budget reserve limitation

• SBAC assessments go live, probably…

• Prop 30 revenues approaching cliff’s edge

Changes to Independent Study

• SB 858 (Chapter 32, Statutes of 2014) Education Budget Trailer Bill• Signed in June 2014 along with other budget bills• Includes changes to Independent Study law and

creates new “course-based” Independent Study option

• SB 876 (Chapter 687, Statutes of 2014) Education Budget Cleanup Bill • signed in September 2014• Includes cleanup language that applies a statewide

absence rate to the ADA generated by the new “course-based” independent study option

Part 1: Changes to Independent Study

1. Provides that the ratio of average daily attendance (ADA) IS pupils to full-time equivalent certificated employees responsible for IS shall be applied by grade span for each of the following grade spans, unless there is a locally bargained alternative: • Kindergarten and grades 1 to 3• Grades 4 to 6• Grades 7 to 8• Grades 9 to 12

2. Permits written agreements to be maintained on file electronically

Part 1: Changes to Independent Study

3. Provides that LEAs shall not be required to sign and date pupil work products when assessing the time value of pupil work products for apportionment purposes

4. Allows LEAs to enter into year-long master agreements

Part 2: New “Course-based” Independent

Study • Creates a “course-based” Independent

Study option, beginning in 2015-16, for pupils in Kindergarten through grade 12• There are lots of issues here• CCIS was agnostic about “course-based”

option because Governor wanted it as part of the package of reforms


Study • It is an optional alternative to regular

Independent Study

• May offer it commencing with the 2015-16 school year

• May be offered to students in Kindergarten to Grade 12

• Includes school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools

• Strongly advise NOT utilizing it – at least for now


Study Required elements:

•Signed learning agreement completed and on file

•Highly Qualified teachers and employed at the LEA (or MOU)

•Pupils meet residency, enrollment, and age requirements

•Teacher and pupil must communicate twice per calendar month to assess satisfactory progress (in person, by telephone, or other live visual or audio connection)

•A proctor must administer examinations (issues)

•“Satisfactory educational progress” must be made to stay enrolled


Study • “Satisfactory educational progress” can include:

• Statewide tests, completion of assignments, examinations or other indicators that evidence the pupil is working, learning, and making progress toward successful completion of course

• “As determined by certificated employee providing instruction”

• If satisfactory progress is not being made1. Notification to pupil and parents2. Conduct an evaluation to determine if alternative placement should be

made3. Maintain a written record of the unsatisfactory progress evaluation which

is considered a mandatory interim record and must be maintained for 3 years

• Maintain written or computer-based evidence of satisfactory progress for each pupil and each course. Evidence shall include:• A grade book or summary document that lists all assignments,

examinations and associated grades.


Study • Statewide testing results must be disaggregated to compare with pupils

enrolled in classroom-based courses

• Pupil cannot be required to enroll in “course-based” independent study

• Independent Study Ratio (EC 47612.5) requirements must be met

• Pupils must be offered the minimum annual total equivalent instructional minutes

• Pupils must met applicable minimum daily instructional minutes

• Courses for HS graduation, UC/CSU admission cannot be offered exclusively through IS

• Pupils enrolled in these courses may not be assessed any prohibited fees

• Cannot prohibit from participating solely based on not having equipment, or internet

CCIS Efforts in 2015

• Reverse or revise the grade-span calculation (LCFF grade spans) for pupil/teacher ratios for regular IS

• Clarify that LEAs may “collect/accept” electronic agreements

• Add/clarify the ability to collect and store the following electronically:• Work samples • Assignment sheets• Supplemental agreements• Attendance sheets

Contact Information

Thank you, please contact us if we can provide additional information:

•Barrett Snider - [email protected]

•Arlene Matsuura - [email protected]

•Wendi McKaskill - [email protected]

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