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COVID-19 Update – Guidance on grading and graduation requirements released

As anticipated, tonight the California Department of Education released guidance on grading and graduation requirements for students affected by school closures due to COVID-19. The guidance includes information on grading work through distance learning and alternative grading systems. With regards to the state’s minimum graduation requirements, the guidance provides that local educational agencies (LEAs) are […]

COVID-19 Update – School meals regulatory relief addressed and other key issues

We wanted you to know that the USDA has acted today on important waivers. The lack of flexibility on school meal programs has been front and center for us over the past few weeks. We reached out to the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky and the Undersecretary Brandon Lipps who have both been very responsive. We […]

COVID-19 Update: Federal Guidance on Special Education and Distance Learning

The U.S. Department of Education has issued guidance on serving children with disabilities during the COVID-19 crisis. The guidance is perhaps the clearest we have received so far. For example, it states: Some educators … have been reluctant to provide any distance instruction because they believe that federal disability law presents insurmountable barriers to remote […]

COVID-19 Update – Critical Advice on Collective Bargaining and Paid Leave

In addition to our work with state leadership in Sacramento, we’ve been in daily contact with our partners at Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR) to make sure we understand the laws that impact LEA operations during this crisis. AALRR has done an excellent job of interpreting the various Executive Orders, legislation and guidance related […]

Legislative Update – Introduction Deadline and Bills of Interest

The bill introduction deadline for the second half of the 2019-2020 Legislative Session occurred on February 21, 2020. Just under 2,300 bills were introduced. Here are some bills that are likely to be of interest: Early Learning AB 2500 (McCarty) – Transitional kindergarten: average daily attendance. This bill would delete the provision that prohibits a […]

Changes in Law 2019: Governance and Operations

School start time bill overcomes broad opposition. After seeing his previous effort vetoed by Governor Brown, Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) had better luck under the new Governor. SB 328 prohibits middle schools and high schools, including those operated as charter schools, from starting school earlier than 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., respectively. Rural […]
  • Posted by CCIS
  • On November 7, 2019
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Signed in to Law

Sunday at midnight was the deadline for the Governor to act on the hundreds of bills on his desk. As a follow up to bills we highlighted at the end of the legislative session, here’s a quick look at what the Governor signed and what he vetoed. AB 5 (Gonzalez) – Worker Status: Employees and […]
  • Posted by CCIS
  • On October 15, 2019
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Governor Signs Charter Bills

Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 1505 (O’Donnell, D – Long Beach), enacting the most significant changes to the Charter Schools Act since its passage in 1992. After months of negotiations between labor leaders, charter advocates, the author’s office and the Administration, a compromise was worked out that makes changes to the authorization […]
  • Posted by CCIS
  • On October 3, 2019
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CSU Considering Additional Course Requirement for Admissions

At the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees meeting, the Board will hear a proposal to require an additional year of quantitative reasoning coursework for admission to a CSU. What is “quantitative reasoning”? Quantitative reasoning is defined by the CSU as “the ability to think and reason intelligently about measurement, dimensions, design, capacity or […]
  • Posted by CCIS
  • On September 20, 2019
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SBE Continues to Prepare for Launch of 2019 Dashboard

The State Board of Education held a one-day meeting on September 11, 2019. Like the Board’s previous meeting in July, the most significant items on the short agenda related to the state’s accountability system. Below you will find a summary of the key issues from the hearing followed by information on the regular hearing agenda […]
  • Posted by CCIS
  • On September 18, 2019
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