21st Century High School After School Safety And Enrichment For Teens Program - Early Education Act - CA Education

Section § 8420

This law introduces and names a program called the '21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens,' which is focused on providing safety and enrichment opportunities for high school students after school.

This article shall be known and may be cited as the 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (High School ASSETs) program.

21st Century High School After School Safety Enrichment for Teens High School ASSETs education enrichment teen programs student safety after school programs high school initiatives youth development teen engagement community programs education support student activities high school safety

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1025, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003.)

Section § 8421

The 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens program supports high school students with afterschool programs that offer academic help and enriching activities. Schools and communities can partner to create programs for students in grades 9-12 that include tutoring, career guidance, and college prep, along with recreational and educational activities. The program must run at least 15 hours a week and can take place on or off school grounds, as long as it is safe and accessible. Applicants must detail their plans, include student input, and coordinate with existing programs to maximize resources. Fiscal responsibility and adherence to quality standards are crucial, but exact attendance targets for individual students are not mandated.

There is hereby established the 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens program. The purpose of the program is to create incentives for establishing locally driven after school enrichment programs that partner schools and communities to provide academic support and safe, constructive alternatives for high school pupils in the hours after the regular schoolday, and that support college and career readiness.

(a) High school after school programs shall serve pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive.

(b) A high school after school program established pursuant to this article shall consist of the following two elements:

(1)

(A) An academic assistance element that shall include, but need not be limited to, at least one of the following: tutoring, career exploration, homework assistance, or college preparation, including information about the Cal Grant Program established pursuant to Chapter 1.7 (commencing with Section 69430) of Part 42 of Division 5 of Title 3. The assistance shall be coordinated with the regular academic programs of the pupils.

(B) For purposes of this article, “career exploration” means activities that help pupils develop the knowledge and skills that are relevant to their career interests and reinforce academic content.

(2) An enrichment element that may include, but need not be limited to, community service, career and technical education, job readiness, opportunities for mentoring and tutoring younger pupils, service learning, arts, computer and technology training, physical fitness, and recreation activities.

(c) A program shall operate for a minimum of 15 hours per week.

(d) An entity may operate programs on one or multiple sites. If an entity plans to operate programs at multiple sites, only one application is required.

(e) A program may operate on a schoolsite or on another site approved by the department during the grant application process. A program located off school grounds shall not be approved unless both of the following criteria are met:

(1) Safe transportation is available to transport participating pupils if necessary.

(2) The program is at least as available and accessible as similar programs conducted on schoolsites.

(f) Applicants for grants pursuant to this article shall ensure that all of the following requirements are fulfilled, if applicable:

(1) The application includes a description of the activities that will be available for pupils and lists the program hours.

(2) The application includes an estimate of the following:

(A) The number of pupils expected to attend the program on a regular basis.

(B) The average hours of attendance per pupil.

(C) The percentage of pupils expected to attend the program less than three days a week, three days a week, and more than three days a week, for each quarter or semester during the grant period.

(3) The application documents the commitments of each partner to operate a program at a location or locations that are safe and accessible to participating pupils.

(4) The application certifies that pupils were involved in the design of the program and describes the extent of that involvement.

(5) The application identifies federal, state, and local programs that will be combined or coordinated with the high school after school program for the most effective use of public resources, and describes a plan for implementing the high school after school program beyond federal grant funding.

(6) The application has been approved by the school district, or the charter school governing body, and the principal of each participating school for each schoolsite or other site.

(7) The application includes a certification that the applicant has complied with the requirement in subdivision (b) of Section 8422.

(8) The application includes a certification that each applicant or partner in the application agrees to do all of the following:

(A) Assume responsibility for the quality of the program.

(B) Follow all fiscal reporting and auditing standards required by the department.

(C) Provide the following information on participating pupils to the department:

(i) Schoolday attendance rates.

(ii) Program attendance.

(D) Acknowledge that program evaluations will be based upon the criteria in Section 8427.

(9) Certify that the applicant has complied with all federal requirements in preparing and submitting the application.

(g) The department shall not establish minimum attendance requirements for individual pupils.

(h) It is the intent of the Legislature that, to the extent possible, the department require applicants to submit the information required by this section in a short and concise manner.

after school enrichment academic support career readiness tutoring college preparation safe transportation community partnership program hours application requirements school district approval student involvement fiscal responsibility attendance rates program evaluation grant funding

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 641, Sec. 1. (AB 830) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Section § 8421.5

This law requires a department to notify schools about available grants and the process to apply for them. It mandates that the application form should be accessible on the department's website and reviewed periodically. The review process will consider specific requirements mentioned in related sections.

