Lillian Mongeau/EdSource

Boys play soccer during recess at a summer schoolhouse program in Oakland.

A bill that gives funding priority to summer programs for students and sets new quality standards for all out-of-school programs has passed the Legislature and is awaiting approval by the governor.

Senate Beak 1221, authored by Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Oakland, would give priority to schools that seek funds to provide yr-round learning, which in about cases would exist a combination of later-school and summer programs, said Jessica Gunderson, policy managing director for Partnership for Children and Youth, which, forth with state Superintendent Tom Torlakson, is sponsoring the bill.

"The bill is promoting year-circular learning by acknowledging the of import role of summer in how to allocate expanded learning resource," Gunderson said. "Twelvemonth-round learning is the ideal."

Research has shown that all students fall behind well-nigh two months in math skills during the summer pause, and that low-income students also lose about two months in reading proficiency if they are not in a quality summer programme. Researchers say this loss is a major contributor to the achievement gap between low-income students and their higher-income peers.

The $550 million in state funding through the Afterward School Education & Safety Program is limited to Grand-eight after-school programs. The new bill, if signed into law by the governor, would allow schools that offer after-school programs themselves or through customs partners to go priority funding for summer programs. That coin – almost $120 million – would come from federal 21st Century Customs Learning Centers plan funding.

Currently the Customs Learning Centers grants tin can exist used to operate after-schoolhouse programs and summertime programs, with no priority for either. The outcome has been that less than five per centum of California'south state and federal funding has gone to summer programs, Gunderson said. After-school and summer programs "are every bit of import for young people," she said.

The bill volition also require programs to submit prove of continuous quality comeback based on recently adopted standards by the California Department of Didactics. "Information technology'south like an LCAP," Gunderson said, referring to the Local Command and Accountability Plans districts must create that set measurable goals for program quality. The Afterward School Division standards set parameters that define quality, she said, but there is local flexibility. For example, the measurements of success might be quite different betwixt a sports and an arts programme.

The bill would also require the California Department of Education to develop and submit a biennial report to the Legislature on educatee attendance and the quality of expanded learning programs, based on data.

In addition, the bill sets aside transportation funding for after-school or summer programs in rural areas where students alive far from the school and there is no public transportation. It likewise folds in federal literacy programme funding to reduce authoritative costs.

Meanwhile, the California Department of Didactics is setting up a Policy Guide Committee "to develop, implement and maintain articulate policies" that support expanded learning programs. The first meeting is expected to take place in September.

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