(a)

(1) The department shall provide notice to all schools eligible for grants under this article of the availability of those grants as well as the application process.

(2) The department shall make the application available through its Internet Web site. The department shall periodically review the applications on a competitive basis for funding on dates determined by the department.

(b) The department shall review all applications for their inclusion of the requirements of subdivision (f) of Section 8421 and Section 8423.

school grants grant eligibility application process internet availability competitive funding review process related requirements subdivision (f) Section 8421 Section 8423

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 370, Sec. 2. (SB 1221) Effective January 1, 2015.)

Section § 8422

This law outlines how funding is prioritized for certain educational programs, focusing first on those already receiving support and meeting goals, or needing grants replaced. These programs should plan collaboratively with schools, parents, and local organizations. Students at participating schools can join if there's room, but programs may charge fees, which must be reduced or waived for those qualifying for free meals. These programs can operate after school only, or extend to times like before school or during breaks.

(a) Priority for funding pursuant to this article shall be given to programs that previously received funding pursuant to Section 8421, for expansion of existing grants up to the per site maximum established under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 8426, or to replace expiring grants that have satisfactorily met their projected attendance goals.

(b) A program established pursuant to this article shall be planned through a collaborative process that includes parents, pupils, representatives of participating schools, governmental agencies, including city and county parks and recreation departments, community organizations, law enforcement, and, if appropriate, the private sector.

(c) Every pupil attending a school operating a program pursuant to this article is eligible to participate in the program, subject to program capacity. A program established pursuant to this article may charge family fees. Programs that charge family fees shall waive or reduce the cost of these fees for pupils who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

(d) A program established pursuant to this article shall have the option of operating under either of the following modes:

(1) After school only.

(2) After school and during any combination of before school, weekends, summer, intersession, and vacation.

funding priority program expansion attendance goals collaborative planning participating schools community involvement pupil eligibility family fees fee waivers after school programs program capacity school-based programs

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 470, Sec. 1. (AB 2615) Effective January 1, 2017.)

Section § 8423

The department will choose schools for the 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens program. Grants will be given out in a way that ensures schools from all over California, including urban and rural areas, get a fair chance. To decide who gets the grants, the department will look at factors like how well the program ties in with state academic standards, community support, student safety, and how engaging the program is for students. Programs should be reviewed regularly to keep students interested. Applications must also show they can offer technology access, nutrition, and physical activities, and collect data to help improve their programs.

(a)

(1) The department shall select grantees to participate in the 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens program from among applicants that apply on forms and in a manner prescribed by the department. To the extent possible, the selection of applicants by the department shall result in an equitable distribution of grant awards to applicants in northern, southern, and central California, and in urban and rural areas of the state.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(A) “Central California” means California County Superintendents Educational Services Association regions five to eight, inclusive.

(B) “Northern California” means California County Superintendents Educational Services Association regions one to four, inclusive.

(C) “Southern California” means California County Superintendents Educational Services Association regions 9 to 11, inclusive.

(D) “Urban and rural areas” shall be as defined by the United States Census Bureau.

(b) The department shall consider the following criteria in awarding grants:

(1) Strength of the educational element and coordination with state academic standards and other academic interventions.

(2) Strength of the enrichment element.

(3) Evidence of community collaboration, including demonstrated support of the principal and staff from participating schools.

(4) A description of the manner in which programs will provide a safe physical and emotional environment and opportunities for relationship building, and promote active pupil engagement.

(5) A description of the manner in which the program design will be periodically reexamined in order to maintain strong pupil interest.

(6) A description of plans to attract pupils, particularly pupils considered at promise or in need of academic support, on a regular basis.

(c) The application shall certify all of the following:

(1) Completion of an assessment of pupils’ preferences for program activities.

(2) Access to, and availability of, computers and technology.

(3) Inclusion of a nutritional snack, meal, or both, and a physical activity element.

(4) That the program will meet all of the evaluation requirements.

(5) Fiscal accountability.

(6) Collection and use of pupil social, behavioral, or skill development data collection to support quality program improvement processes. These pupil data outcomes may relate to specific social-emotional competencies, including, but not necessarily limited to, social skills, self-control, academic mindset, perseverance, conflict resolution, and school connectedness.

grant distribution 21st Century High School After School northern southern central California urban rural areas educational element state academic standards community collaboration safe environment pupil engagement program design reexamination at-risk pupils technology access nutritional snack pupil data outcomes social-emotional competencies

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 800, Sec. 4. (AB 413) Effective January 1, 2020.)

Section § 8425

This law section outlines that a specific program can only be implemented by the department if the Legislature provides federal funds. The law also states the Legislature's intention to allocate these federal funds each year through the state budget. Additionally, the department is allowed to use up to 3% of these funds to provide training, hold meetings with those receiving grants, and ensure the program is carried out effectively and can continue, which includes making unplanned visits to program sites.

(a) The department shall implement this program only to the extent that federal funds are appropriated by the Legislature for purposes of the program. It is the intent of the Legislature that available federal funds be appropriated annually for the program established pursuant to this article through the annual Budget Act.

(b) The department may spend up to 3 percent of the funds appropriated for purposes of this article to provide training by qualified and experienced personnel, to convene regular meetings among grantees, and to ensure quality program implementation and sustainability, including unscheduled site visits.

federal funds appropriation Legislature intent annual Budget Act program implementation training expenses grantee meetings unscheduled site visits program sustainability qualified personnel program funds usage quality program implementation experienced personnel training fund allocation department spending limit grant program meetings

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 370, Sec. 5. (SB 1221) Effective January 1, 2015.)

Section § 8426

This section details the rules for a program receiving grant money of up to $250,000 per year, for a maximum of five years, based on attendance and other criteria. Grants are contingent on legislative funds, and grantees are informed of their status by May 15. A portion of each grant must go to administrative costs, and some funds can cover startup costs. The law mandates semiannual attendance reporting and allows grant funds to be temporarily reduced if attendance falls below certain levels. The program's performance and adherence to its application terms can influence future funding. Grants can be terminated if a program fails to meet outcomes or attendance thresholds for three consecutive years. The law also provides for attendance credits if a program is disrupted by disasters or safety threats.

(a)

(1) A grantee that establishes a program pursuant to this chapter is eligible to receive a five-year grant of up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) per year per site in a program, subject to semiannual attendance reporting. Funding for a grant shall be allocated in annual increments for a period of not more than five years, contingent upon the availability and appropriation of federal funds by the Legislature for those grants.

(2) The department shall notify new grantees of their award status and the dollar amount of the award, if any, in writing on or before May 15 of each year in which new grants are awarded. The grantee shall notify the department in writing of its acceptance of the grant.

(3) A first-year grant award shall be made no later than 60 days after enactment of the annual Budget Act and any authorizing legislation. A grant award for the second and subsequent fiscal years shall be made no later than 30 days after enactment of the annual Budget Act and any authorizing legislation.

(4) A grantee who receives funds pursuant to this article as part of a partnership or consortium may restructure the partnership or consortium if all of the following conditions are met:

(A) All partners or consortium members agree to the restructure.

(B) The new consortia or partnership structure, or structures, complies with the requirements of paragraph (8) of subdivision (f) of Section 8421, as applicable.

(C) There is no change in the school, or schools, served by the restructured partnership or consortium.

(D) The department agrees to the restructure.

(b) The department shall allocate 25 percent of the grant amount each year no later than 30 days after the grant award acceptance letter is received by the department.

(c)

(1) Not more than 15 percent of each annual grant amount may be used by a grantee for administrative costs. For purposes of this article, administrative costs shall include indirect costs. Indirect costs shall not exceed the lesser of the following:

(A) The grantee’s indirect cost rate, as approved by the department for the appropriate fiscal year.

(B) Five percent of the state program funding received pursuant to this article.

(2) In addition to the funding allowed for administrative costs pursuant to paragraph (1), up to 15 percent of the first year’s annual grant award for each after school grant recipient may be used for startup costs.

(3) Funding made available pursuant to this subdivision shall not result in an increase in the total funding of a grantee above the approved grant amount.

(4) The cost of a program site supervisor may be included as direct services, provided that at least 85 percent of the site supervisor’s time is spent at the program site.

(d) Grantees are subject to semiannual attendance reporting during each year of the grant.

(1) The department shall provide technical support for development of a program improvement plan for grantees under either of the following conditions:

(A) If actual pupil attendance falls below 75 percent of the proposed levels in any year of the grant.

(B) If the grantee fails, in any year of the grant, to demonstrate measurable outcomes pursuant to Section 8427.

(2) If the actual pupil attendance falls below 75 percent of the proposed attendance level at the end of the second year of the grant, the department may reduce funding for the grantee.

(3) The department shall adjust the grant level of any school in the program that is under its proposed attendance level by more than 15 percent in each of two consecutive years.

(4) In any year, after the first grant-year period, that the actual attendance level of a school within the program falls below 75 percent of the proposed attendance level, the department shall perform a review of the program and may adjust the grant level as the department deems appropriate.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other law, the department may at any time terminate the grant of a school in a public school program that fails in three consecutive years to meet either of the following requirements:

(1) Demonstrate program outcomes pursuant to Section 8427.

(2) Attain 75 percent of its proposed attendance levels after having its program reviews and grant level adjusted by the department.

(f) The department shall create a process to allow a grantee to voluntarily lower its annual grant amount if one or more sites are unable to meet the proposed pupil attendance levels by the end of the second year of the grant.

(g)

(1) The administrator of a program may supplement, but not supplant, existing funding for after school programs with grant funds awarded pursuant to this article.

(2) In addition to administrative costs, a program participant may expend up to the greater of 6 percent of its state funding or seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) to collect outcome data for evaluation and for reports to the department.

(3) All state funding awarded to a program pursuant to this article that remains after subtracting the administrative costs, startup costs, and outcome data costs authorized by subdivisions (c) and (d) shall be allocated to the program site for direct services to pupils.

(h) When determining grant award amounts after each grant year, the department may consider whether a program is operating consistent with the terms of its application, including whether the number of pupils served on a regular basis is consistent with the number estimated, and may consider the strength of any justifications or future plans offered by the program to address inconsistencies with the terms of the application. If the department finds that a program is not operating consistent with the terms of its application, the department may take appropriate action, including denying grant awards or reducing the level of grant funding.

(i) The department may withhold or terminate the grant allocation of any site or program that does not comply with audit resolutions, fiscal reporting, attendance reporting, or outcomes reporting requirements required by the department.

(j) If a program grantee is temporarily prevented from operating its entire program due to natural disaster, civil unrest, or imminent danger to pupils or staff, the department may approve a request by the grantee for pupil attendance credits equal to the average annual attendance that the grantee would have received if it had been able to operate its entire program during that time period.

grant eligibility attendance reporting federal funding program restructure indirect costs administrative costs program improvement plan grant reduction pupil attendance level performance review funding adjustments program outcomes attendance credits supplement existing funding outcome data collection

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 507, Sec. 1. (SB 816) Effective January 1, 2019.)

Section § 8426.5

This law allows schools to transfer their before or after school programs to a different location within the same district if there are major obstacles preventing students from participating. The new location must either serve the same students and have a similar program grant as the original, or it must not have significantly fewer students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Additionally, the transferring school must ensure no funding exceeds the limits and that there is safe transportation and good coordination between teachers, program staff, and parents. Major obstacles include too few students participating, significant transportation issues, or school restructures affecting program eligibility.

(a)

(1) If there is a significant barrier to pupil participation in a program established pursuant to this article at the school of attendance, a grantee may request approval from the department to transfer program services to another schoolsite within the same local educational agency. The schoolsite to which the program will be transferred shall satisfy either of the following requirements:

(A) The schoolsite shall receive pupils from, and have a grant of the same type awarded pursuant to this article as, the transferring school.

(B) The schoolsite shall not have a 10-percent lower percentage of pupils eligible for free or reduced-price meals than the transferring school. If the proposed schoolsite is not yet open, feeder school free or reduced-price meal data, as determined by the department, shall be considered in evaluating the proposed transfer.

(2) The schoolsite shall not increase the funding at the proposed schoolsite above the maximum after school grant amount established under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 8426. An applicant that requests approval to transfer program services shall describe the manner in which the applicant intends to provide safe, supervised transportation; ensure communication among teachers in the regular school program, staff in the before school and after school components of the program, and parents of pupils; and coordinate the educational and literacy component of the before and after school components of the program with the regular school programs of participating pupils.

(b) For purposes of this article, a significant barrier to pupil participation in the before or after school component of a program established pursuant to this chapter means any of the following:

(1) Fewer than 20 pupils participating in the component of the program.

(2) Extreme transportation constraints, including, but not limited to, desegregation bussing, bussing for magnet or open enrollment schools, or pupil dependence on public transportation.

(3) A local educational agency opens a new schoolsite and either merges an existing schoolsite into the new schoolsite or splits the existing schoolsite’s pupils with the new schoolsite so that the existing schoolsite after school program is subject to a grant reduction pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 8426.

pupil participation schoolsite transfer local educational agency program services free or reduced-price meals safe transportation educational coordination program eligibility extreme transportation constraints new schoolsite bussing issues grant reduction barrier to participation after school program feeder school data

(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 470, Sec. 4. (AB 2615) Effective January 1, 2017.)

Section § 8427

This section outlines the requirements for high school after-school programs to report their effectiveness in California. These programs must regularly submit data, including student attendance during school and the program itself, to show their positive impact. Additionally, programs must engage in data-driven quality improvement processes. If a program consistently fails to meet these standards over three years, it may face termination, but multiple factors will be considered. The department may establish new effectiveness measures and will utilize standardized tools for data collection.

(a) A high school after school program established pursuant to this article shall submit to the department annual outcome-based data for evaluation.

(1) To demonstrate program effectiveness, grantees shall submit, using the unique statewide pupil identifiers for participating pupils who are unduplicated pupils, both of the following:

(A) Schoolday attendance on an annual basis.

(B) Program attendance on a semiannual basis.

(2) Programs shall submit evidence of a data-driven program quality improvement process that is based on the department’s guidance on program quality standards developed pursuant to paragraph (3).

(3) The department may develop additional measures to demonstrate program effectiveness, including, but not limited to, program quality standards. Additions shall be developed in consultation with the advisory committee pursuant to Section 8484.9.

(4) Programs shall submit information to the department through the process used in subdivision (b) of Section 8421.5.

(b)

(1) If a program consistently fails to demonstrate measurable program outcomes for three consecutive years, the department may terminate the program pursuant to the process described in subdivision (e) of Section 8426. The department shall consider multiple outcomes and not rely on one outcome in isolation.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “consistently fails to demonstrate measurable program outcomes” means failure to meet program effectiveness requirements pursuant to the criteria in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a).

(3) Measurable program outcomes may be demonstrated by, but are not limited to, the following methods:

(A) Comparing pupils participating in the program to nonparticipating pupils at the same schoolsite.

(B) Pupils participating in the program demonstrate improvement on one or more indicators collected by the program pursuant to this section.

(c) The department shall identify or develop standardized procedures and tools to collect the indicators in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) in accordance with the recommendations made pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 8484.9.

high school after-school program annual outcome data program effectiveness unduplicated pupils schoolday attendance program attendance data-driven quality improvement program quality standards advisory committee consultation measurable outcomes program termination standardized procedures tools for data collection department guidance comparison of participants

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 470, Sec. 5. (AB 2615) Effective January 1, 2017.)

Section § 8428

This law requires the education department to create a report every two years for the Legislature. The report will cover student participation and the quality of expanded learning programs across the state. It will use student data linked to the department's systems and may include the number and types of sites, student attendance, test scores, demographics, behavioral changes, and skill development. It also assesses the quality of these programs based on specific standards.

The department shall develop, and submit in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, a biennial report to the Legislature related to the pupils attending, and the program quality of, expanded learning programs. The report shall include data that is derived by matching the unique statewide pupil identifiers with data in the department’s data systems. The report may also include, but is not necessarily limited to, aggregate reporting of all of the following information:

(a) The number, geographical distribution, and type of sites and grantees participating in expanded learning programs.

(b) Pupil program attendance and pupil schoolday attendance.

(c) Statewide test and assessment scores.

(d) Pupil demographics and characteristics.

(e) Pupil behavior changes and skill development.

(f) The quality of the programs, based on the department’s guidance on program quality standards developed pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 8427.

expanded learning programs biennial report Legislature student participation program quality student data geographical distribution attendance data test scores student demographics behavioral changes skill development program quality standards statewide pupil identifiers

(Repealed and added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 370, Sec. 9. (SB 1221) Effective January 1, 2015.)

Early Education Act

Article 1921st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens Program

Section § 8420

Section § 8421

Section § 8421.5

Section § 8422

Section § 8423

Section § 8425

Section § 8426

Section § 8426.5

Section § 8427

Section § 8428

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